USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1949-1950 > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23
At the Buzzell School, the interior was washed and repainted. The roof on this school had to be repaired and a canopy constructed to protect the lower portion of the building from damage by the water from the roof. Miscellaneous repairs were made in this building.
At the High School, the classrooms, corridor. teachers' room and office were washed and repainted. Due to the fact that there were many leaks in the water pipes. the entire water main had to be re- placed. The roof on this building was repaired and many other mis- cellaneous repairs were made including the emptying of the septic tanks.
At the Center School, which is in very bad need of repair, during the year the most necessary repairs such as the conductor pipe, base- ment floor and many windows were put in proper condition. The other repairs for the building are on the agenda for 1950.
161
At the Whitefield School, a complete stoker fired steam heating system was installed to replace three obsolete hot air heaters. As in the case of the Walker School this basement also had to be fire- proofed. Additional cess-pool facilities were installed. The foundation of this building had to be repaired. Modern drinking fountains were installed to replace those that were considered unsanitary. Many re- pairs were made including new shades, water pipes, bulkhead etc.
At the North School, minor repairs were made including toilets and doors.
At the Maple Meadow School, minor repairs including electrical work were made.
At the Silver Lake Portable School, miscellaneous repairs includ- ing toilets and windows were made.
At the Mildred Rogers School, in addition to the two new rooms that were erected the only other repairs were minor ones.
At the Roman House, in order to afford better facilities for the special class that was inaugurated last year it was necessary to equip this class room with an oil burner in the present range, install a new gas range, cooking utensils and a sewing machine.
Previous to the last few years maintenance work had been long neglected as the foregoing list of work done this year shows.
Remedial Reading-One course of study which has sadly been neglected is remedial teaching. There are many students who for one reason or another have been retarded for lack of training in reading, and it is the duty of the teacher to ascertain the cause of this condi- tion. The Committee feels that with the installing of this teacher and working in conjunction with school nurses that many of these cases will be remedied.
The Committee wishes to express its great appreciation of the splendid help The Parent Teachers' Association has given in the devel- opment of a school lunch program and in many other matters. The Committee, with a cafeteria available in the new school will, as re- quested by the P. T. A. take responsibility for this program beginning with the school year 1950-1951.
Two actions of the Committee caused great controversy during the past year. The first was the decision to change the position of Principal of the seventh and eighth grade school, The Buzzell School. It would not be appropriate to review the personalities that entered into the difficulty in the administration of the school. In the view of
162
the Committee and the Superintendent, however, a situation arose that required a change. The change was made by electing a local man who had formerly taught in the High School and whom the Com- mittee considered to be well qualified for the position, Mr. Bernard McMahon.
The other action which has been widely discussed was the ap- pointment of a maintenance man at the salary of $3,640.00. This deci- sion was given widespread misinterpretation. The salary is based on what are current wages paid in this district for skilled tradesmen and does not equal what would be full wages for men in such trades. The man chosen, Mr. John Russell, has the varied type of experience that the peculiar conditions of the job require. This man must be willing to do much of the work needed after school hours, at night, and on Saturdays and Sundays. The work requires a general knowledge of carpentry, masonry, plumbing and electrical repairs, plus an ability to estimate and to interpret plans. Few available candidates have this varied kind of knowledge and are otherwise willing to meet the demands of the job. Furthermore, Mr. Russell left other employment last summer to help out when another mechanic had deserted the Committee in the middle of August just when very important work remained to be done.
The Committee made a careful study of what has been spent in the last several years for repairs of this type and came to the conclu- sion that more money has been spent to employ different workmen for separate jobs than should have been the case. The employment of a regular maintenance man will prove to be a real economy.
The addition of new programs of study in the new high school program, and the provision of proper facilities for education which will permit proper sized classes in the high school will require the hiring of additional teachers. It must be realized that the added 150 children coming into our schools will also require additional teachers. As a community grows its schools must grow with it.
The new budget of the School Department, after all possible economies have been considered, will amount to just under $199,000.00 Against this there will be State Aid in the estimated amount of $80,- .000.00. Thus it will actually cost the Town a little less than $119,000 .- 00 to operate its schools this coming year. The net cost of operations last year was approximately $101,000.00. Voters should remember that this is almost as reasonable as in the year before that, 1948, when there was less State aid and the net cost to the Town was $115,300.00.
The Committee has a double duty: to the citizens of Wilmington,
163
and to the Commonwealth. It has done its best to meet these duties and to fulfill the higher duty that lies behind these legal obligations- its duty to your children. The future of this Town and the future of America lies in part in a better education than we the elder genera- tion, had. With the cooperation of the townspeople we will continue in our effort to provide the facilities that will make such an education- al program possible.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN J. FARRELL, Chairman JOHN F. HARTNETT, Vice-Chairman CLOSSON K. BLAISDELL, Secretary ERNEST M. CRISPO JOHN J. NITCHIE MARION C. BOYLEN
Wilmington School Committee.
164
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee. Wilmington, Mass.
Madam and Gentlemen:
This is the twenty-sixth time that I have approached the task of preparing an annual report on the public school system of the town. In this report may be found statements which seem critical. Any seeming criticism is not directed at any individuals or committees, but rather at the attitude of the whole voting and tax paying citizenry.
After a quarter of a century of observation of the reaction of this town to endeavors to secure adequate school facilities, I am reminded of one of our new aristocracy of social security recipients who, on re- turning from a day at the street corner club, was met at his door by a neighbor. She informed him that his wife had been taken to a hospital and had presented him with triplets. "The - --- you say," he shouted. "Why don't somebody tell me these things are going to happen?" He then rushes out to the stores and buys three diapers, a nursing bottle, a nipple, and a box of cigars. His reaction is typical of the course of events in this town. Year in and year out we have been meeting the exigencies of the immediate emergency, living a sort of 'hand to mouth' existence. It is only within the last few years that any even semi-permanent accomplishments have been made. In most of these cases, even, we have acted hastily and have made improve- ments to meet a price rather than to meet the need.
A new high school building is about to be constructed. Here, as usual, the project must be planned to meet a price limit, and to meet the immediate need for housing only. This same project was urged a year ago on the basis of the need for an auditorium and gymnasium. It was turned down. On the evidence of the man who for twenty years had struggled to raise the morale of the student body and to improve the high school in general, this was the most necessary part of the project. Now circumstances have forced us to take action in order to make it possible to house our growing elementary school population. An excellent and representative committee has labored long and intelligently in search of a way to get what we need for what we have the power and credit to buy. If State aid were not available we could do only about half of what is planned, which is itself about half of what is needed. As of this writing, there is no provision for manual training, household arts, or a physical education program in connection with the high school setup. Plans are ready but no money
165
has, as yet, been appropriated. When such an appropriation is pro- posed there will be the usual hullabaloo about the tax rate.
This perennial plaint about tax rate reminds one of the threats which were spread abroad last year that the tax rate would be $85.00 for this year (1949). After some judicious pruning of the various de- partmental budgets-including schools-the assessors came up with a rate lower than in 1948. This was explained by the tardy acknowledg- ment that it was possible because of extra money in state reimburse- ment. It was never publicly stated that this extra reimbursement was on account of the new school aid law. As a matter of fact something like $70,000 came back to the general treasury on the basis of claims submitted to the Commonwealth by the local school department. For the coming year (1950), the sum receivable from these same sources should exceed $80,000.000. The increase is due to the added number of children in town between the ages of 7 and 16 years.
THE FACTS
Census-Children between ages 7 and 16 years
1297
Formula allowance per child $ 130.00
Total allowance
168,610.00
Less $6.00 per thousand of equalized valuation 27,906.64
Balance
140,703.46
50% of this balance-actual reimbursement .... $ 70,351.68
This last amount will be refunded to the general treasury of the town as return on income taxes. It is not earmarked for schools, but it will not be reimbursed until the Superintendent of Schools certifies that it is due and the State Department of Education also certifies the amount to the Treasurer of the Commonwealth. (Please note this does not say to Commissioner Long).
In addition to the above sum of $70,351.68, there is a further re- imbursement on account of transportation. Last year this was about $9,500.00. For 1950 this should exceed $10,000.00 due to increased en- rollment.
Another asset to be credited to the School Department income is the sums received annually for tuition and transportation of state and City of Boston minor wards. Last year this exceeded $4,000.00 For the current school year, payable in 1950 this amount could lie between three and four thousand. The exact amount cannot be estimated be- cause of frequent changes in numbers during the school year.
166
Figured roughly, and conservatively, about 40% of the total school budget submitted for 1950 will be returned to the town treasury on account of schools. None of this money is returned except it be certified by the School Department.
The roster of school employees, found later in this report, will show twelve new names not there last year. Ten of these represent replacements for teachers who left us for one reason or another. This is a 25% turnover in personnel from June to September. Three of those leaving were young men, Sub-master Wallace Pillsbury, Coach Anthony DeTeso, and James Dempsey, teacher of Latin and French. One young lady also resigned from the English department, Miss Jacqueline Gleason of Lowell. All of these changes were in the high school and necessitated a rearrangement of assignments in the school. Mr. Joseph I. Donovan, Jr., was promoted to the position of Sub- Master. Mr. Ralph Ambrose was made Director of Guidance. Mr. Harlan V. Whittredge was secured to act as a Personnel and Employ- ment supervisor as well as teacher of Social Science. In place of Coach De Teso we employed Mr. Edward Palmieri who also took Mr. Pillsbury's classes in Mathematics. The vacancy in the English de- partment was filled by Miss Margaret Horner of Lawrence. Mr. Demp- sey was succeeded by Miss Elizabeth Henchey of Woburn.
During the Summer Mr. Bernard McMahon was elected Principal of the Buzzell School. He took over the vacancy in the seventh grade which was created by the resignation of Miss Teresa Considine.
In the early Fall Miss Marie Barrett, Principal of the Center School, was elected to a position in her home city, Lawrence. Mrs. Rose Kennedy was promoted to this official position and Mrs. Mary P. Mogan was secured to fill her sixth grade position. In this same school Mrs. Irene Rogers was hired to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Mrs. Phyllis Pillsbury.
Two vacancies occurred in the Walker School, both because of better salaries paid elsewhere. Miss Brennan went to Arlington and Miss Costello, to Woburn. These positions are now filled by Mrs. Mildred Keville and Mrs. Helen Skrekas respectively. These are both women of excellent experience.
Miss Mary Boutilier, who had taught grades one and two in the Whitefield School for seven years, was made teacher of Remedial Reading for Elementary grades. Miss Boutilier had been preparing for this position by an extended period of study at Boston University. Miss Lena Leiter of North Wilmington was elected to teach grade one in Whitefield.
167
The addition of two new rooms to the Mildred Rogers School made possible some very desirable and necessary changes. It was decided to use these new rooms for the third and fourth grades and to place children of the fifth and sixth grades, who live within walk- ing distance, in the Portable Building. New furniture of the latest and best type was installed and both rooms were filled almost to over- flowing. In fact, several pupils who might well have attended this school were sent to the Center School.
This arrangement made it possible to remove the fifth grade from the Whitefield School to the Center. This left but four grades of more comfortable size in the Whitefield School. It also allowed a reduction in the size of classes in the Center School and at the same time removed the necessity for one bus trip to Silver Lake.
For these two new classes we secured Mrs. Mary Donahue and Mrs. Margaret Maloney both of Lowell. Both of these ladies had re- cent experience in teaching.
In spite of this increase in accomodations the class average en- rollment in nearly every room in our schools is abnormally high. Some relief for this will come when the new High School is completed and the old building made available for use by the seventh and eighth grades, Plans are already made to add two more teachers to this staff to equalize teacher loads.
It might seem that there will be some vacant School rooms in town when the new building is available. I fear from present indica- tions, that this is a vain hope. The only room in town not likely to be filled is that at the North School. It is planned to remove this Opportunity Class to the Center School together with the similar class of girls in the Roman House.
One great improvement in our general school plant was the in- stallation of stoker fed steam boilers in the Whitefield and Walker schools. It has made possible a much better and more even distribu- tion of heat and at the same time removed the menace of inhalation of coal gas from old cracked hot air furnaces. This action following the shingling of these buildings last year should show a material saving in heating costs.
The dental clinic facilities provided by the local Rotary Club has already demonstrated its value and is one of the great assets in our health program. This, together with the Massachusetts Vision Test apparatus and our new Audiometer places Wilmington in the front rank in discovery and prevention of three very important phases of child welfare In addition to these we have an unusually fine type
168
of teamwork between our School Physician and School Nurse. If we could now add a strong course in Physical Education to our fine Health Program the children of Wilmington would profit immeasur- ably.
The Hot Lunch Program, while limited in its scope, is doing a great good as far as it goes. Thanks is due the Parent-Teacher Asso- ciation for having given initial and continued support to this impor- tant school activity.
As I approach the beginning of the last year that I can serve as a Superintendent of Schools in Massachusetts, I have a greater feel- ing of optimism for the future of our schools, both local and state- wide, than has ever been true during most of my career in this state. It seems that at long last the public is realizing that education is not a strictly local proposition. It is a function of the state as well as the nation. Every child, wherever he happens to be born, has the right to an equal educational opportunity to that of any other. Since all communities are not equally able to support the same type of school facilities, it should be the duty of the state and national gov- ernments to assist in equalizing this ability to support adequate edu- cation.
In closing may I express my thanks to those of my associates who have labored with me most conscientiously to provide our children with a better knowledge of how to live in this modern world. Please note that I have said "a knowledge of how to live." We worry too much about teaching people how to make a living. We usually mean by this, how to make a living with the least work. There will always be a way for every individual to get subsistence. What we need is better knowledge of what to do with the increasingly greater number of hours which offer opportunities for good or evil living.
Respectfully submitted,
STEPHEN G. BEAN
Superintendent of Schools.
February 15, 1950
169
REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
-
January 25, 1950
Superintendent Stephen G. Bean, School Department -
Wilmington, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Bean:
It is a decided pleasure, as the Principal of Wilmington High School, to write a cheerful and optimistic annual report. Not only is the present status of the High School greatly improved, but also the prospects for next fall are most encouraging.
Since June 1949, many changes in the faculty and in the assign- ment of special responsibilities have occurred. Four members of last year's faculty are no longer with us. After making an outstand- ing record as a teacher and as a coach, Mr. Anthony De Teso was of- fered a more lucrative position in the Stoneham High School. All who knew him were sorry to see him go, but happy for him in his new opportunity. Mr. James Dempsey, Miss Jacqueline Gleason, and Mr. J. Wallace Pillsbury decided to seek more attractive positions in fields other than education. May happiness and good fortune be their lot.
To Mr. Joseph I. Donovan's duties of teacher of English and Assistant Coach of Athletics, there was added the Sub-Master's res- ponsibilities. One of the evidences of his success in this position is the improved record of attendance in the High School during the first half of this school year, as compared with a year ago, if it is borne in mind that one of the Sub-Master's special responsibilities is that of attendance. His loyalty and devotion to duty is an inspiration to the student body and the faculty.
Mr. Ralph T. Ambrose was elected Director of Guidance in addi- tion to his other responsibilities of teacher of Social Studies and Assistant Coach of Athletics. He has administered mental ability tests to the entire ninth grade and has had interviews with every Senior and many underclassmen, in an attempt to help them find their educa- tional and vocational goals. His seriousness of purpose and readiness to be of service at all times is always apparent and is producing good results.
The new members of the faculty in the order of their appointment are:
170
1. Mr. Edward J. Palmieri, teacher of Mathematics and head Coach of Athletics.
2. Mr. Harland V. Whittredge, teacher of Social Studies and Director of Placement.
3. Miss Elizabeth C. Henchey, teacher of Latin and French.
4. Miss Margaret M. Horner, teacher of English.
Each of these four new members of the faculty is a conscientious, earnest teacher. Each is making a decided contribution to the effectiveness of the School.
Tribute must be paid to the other niembers of the faculty. They continue to faithfully serve the young people of Wilmington High School in their various capacities. Miss Marland, Mrs. Webber, Miss Farello, Miss Sharp and Miss Moriarty are all dedicated to the ideal of leading our boys and girls to the greatest development of their potentialities. In spite of our limited facilities and crowded condi- tions the school is doing an outstanding job.
Recently a course in Driver Education has been initiated. This Course has been made available to all Seniors, who have not yet ob- tained a driver's license. At present, the Course consists of one class period a week. It is expected that, in the near future, a local auto- mobile dealer will make available a new car for actual behind-the- wheel training. Each student in the class will be given an opportun- ity to spend time each week in actual supervised driver training. Mr. Ralph T. Ambrose is the instructor of the Course. He holds a Certi- ficate from the Registry of Motor Vehicles authorizing him to be the instructor of such a Course. The operation of the car will be financed from the money raised by the Student Council in the magazine drive of last fall. This Course has the ardent support of the State Depart- ment of Education, as well as the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
The most important event affecting the High School that has occurred in many years is the action of the special Town meeting of October 1949. The overwhelmingly favorable vote for the first unit of the new building is a tribute to those people who have worked hard and long on the problem. Not only will that first unit provide adequate seating for High School enrollments that are likely in the near future, but vitally important features that are not available in the present situation are planned for that new building. Decent toilet facilities, a cafeteria, a library, adequate laboratory space are included in the list of much needed new features.
171
This new building is going to make possible the retention of the School's high rating. For years, Wilmington High School has held the highest ratings granted by the Massachusetts Department of Education and by the New England College Certificate Board before its dissolution. One of the criteria for awarding our School an "A" rating by the State has been that the pupil-teacher ratio has been no greater than thirty to one. Since September 1949, the ratio has been considerably above thirty to one. Mr. A. Russell Mack, State Super- visor of Secondary Education was deterred from withdrawing our "A" rating only because he was persuaded that the new building would provide space for enough teachers and that the necessary teachers would be employed, so that the ratio of pupils to teachers would be within the limits of the regulations, which are now in force. Because all classrooms in the present building are in constant use, it has been deemed inadvisable to increase the number of faculty over that of the days when the enrollment was approximately 275. It was 355 last October 1. Obviously, there is an imperative need for additional personnel on the High School faculty, not only to hold our "A" rating, but also to make possible more effective training for Wil- mington youth. In other words, the new building will provide space to put the additional faculty, which is so badly needed, as well as to add certain much needed facilities.
To offer a modern program of secondary education, provision must be made for Manual and Household Arts. It is perhaps more important to provide certain boys and girls with training in these fields than it is to continue to offer classical courses to others. The plan to remodel the Roman buildings for these courses is apparently the most feasible and must be realized.
Likewise, provision for Physical Education activities must be made, if there is to be a well-rounded program, a program which will aid and guide the physical development, as well as the mental develop- ment of our High School students. It is of vital importance to our boys and girls that the buildings for the entire program become avail- able.
In conclusion, I wish to express my sincere thanks to all who have worked for a better High School. The moral support of parents, the cooperation of the School Committee, your advice and counsel, Mr. Bean, the diligence and enthusiasm of the faculty and students have been the forces responsible for progress toward our goals.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.