USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1947-1948 > Part 19
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Hereof fail not and make due return of this Warrant, or a certified copy thereof, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk as soon as may be and before said meeting.
Given under our hands and seal of said Town this- Day of February, A. D., One Thousand Nine Hundred and Forty-Nine.
WAVIE M. DREW, Chairman CHARLES H. BLACK, FRANK W. DAYTON, Selectmen of Wilmington
166
Annual Report
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF
WILMINGTON, MASS.
TO
TOGETHER WITH THE HEPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,
1948
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
ORGANIZATION
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Mr. Ernest Crispo, Chairman
Wilmington
1948-1951
Mrs. Mary Welling, Secretary
Wilmington
1947-1949
Mr. Adam Galka
Wilmington
1946-1949
Mr. John J. Farrell
Wilmington
1947-1950
Mr. Harland V. Whittredge
Wilmington
1947-1950
Mr. John Hartnett
No. Wilmington
1948-1951
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Stephen G. Bean, 104 Middlesex Ave. Tel. Wilmington 2052 or 343
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Ernest C. MacDougall, M. D.
Tel. Wilmington 432
SCHOOL NURSE
'Mrs. Esther H. Nichols, R. N. Tel. Wilmington 744
ATTENDANCE OFFICER
Mr. Ernest Cail
Tel. Wilmington 571
16S
SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1949
January a to February 25-8 Weeks
Vacation One Week March 7 to April 29-8 Weeks
Vacation One Week May 9 to June 17-elementary~6 weeks May 9 to June 24-high school-7 weeks
Vacation Ten Weeks September 7 to December 23-16 weeks
Vacation School commences January 2, 1950
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS Good Friday
April 19
Delober 12
November 11 November 24-25
NO SCHOOL SIGNAL
22-22-22
Tweety-twe blown three times on fire alarm signal
At 7.15 no school all grades At 7 30 no school elementary schools
Radio announcements will also be made over WLLH-Lowell-1400 on the radio dial WLAW -Lawrence-650 on the radio dial WBZ- Boston-950 on the radio dial WEEI-Boston-590 on the radio dial Between 6.45 and 7.30 A. M.
169
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
January 12, 1949
To the Citizens of the Town of Wilmington:
We herewith submit the annual report relative to activities in the Wilmington School Department during the year 1948. Following this report are the reports of department heads in the school system.
During the past year many improvements were made to the school buildings. In the application of siding on some of the older school buildings not only is it a great improvement in appearance but also acts as an insulation making the classrooms warmer for the children, and also reduces the amount of fuel needed.
At the Walker School, siding was applied to the exterior and the trim was painted. Ceilings were washed and calsomined also minor repairs were made throughout the building. It also was necessary to erect a new fence between the highway buildings and the school property.
At the Center School, siding was applied to the exterior, the trim was painted, porches were repaired and new steps were installed. Plaster repairs were necessary and the rear hall, cloak rooms and lavatories were painted. In order to safeguard the health of the children from a poor drainage system it was necessary to have in- stalled a new septic tank with additional overflows, piping. etc.
The Buzzell School was painted on the rear exterior. Two class- rooms were re-decorated and general minor repairs on doors, locks, windows etc. were made.
At the High School a large amount of general carpentry repairs were made. Doors were repaired, new locks installed. floors fixed etc. The Mildred Rogers School needed only minor repairs.
The Maple Meadow School heating system was repaired and minor general repairs were made.
The North School re-opened this year needed only minor repairs.
The Whitfield School generally is in good repair. The teachers room and lavatory sections were re-decorated, completing the work started last year. Minor repairs were also made.
The West School presented a major problem. Due to the anti- quated toilet facilities it was necessary to put a new addition onto this building. The addition houses complete modern flush toilets, lavatories, etc., with separate entrances direct from the classroom for the boys and girls, thus eliminating the last problem of its kind in the school system. This building had been heated by an old type pot-bellied stove in the classroom which not only furnished inade- quate heat but also created a dust nuisance. This problem has been ended with the installation of a modern heating system. It is felt
170
that with these improvements that both the health and sanitation pro- blems are now eliminated.
This committee realizing the need of diplomas from the Junior High School, especially for those children to whom through no fault of their own would be denied the opportunity of higher education, and as a mark of approbation, voted to present Diplomas at gradua- tion exercises to all successfully completing their assigned work. The first such graduation exercises was held at Grange hall in June 194S.
Two special classes have been inaugurated as of this year. one for boys in the North School and one for girls in the Roman House under the direct supervision of special qualified teachers.
The Roman House:
This structure houses the Superintendant's offices; the school Nurse's First Aid Room and office; A Special Classroom for girls; a dark room for the High School Camera Club. The use of a room was given to "The Wilmington Community Fund Inc." in which they could hold their directors' meetings and store their permanent records. Permission was also given to the P. T. A. executive board to hold meetings in the School Committee room. A room on the second floor has been set aside for use as a "Dental Clinic" to be installed by the Wilmington Rotary Club.
In September 1948 the School Committee was faced with the problem of replacing Mr. J. Turner Hood Jr. the High School head- master who resigned from the system to take over a higher position in the educational field. After serious deliberation the sub-master Mr. George C. Kambour was selected to fill the vacated position.
A survey of Wilmington School conditions by the State Depart- ment of Education was requested. This survey was conducted during the month of May 1948, and a complete set of findings were printed and distributed throughout the town.
The postwar period has presented many problems to our educa- tional institutions. The burden to the taxpayer has been tremendous and the cost of maintaining our school system has steadily increased. It is our hope that high standards of education will always be main- tained by maximum efficiency of administration at a minimum of cost to the taxpayer.
Respectfully submitted,
ERNEST M. CRISPO, Chairman MARY E. WELLING, Secretary JOHN J. FARRELL, Vice-Chairman ADAM T. GALKA, HARLAND V. WHITTRIDGE, JOHN F. HARTNETT,
Wilmington School Committee
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WILMINGTON SCHOOL DEPARTMENT BUDGET
Budget 1948
Spent 1948
Proposed Budget 1949
SCHOOL COMMITTEE:
Expenses
50.00 $
24.00 $
50.00
SUPERINTENDENT:
Salary
3,350.00
2,467.31
3,640.00
Travel Expense
200.00
169.18
225.00
Office Maintenance:
Secretary: Salary
1,20000
1,066.64
1,200.00
Custodian: Service
200.00
209.00
200.00
Office Suppl. & Roman Rep.
100.00
272.33
200.00
Lights, Phones, Water, Misc.
200.00
174.77
200.00
Fuel
200.00
373.14
400.00
Enforcement of Laws:
Attendance Officer's Salary
300.00
300.00
300.00
School Census
400.00
400.00
Mental Clinic
100.00
100.00
HEALTH:
School Nurse
1,500.00
1.500.00
1,800.00
Physician
500.00
500.00
500.00
Supplies & Expenses
300.00
186.20
300.00
12,000.00
13,330.00
15,900.00
TRANSPORTATION: EXPENSES OF INSTRUCTION :
Supervisors:
Salaries
5,720.00
4,375.68
6,800.00
Teaching Staff:
High: Salaries
25,700.00
26,549.79
32.000.00
Elementary: Salaries
50,295.00
50,414.30
66,650.00
Substitutes:
High
300.00
48.00
300.00
Elementary
675.00
669.00
900.00
High
1.209.00
1.321.26
1.604.00
Elenientary
1.500 00
2,426 /2
2,000,00
Supplies
High
1 400 00
2,461 -5
2,000 ..
Elementary
1 750.00
2,604.13
2.605 00
Libraries ;
High
100.00
10,53
150 00
Rental of Filmis
100.00
100,00
Athletics:
1,600 09
1.199 54
1.800,00
Grange Hall Remt
150.09
77 50
150.00
EXPENSES OF OPERATION OF PLANT:
Custodian :
High: Salary
1,800,00
1.500.00
2,000.00
Elementary: Salaries
6,720.00
6.687.27
7.706.00
Fuel:
High
900.00
1.559.05
1,500.00
Elementary
3,700.00
4.290.78
4.000.00
Custodians' Supplies
600.00
559.68
600.00
Lights
650.00
801.64
800.00
Phones
190.00
222.24
325.00
Water
150.00
135.17
150.00
Insurance
Miscellaneous
100.00
218.71
300.00
MAINTENANCE OF PLANT:
2,000.00
512.97
4,186.60
Repairs :
High
5,000.00
9,838.27
13,262.00
New Equipment
700.00
434.91
1,400.00
$135,500.00 $144,421.14 $178,494.60 Dec. 31, 1948-Voted by School Committee to add $1200 for remedial teacher 1,200.00
Final budget
$179,694.60
Textbooks:
Elementary
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the Wilmington School Committee,
Madam and Gentlemen:
This is the twenty-fifth in the series of reports that I have sub- mitted as Superintendent of Schools in this town. For a quarter of a century I have seen the town grow, at times by leaps and bounds, until at present it is no longer a small town. This growth in school population has even exceeded in ratio the general growth. The ratio of school enrollment to the total population is as one to four, i. e., twenty-five percent, roughly, of the total population is enrolled in our schools.
This high ratio in Wilmington has a peculiar significance because the financial burden of educating the children is borne almost com- pletely by taxes on real estate. If it were not for aid from the state the burden would have already been serious.
WHAT OF THE FUTURE
The following quotations are introduced to indicate the serious- ness of this problem in the next ten or twelve years. These state- ments are quoted because they have more force than when I write the same facts.
From the December 17, 1948 issue of the NEA NEWS, a publica- tion of the National Education Association:
"Leading citizens, newspapers, magazines, and radio stations be- gan about 1945 to inform the American people of the school crisis. Their activities and those of teachers associations and parents groups produced significant state legislative action in 1946, 1947 and 1948. Many communities voted increased revenues, removed tax limitations, and improved the assessment of property.
"While these increases in school revenues and other school im- provomeuts were often remarkable achievements, their effectiveness in removing long-standing deficits have been impaired because: (1) they came after great damage had taken place in the public schools: (2) they did not take into account the lag, during the war years, in normal maintenance and purchasing of buildings and equipment; and (3) they did not provide for the potential increase in school en- rolments; and (4) they did not offset the declining purchasing power of the dollar.
174
"It is a serious problem to consider what the situation will be in most states when the present high level of elementary-school enrol- ments reaches the secondary schools. Frantic efforts today, and in the next few years, to meet the elementary-school situation may make it virtually impossible for local-school districts to anticipate the building needs of secondary schools, which will become increasingly acute about 1960."
Dr. John R. Steelman, speaking before the Southern Governors Conference at Savannah, Georgia on December 13, 1948 said in part:
"Our children are facing a tremendously complex world. Serious economic and social problems inside and outside our country require solution. The best possible training and education will be needed to enable them to achieve peace and happiness.
"At the present time we are having an extraordinary increase in the number of children reaching school age, as the result of the high birth rate in recent years.
"Two other major difficulties facing elementary and secondary education need to be considered by both federal and state govern- ments. One is the problem of attracting and holding enough com- petent teachers. The other is the question of replacement and new construction of school buildings.
"Both of these problems force us to face the hard facts of gov- ernment finance. To recruit more and better teachers, we must pay them salaries that come somewhere near meeting the competition of jobs in private industry and in other types of government service. To repair and build schools requires a heavy investment of funds particularly in view of the present high construction and maintenance costs."
From the Kiplinger letter to business houses, dated December 21. 1948:
"You may think schools are crowded, but they will be much worse in the years immediately ahead. The definite proof is in the birth rate.
"This year 18.6 million children are in the elementary schools. In two years, 20 million. In 4 years, 22 million. And so on up. By 1957, 26.6 million-S million more than the 18.6 of now. Nearly half again as many as now-8 years hence-not far off. Schools must be planned for then, and there isn't any too much time.
"High school attendance will shrink for three years, and then expand. This year, 6.3 million. Next year, 6.2 million. By 1951, only
175
6 million. This shrinkage is due to the low birth rate in early 30's- depression, but High School numbers will gradually increase through the 50's. By 1960, S.1 million High schoolers, compared with 6.3 as of now.
"This community may be underestimating the future school load. especially in 1st to Sth grades. Most communities are underestimat- ing. because they don't quite look the birth rate full in the face. Take a fresh look at the birth rate-in the past-and now. Normal birth rate prewar was about 1S-that many babies born per 1000 of population-except depression years. when fewer were born. Then war- more marriages, more births and step up in the rate to 20. 21 per 1000 and there the birth rate hovered through the war. Then peace again, and the men came home. and the rate shot up-in 1946 to 23.3-in 1947 to 26.2. So last year. 1947 was all-time high. This year, 24 estimated-lower than last year, but still high. Next year. 21 estimated-lower than this year, but still high. See the wave of babies-1941 through 1949-the wave of the 40's. As the years pass. this wave will roll along through the grade schools, then the high schools then the colleges-and out into working life. It is statistical -no guess work about it.
' Teachers-taxes-buildings-it takes all these to make schools. School taxes may seem high already, but they probably will go higher. Children's health, doctoring, hospitals, playgrounds, transportation- all these demands will expand like the school figures, as given above."
It seems to be common opinion that school departments are prone to forget the taxpayer when making up budgets, but in the thirty years that I have been advising and dealing with school committees I have yet to find a group which did not lean over backwards in their endeavor to keep school costs as low as possible. In this town they have been kept too low for years and I fear that in the near future this false economy is going to catch up with us.
During this coming year it will be necessary for the town to provide what some may consider a tremendous budget for the sup- port of schools. In comparison with budgets submitted even five years ago the increase is indeed great but in comparison with the amount spent last year, including the extra eight thousand necessary to finish the year just ended, the net cost to the tax payer for 1949 will be less than in 1948, in so far as the schools are concerned.
This has been made possible by the new law which is in effect for this coming fiscal year. This law was passed to help just such
176
towns as Wilmington. As written it sounds complicated but in fact it is simple. In figures it works out as follows:
Pupils 7 to 16 1,142
AAllowances per pupil
$ 130.00
Total 148,460.00
Less $6 per $1,000 on val. $4,651,106 27,906.64
Difference
$120.553.36
50% of this difference $ 60,276.68
This final figure is the amount which will be paid into the town treasury in November 1949. In spite of any statements to the con- trary the law as written definitely states that it is paid to equalize educational opportunity throughout the state.
Sec. 1, Chapter 643 of Acts of 1948:
"To promote the equalization of educational opportunity in public schools of the commonwealth and the equalization of the burden of the cost of schools to the respective towns, the state treasurer shall pay annually to the several towns sums as pro- vided in this chapter, which sums shall be known as school aid."
This law further states that school committees shall consider this amount when making their budgets and also that finance com- mittees in making their recommendations shall show that, of the total asked for schools this amount shall be specified and the balance shall be raised by local taxation. Naturally the town will appropriate the total in March but this $60,276.68 will be reimbursed in November from the income tax collections throughout the state.
As a result of this added reimbursement the comparative net costs for 1948 and 1949 are as follows:
Total appropriated 194S $141,500.00
Income on account schools. all sources 26,200.00
Net cost to town $115,300.00
Appropriation asked 1949 $179,694.60
Income on account schools. all sources 69,676.68
Net cost to town $110,017.92 Decrease in net cost $ 5,282.08
Thus, regardless of what the tax rate may be in 1949, no part of the increase, if any, can be charged to the school department. In fact there is that $5,282.0S which can be applied to reduce the tax rate.
177
It is of further importance to note that this budget contains two items totaling $8,000 for replacement of worn out heating equipment in the Walker and Whitefield Schools, plus another $1,000 for change in the heating plant at the Maple Meadow portable school. These are projects which have been under consideration for five or more years. Conditions have grown worse each year. Further delay would be highly undesirable. Coal gas escaping thru cracked heater walls is a menace to the health of nearly four hundred children.
MORE ROOMS IMPERATIVE
Year after year for twenty or more years these reports have stressed the need for increased school accomodations. Time after time plans have been presented to meet existing needs, only to be voted down. During all of this time the size of classes has been increasing until the limit seemed to have been reached in 1947. This past year saw a further increase in enrollment such that at its peak there were well over 1400 children packed into our already overcrowded buildings.
In the elementary grades on November third there were 1075 pupils enrolled in twenty-five rooms. This is an average of 43 pupils per room. But even this terrifically high average does not tell the whole story. On this same date in the Whitefield School there were 51 pupils in grades one and two with a single teacher, 4S pupils in grades two and three in one room, 48 in grade four and 52 in grade five. Here then were 199 children in four rooms whose maximum capacity under legal hygienic conditions is 168 and under desirable conditions 140, i. e. 35 pupils per room in a single grade. At the same time there were 48 children in grades one and two in the one room West School, 45 in the fifth grade in the Walker School and a like number in the fifth grade in the Center School.
As a relief for this condition it was suggested by the Superin- tendent of Schools that all fifth and sixth grades be put on a part time schedule in the Center School. Misguided parental objection was so great that the School Committee hesitated to take such action. Had this plan been followed it would have been possible to remove the fifth grades from the Walker and Whitefield schools and leave the teachers with classes as shown below :
I II 42 33
III IV
Walker School
27
26
Whitefield School
37
25
37
1S
The fourth grades in the two schools could have equalized to 37 each by transfers.
In the Center School the fifth and sixth grades could have been divided into four sections each. The fifth grades would have had
178
about 36 pupils in each room and the sixth about 31. This plan would have necessitated two more teachers.
Under this arrangement the grades in the Center School would have had a schedule of approximately four hours a day inclusive of one short recess period. This would have meant a period from S A. M. to 12 M for the fifth grades and from 12 to 4 P. M. for the sixth. The loss in efficiency would not have been as great as it seems at first glance. It will be noted in the table below that the class numbers would be reduced materially, thus allowing the teachers more time for each individual.
PRESENT SCHEDULE
PART TIME SCHEDULE
Walker V
45
35
Center V
Whitefield \
52
35
Center
45
36
66
36
Center VI
41
31
Center VI
42
31
41
31
31
A little arithmetical computation will show that under the full time session each child can get 6 2/9 minutes of the teacher's time per day while under the part time plan he could get 6 4/7 minutes. That is not guess work. Of course the "out" in the situation is the extra burden placed upon mothers in having their day disrupted by the presence of children at home at inconvenient times and having to plan for getting them fed before and after school and ready for school on time. All Dad has to do is provide food, clothing and shel- ter, and pay the taxes.
We have dodged the issue this year but it cannot be avoided per- mently, according to better, or at least higher placed, authorities than the writer. For example let's do a little computation for next September based on numbers as of today.
Present school enrollment approximately 1400
Graduating from High School in June 57
Remaining in school in June!J 1343
Estimated first grade in September 150
Possible enrollment in September 1493
WHERE CAN WE PUT THAT 93?
179
ALSO
Present enrollment in High School 330
Graduating in June 5.
Remaining in school in June 273
Probable freshman class in September 100
Enrollment in High School in September 373
WHERE CAN WE PUT THAT 43?
The answer to that question lies with the citizens of this town. Such issues may be ducked for a number of years but they finally catch up with you. It cannot be said that this is "so sudden". Pe- rusal of these reports for the past fifteen years will show that the writer has repeatedly warned of this day of reckoning.
Why has not action been taken before? That is the '$64 question'. Perhaps part of the blame lies with those of us who year after year have contrived 'to make both ends meet', but it cannot be said that the note of warning has not been sounded.
CHANGES IN PERSONNEL
The teacher turnover during the past year has been 27.5%. I11 any business or industrial concern such a turnover in key positions would be considered disastrous. Yes, in any organization engaged in the making of dollars or doughnuts the stockholders would soon be up in arms, but in this business of producing educated democratic citizens from human beings we 'take it in stride'.
Why so many changes? Most of them because of the teacher's very human desire for adequate payment or better working conditions. often both. They are not altruists any more than are doctors. law- yers. editors or bankers. They are engaged in a chosen profession with the expectation of earning a decent living thereby. Theirs is not the 'soft job' that many profess to believe. What parent of two or more normal, lively youngsters or adolescents, would undertake the task of keeping from forty to fifty of them quiet for five hours a day. five days a week, and at the same time be expected to teach them what is in an average school room curriculum? For example. take the case of that teacher who has fifty-one pupils in grades one and two. She is expected to 'start from scratch' with the thirty- seven in grade one and have them able to read simple first readers- not primers-by the end of the school year, and also have them know the number combinations up to ten and how to read and write theni. Here they must be taught to write with reasonable legibility. Mean-
180
while this same teacher has to see that those fourteen in the second grade have not forgotten all that they learned last year; start them where they are now able to work successfully and happily and carry them on through the subject matter required by the second grade curriculum. She does it as well as is humanly possible. "What price school teaching!"
The most important change in the staff resulted from the resig- nation of J. Turner Hood. Jr. who had served twenty years as Head- master of Wilmington High School. During the summer he was selected by the Town of North Reading as Superintendent-Principal of their school system.
I would be remiss in my duty if I did not here express my sincere appreciation of his qualities and accomplishments as a high school executive.
Mr. Hood was not one to publicize his accomplishments so that many things were done, and well done, of which the general public had little knowledge. Cases could be cited where curriculum im- provements were made long before they were common practice in even the best high schools. He labored for twenty years under the handicap of having nothing to offer those pupils not interested in the purely academic subjects. It was a continual struggle to keep such pupils in school as long as possible, even to get them graduated.
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