USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1952 > Part 5
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This net amount is actually the gross school budget $282, 208. less the amount of school income as reimbursements, $98, 213. 57. The reimbursement amount of $98, 213. 57 for 1952, although not specifically earmarked for schools, cannot be given to the Town without proper certification from the Superintendent of Schools and the School Committee. In other words, the $98, 213. 57 represents a sum of money due to the Town based upon the number of children in school between the ages of seven and sixteen, the equalized valu- ation and other factors.
The Separate School Tax Law will therefore give a much clear- er picture of the net costs of the schools to the Town.
Wilmington is extremely fortunate in the amounts of reimburse - ments received annually based on educational statistics, and equal- ized valuation. These State Aid amounts for Wilmington are much higher than for many other cities and towns of the Commonwealth. When and if, however, the equalized valuation is raised, Wilmington must expect to receive less.
The per-pupil costs for Wilmington for the school year ending June 30, 1952, was $149. 50. This is one of the lower per-pupil costs in the State. No doubt this figure will rise considerably in the next few years, and every effort will be made to make the rise gradual, considering the school construction costs to be faced also.
For the fiscal year 1953, it is now estimated that the school costs, exclusive of maintenance of the school plant, will increase some $49, 173. 97. The number of children to be cared for during the Fiscal year will be somewhere in the vicinity of 1868. This represents an increase of about one hundred and forty-two (142) additional pupils over the figure for the Fiscal year 1952. Estima- ting the cost per-pupil at $149. 50, the automatic increase in costs immediately becomes $21,299. 00. Moreover, the costs of opening the new elementary school (additional salaries, text books, supplies, etc. ) will reach a figure of nearly $15,000. 00. In addition to the
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above, increased transportation costs, adult evening classes, and the possibility of a temporary two platoon system make up the bal - ance of the total increase of school costs.
Enrollment
The predictions made on enrollment figures last year were slightly conservative. Extremely accurate predictions cannot be made based solely upon the count given in the annual school census. For example, 1750 students were expected to be enrolled in Sept. 1952, but the total for October 1, 1952, was 1802. This difference is accounted for by the fact that 52 children moved into Wilmington during the summer months.
To give some idea as to the changes in the student enrollment or population for the past few years, the following is a summary:
Student enrollment - October 1, 1949. 1493
11 1950. . 1575
11 1951. 1676
11 11 1952. . 1802
Between October 1, 1949 and October 1, 1952, a total of 309 students have been added to the schools of Wilmington.
The estimated student enrollment for September 1, 1953, will be a minimum of 1970 pupils, and by October 1, 1953, a figure approximating 2000 pupils. Therefore, in a period of time repre - senting not much more than four years, the student population of Wilmington will increase by the amount of 507 children.
The figures themselves, though staggering, are no less stag - gering than what they actually imply. The implications as regards administration, financing, proper housing, etc., give us much to think about for the future. Certainly the duties of the Superinten- dent and the School Committee will be increased many times, and the amount of work involved will be tremendous.
Too much cannot be said in praise of the townspeople of Wil- mington in meeting this problem of increased student enrollment. A portion of the new high school has already been built and funds for a new fourteen room elementary school have been provided.
I would also like to pay tribute, at this time, to the members of the new School Building Committee: Mr. E. Hayward Bliss, chairman, Mr. Allan D. Shepherd, and Mr. Nicholas DeFelice.
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These men have worked tirelessly in an effort to provide new ele - mentary facilities as soon as possible, and with an eye to getting the very best for the amount of money involved.
The architect chosen is Mr. Thomas Hixon and Associates, of Boston. The new elementary school to be situated on Wildwood Street will consist of fourteen classrooms, a library, health suite, principal's office, teachers' room, and an all-purpose room to be used as a cafeteria, auditorium and physical education area. It is expected that 436 pupils will be housed in this building when it is opened. It is also expected that the building will be ready for occupancy in December, 1953. Therefore, a two platoon system will be necessary in September, 1953, until the new elementary school is opened, unless rental space for additional classrooms may be found in the meantime. Every effort will be made to rent halls, or other available space, rather than have the children subjected to a two platoon system.
Even further planning for proper school housing will be neces- sary in the very near future. I repeat what I said last year that an addition to the present high school structure by September, 1955, will be unavoidable.
The situation, as far as increasing student enrollment is con- cerned, is out of control, and the picture for the future certainly poses a financial problem. Planning must continue wisely, and every effort must be made to forge ahead in an extremely careful and constructive manner.
All that was humanly possible was done this year for the proper housing of pupils. Two additional rooms were made available this year. The band room in the old high school was converted into a new classroom, and a new first grade was located in the Center School by transferring the Boys Opportunity class to the high school. There is no other available space for classrooms.
The new elementary school will be a decided boon to educational needs, and will relieve the present situation tremendously.
Whether any additional school housing be humanly or financially possible later remains to be seen, but the problem should at least be considered for future reference.
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Elementary Schools
The Rinehart System of Handwriting has been used now in the elementary grades for one year. This system was put into prac - tice in Grades I - IV in January, 1952, until June, 1952. The system was extended to include Grave V in September, 1952, and will be practiced in Grades I - V through June, 1952. It is also planned to extend this service to include Grave VI in Sept. 1953. The slant, or manuscript form of writing, will still be taught in grades one and two, and cursive writing will be taught in grades 3, 4 and 5. The children and teachers have enjoyed the new hand- writing system, and more than unusual progress has been made in a relatively short period of time. The importance of good hand- writing and habits of neatness need not be stressed here. Children are now taking a more personal interest and pride in their daily papers, and are simultaneously acquiring a handwriting skill that will benefit them greatly in the years to come. We are also very fortunate in having several teachers in the school system who have taught the Rinehart System in the past. This, too, has contributed considerably to the success of the program.
The teachers and principals in grades one to four have chosen the new basal reading system. The system approved and adopted by the teaching personnel, principals, Remedial Reading Super - visor, and Superintendent is the Curriculum Foundation Series, published by Scott-Foresman Company. This new basal reading program is so arranged as to take care of pre-school reading needs and is adaptable to a multiple-level instructional program. Basal readers are now completely standardized in grades 1 - 4 inclusive so that all children are now experiencing the same ap- proach to reading at all of these levels. More than that, the same methods are being used by all teaching personnel throughout these grade levels, and a decided effort is being made to cope with spe- cific problems. Simultaneously, phonics drills are being stressed with greater emphasis at all levels, and it is expected that vocabu- lary development and speed of comprehension will improve con- siderably. With such uniformity of procedure, and employing a reading system that is flexible enough to satisfy individual needs, the picture for the future appears much brighter than ever before. The only poor feature is still the overcrowded classroom which makes the attempt to progress just a little more difficult.
A new mathematics series, "Numbers at Work ", Iroquois Publishing Co., has been introduced in grades 3 and 4. As with the reading program, it is hoped to extend this series to grades 5 and 6 next year, and thus attempt to obtain greater results with the same uniformity of approach and methodology. The mathe- matics series will be applied to the proper grade levels in all
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schools so that each grade level in each school will be striving, in effect, to reach the same objectives.
The Tressler, "English in Action", series for English gram- mar and composition, has been introduced in the 7th and 8th grades. It is also hoped that new English literature series may be introduced at these grade levels next year.
The same homogeneous grouping plan is being followed in grades 5 and 6 in order to reach individual problems more effectively. Such grouping is not intended to imply superiority or inferiority in any way, but is solely designed to improve specific group abilities and progress.
Science has been introduced at the 8th grade level for the first time. The Text adopted for use is, "Our Environment and It's Relation to Us", Allyn & Bacon, and the educational results ex- perienced thus far have been more than gratifying. A portable laboratory has been purchased so that all students may experience practical demonstrations of the theory involved. Science is a must in the curriculum today, and it is planned to introduce it to the 7th grades next year.
A uniform program of all recesses and noon hours has been set up for all elementary schools as far as practicable. Super- vision of all areas throughout the entire school day is rigidly ad- hered to.
New textbooks will have to be purchased for the next few years in amounts conducive to sound financial planning. The costs of text- books today are rather high and all that can be expected is to meet the needs where they are greatest from year to year.
High School
The high school enrollment still continues to increase. The highest enrollment tabulated since September was 401, but the average enrollment to date approximates 388. Taking into con- sideration the average enrollment in grades 1 - 8 today, we should expect that the enrollment for the high school should reach a figure of 837 by the year 1960. When this present building was designed, it was estimated then that the maximum number of students that could be housed and cared for would be 475. If the "drop-out" rate remains the same as in the past few years, there should be approxi- mately 500 students by September, 1955. This figure was also
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arrived at by the present School Building Committee, and the towns - people were so notified. In my estimation, the high school struc- ture planned for the future will never house grades 7 - 12. Wilming- ton, because of the phenomenal growth of student population, will undoubtedly have to remain an 8 - 4 system. That is, the high school will be adequate for grades 9 - 12 only, when it is complete - ly finished.
The marking system in the high school has been changed to some extent, and more changes are contemplated for the future. Two years of English may no longer be taken in any one year, and a student must pass four years of English to be graduated. If a failure in English is experienced, the student must either go to summer school or become a five year student. The more recent privilege of allowing a student to take two years of English in one year, because of previous Eng- lish failure was a contradiction in itself. More than that it encou- rages laxity on the part of the student and jeopardized the class "A'! rating held by the school.
Courses of study are being worked on at the present time, and it is expected that most of the money earmarked for high school texts this year will be used to overhaul completely all English books and supplementary material. The Commercial Department is con- ducting a survey which is expected to make a substantial contribu- tion to changes now being contemplated. Some changes and some additions have been made to the present curricula, and it is expect- ed that more will be made in the future. Typewriting has been designated as a college course elective, as well as trigonometry and solid geometry. The Commercial Course now offers a major study to all, either in secretarial training or bookkeeping, as well as training in office practice procedure. In the General and Prac- tical Arts Courses, subjects which were found to be extremely over - lapping were either eliminated for a more appropriate subject, or were so arranged that a student could not, in effect, elect the same content matter twice.
The Cafeteria is still being operated on a very efficient basis, and much credit is due Mr. McMahon, Mrs. Day, Mrs. Bousfield, Mrs. Flight, Mrs. DeLisle, Mrs. Welling and the principals and teachers of the other buildings who use these facilities. The cafe- teria is run at an annual cost of less than $500. 00 to the Town each year. Considering the service rendered, it is amazing that so much can be done in this area at such a slight fee.
School attendance at the high school has increased considerably this year. Unwarranted absenteeism cannot be condoned by school
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officials. A good record of attendance is as important as anything else in obtaining future work, and regular attendance is a prime requisite for the successful completion of the academic work in- volved.
The Student Council, under the direction of Miss Farello, is to be congratulated for its fine record of performance in the past year. Much has been done by this group to put into practice the great principles of democratic living. The fine example given by the Student Council to all students will prove to be most valuable in the years to come.
The Guidance Department, under the direction of Mr. Whittredge, has extended its services to more pupils this year than ever before. Mr. Ralph Ambrose returned this year after two years with the military, and he was immediately assigned to assist Mr. Whittredge in developing a more comprehensive guidance program. It is ex- pected that a Career Day will be held again this year, and even more released time will be sought for guidance personnel for the next year. Cumulative record cards are now being printed for all stu- dents in grades 1 - 12. This will be a guidance function in which a student's progress will be more carefully noted and analyzed from year to year, and for five years after graduation from high school.
Many of the above changes will be developed in the future, and more changes are contemplated very soon.
Supervisory Functions
Our supervisors continue to improve their present programs, and are presently engaged in making whatever changes are deemed necessary for future expansion. It is not my intention to repeat here what they have already included in their annual reports. In the not too distant future, however, assistance will have to be given to these supervisors in some way or another. This does not neces- sarily mean additional personnel, but rather a choice of needed personnel with specialization in the areas of art, music, physical education and reading.
Under school health we are now confronted with a new law en- acted on July 9, 1952. The Law, which is Chapter 71, Section 57, as amended, places an almost impossible burden on health officials and all towns and cities within the Commonwealth. The act itself went into effect on September 1, 1952, and what has been inter- preted as the "intent" of the law will, in my opinion, take some time
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to comply with. My recommendation is to move slowly but surely in this case, so that present policies of school health will not be involved in unnecessary red tape, and so that we may not expose the taxpayer to phenomenal increased costs.
Adult Evening Vocational School
For the first time in the history of the Wilmington Public Schools adult evening classes were started in October, 1952, on recommen- dation of the Superintendent of Schools and with the approval of the School Committee.
Thirteen classes are held each week in seven different subject areas, and approximately 240 people are now enrolled. Classes meet on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings in the following subjects: Beginners Dressmaking, Advanced Dress- making, Rug Hooking, Decorated Ware, Upholstering, Furniture Refinishing and Americanization or Citizenship.
The salary costs to the Town will be reimbursed 100% for the first year by Federal and State grants: 75% for the second year, and never less than 50% thereafter. Light and fuel costs will be subsidized by the Commonwealth to the extent of 50% each year. The enrollment fee to the townspeople is just $1. 00 for a twenty- week course, and the instruction is the best to be procured, and approved by the State Department of Education. It is hoped to ex- pand this service to the public in another year by adding adult courses in such subjects as English, mathematics, stenography and typing.
The cost of such adult evening classes is extremely small when one considers the advantages offered, and the actual financial aid given in support by Federal and State funds. Mr. H. Whittredge is the coordinator of the adult evening classes and may be contacted at the high school for any information in this regard.
Repairs
Considerable repair work was accomplished in many of the schools this past year. Much of the work consisted of painting classrooms and corridors of the various schools, replacing chalk- boards, overhauling furnaces, sanding desks and floors and re- placing or repairing obsolete or worn out equipment and furnish - ings. Three major improvements consisted of the complete reno - vation of the Walker first grade, the installation of new toilet
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facilities at the old high school, and re-pointing and caulking of the entire exterior of the old high school.
For the coming year much will still have to be done to keep our school buildings in operative condition. A detailed list of all repairs deemed necessary by school officials has been put into the hands of the Town Manager for his consideration. Among some of the neces- sary repairs recommended for 1953 are: completion of the boys' toilet in the old high school, renovation of the girls' toilet in the old high school, new heating system for the old high school, painting exteriors of the Buzzell, Mildred Rogers, West, Walker and White - field Schools, and many other items considered necessary for the safety and health of the children.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Town Manager for his cooperation, and to mention once again the loyalty and devotion to duty displayed by the maintenance man and custodians.
Conclusion
Once again may I take this opportunity to express to the mem- bers of the School Committee my sincere appreciation for their constructive thoughts, suggestions and actions during the course of the past year. School Committee members, in my estimation, portray as fine an example of civic pride and duty as any I can think of. Working entirely without compensation in the financial sense, the only reward any School Committee member may expect is the satisfaction of a job well done. The privileges and powers of a School Committee are notoriously better known than the duties and responsibilities that go along with them. Considering the scope of the task involved, and the personal welfare and growth of the many children to be cared for, it is no wonder at all that the General Laws of the Commonwealth have provided School Committees with such legal rights for many years. In effect, the people themselves, voicing their wishes through the General Laws, have spoken in be - half of their childrens' future.
May I also pay tribute at this time to the supervisors, princi- pals, and teachers who have worked so hard this past year. No amount of writing on my part could adequately describe the spirit of cooperation displayed in their daily assignments. If educational programs are to be successful, it is the teaching personnel who will make them successful in the final analysis. The continued loyalty and assistance still being rendered to the schools by the P. T. A. , Mothers' Clubs and all other local groups and organizations are still an invaluable aid in carrying on the daily educational work.
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PRINCIPAL OF WILMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL
It is with deep satisfaction and pleasure that I submit my report as High School Principal for the past year. There has been marked improvement all along the line which augurs well for the future. A few changes in the school have been made, which have benefited all concerned. We shall go into detail on these changes throughout the report.
The following changes in personnel took place this year:
Resigned:
Mr. Allen R. Harris
Miss Marjorie Marshall
Miss Christine Mulcahy
Miss Thespina Triantafilou
Miss Mary Daily
Miss Mary Gibbons
Miss Helen Kelley
Miss Janet Lewis
Mr. Albert Hoag
Mr. Joseph Baglione
We were very pleased to welcome Mr. Ralph Ambrose back after a two year tour of duty with the United States Army.
Our highest enrollment since September was four hundred and one (401). At the current writing, we have three hundred and eighty eight (388) pupils enrolled. It is possible to get through the next school year with existing facilities. However, the school year of 1954-1955 is questionable. There will be a definite need for the second classroom unit on the High School by September 1955, since the enrollment will be over five hundred (500). It will remain in the five hundred (500) bracket in 1956, then jump to six hundred and twenty-seven (627) in 1957, and six hundred and sixty-eight (668) in 1958. 1959 will find seven hundred and forty-five (745) and in 1960 there will be eight hundred and thirty-seven (837). These figures are based on current enrollments from Grades 8 down to Grade 1 in four year groups. Being statistical figures, they will not be exact, but are sufficiently reliable to indicate the trend of Wilmington High School for the next eight years.
The attendance for the first four months of this year has in- creased 1. 4% over the same period for last year. This may seem insignificant, but actually it means 371 less absences than a year ago. We cannot stress good attendance too strongly because it may well mean the success or failure of our graduates in the future, since industry is definitely concerned with absenteeism. At presen there are eight companies who insist on a detailed report of the applicant's four year period of attendance while in High School. To my knowledge, two former graduates lost excellent opportunities for employment solely because of a poor High School attendance record. Since September we have had a large number of requests
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Replacements :
for dismissal for medical, dental and other appointments. We are fully cognizant of the fact that such appointments are necessary for students, but we wish the parents would insist on the hour being made some time after school, Saturdays or during vacation periods.
During the past year we had two committees organized; one for the program of studies, the other for the marking system. The following recommendations were made for the curriculum and adopted in September:
College Course:
Mechanical Drawing
Grade 9
Typewriting
Grades 11 and 12*
Trigonometry and Solid Geometry
Grade 12*
General Course:
Consumer Education replaced
Consumer Science
Grade 11
Clerical Practice
Grade 12*
Commercial Course:
Business Training
Grade 9 (instead of Gr. 10)
Business Arithmetic
Grade 10 (starting Sept. 1953)_
Seniors majoring in Secretarial Training take Stenography II, while those majoring in Bookkeeping take Bookkeeping II.
Practical Arts Course:
Business Training and Typewriting
Grade 10
Civics (Replacing Cons. Sc. )
Grade 11
Consumer Education
Grade 12
*Elective
Otherwise the courses remain the same as in past years.
In conjunction with the changes in curriculum, Mr. DeLuca of the Commercial Department is conducting a curriculum survey. He has mailed a total of three hundred and thirty-three (333) letters to graduates of the past five years in an attempt to ascertain the strength and weakness of the High School curriculum. To date, the reply is about 65% complete. A follow-up letter has been sent to the remaining 35%, and we earnestly hope that they will honestly answer the questions in the letters and return them promptly. This
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