USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1962-1963 > Part 18
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The membership of the Committee was as follows :
Term Expires
Mr. Arthur V. Lynch, Chairman
1964
Mr. Glen E. Connolly, Vice Chairman
1965
Mr. Richard E. Keane, Secretary 1966
Mr. John F. Hartnett 1966
Mr. Edward F. Page 1965
Mr. George G. Robertie
1964
The year 1963 again found the Committee deeply involved in matters pertaining to (1) the long range school building program, (2) the recruitment and selection of teachers, (3) curriculum development and improvement, and (4) prudent budgetary policies and practices in the face of rising costs. Your study of the needs and the progress by the School Committee and the School Administration in these vital areas of our public school operation is respect fully solicited in the pages that follow.
THE SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAM
Scheduled for completion and occupancy by September, 1964, is the new 15 room elementary school on Woburn Street in North Wilmington. The 12 rooms of elementary pupils now housed in the North Intermediate School will be transferred to the new school, thus permitting the latter to be used solely as a Grades 7-8 center for the children in this area of the town. It should be noted, however, that for the school year 1964-65, an attempt will be made to place all Grade seven children in the North Intermediate School. Such a move will not only ease the overcrowded situation in the high school, but will also permit these children to be in a school where their educational and social needs can be better met. What will happer. after the 1964-65 school year will be determined by what happens in West Wilmington.
Sometime between 1965 and 1968, two schools will have to be constructed in the West Wilming- ton area, if the town is to keep abreast of its long range building program. One is scheduled to house Grades 1-6 children; the other Grades 7-8. It is too early at this writing to say which school should be erected first, but it is not too early to acquire the sites for them. It is the feeling of the School Committee that the acquisition of these two sites represents a minimum requirement; and, if at all possible, the Permanent Building Committee should acquire sites in the South Wilmington area in reasonable keeping with the recommendations of the "Report of School and Recreation Studies and Capital Budget", pre- pared for the Wilmington Planning Board by Economic Development Associates, dated May 31, 1960
The Committee also feels that if pupil projections permit and overcrowdedness at the high school dictates, the Intermediate School should be phased in first in this area of town. School use would follow the pattern established for the North Intermediate School, wherein for the first few years of its occupancy, the school would house both elementary and
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Grades 7-8 students. This would permit the balance of the Grades 7-8 children not housed in the North Intermediate School to be taken care of in the new school and, at the same time, handle the first crush of elementary children expected in this area in the next few years, after which the eventual number of elementary and secondary rooms needed would become more clear. It would also relieve the pressure on the high school, which will need all of its space for the Grade 9-12 enrollment after 1967.
Lastly, regarding the long range school building program, the Committee would like to bring to the attention of the town the fact that if housing starts continue to stay at 154, as was the case this year compared to an average of 112 the previous five years, and our school population continues to spurt as it did this year, the 1966 occupancy previously scheduled for the West Wilmington area may have to be advanced to 1965. The Permanent Building Committee, the School Administration, and your School Committee are all watching this situa- tion very carefully, and are prepared to take the necessary steps should the need arise.
TEACHER SELECTION
During the past year, twenty-five teachers resigned for the following reasons :
Matrimony 5 8 Maternity
Overseas Teaching Positions 2
Other Teaching Positions 6 Armed Service 1 Counselled Out 1
Personal and Family Responsibilities 2
The Committee elected nineteen teachers to tenure, appointed thirty-four teachers to fill staff vacancies, and approved one emeritus status. The latter was granted to Miss Laura N. Marland, beloved and superb teacher in the Wilmington Public Schools for 45 years, and head of the English Department for 40 years. Of the thirty-four staff vacancies filled, twenty- five were for replacements, eight for new positions because of growth, and one to improve the curriculum. The number of teachers and principals now stands at 175, compared to 166 in 1962, and to 129 five years ago.
The Committee made two additions to the existing salary schedule in an attempt to recognize advanced training and to strengthen holding power in the professional staff. Effective in September of 1964, the additions, a Master's degree plus thirty hours of training, and a Doctor's degree, will become part of the overall salary schedule for teachers. The former will call for a minimum-maximum wage of $5,300 - $8,100, and the latter of $5,600 - $8,400.
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT
Accomplishments in this critical area of the total instructional program during the past vear included major improvements in Reading, English, Mathematics, Special Education, Science, and steady, if not spectacular gains in other subjects. These will be covered in more detail in the report of the Superintendent of Schools.
THE COST OF PUBLIC EDUCATION
The cost of supporting public school education in Wilmington has increased steadily during the past five years. From 1959 through 1963 the school budget, exclusive of maintenance costs, increased annually by approximately 15% on the average. During the same period, the average annual increase in enrollment was just a little over 6%. What impact is causing such an alarming difference between what could be expected as nominal budget increases and what is actually needed to operate the schools? Three factors are causing this bulge - (1) a greater urgency and need for better educational opportunities for our children, (2) a demand for more and better services, and (3) the necessity of recognizing and meeting the
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salary needs of teachers, particularly if the school system is to maintain a position of reasonable strength in the recruitment market.
For example, the difference between the 1963 and 1962 budgets was $152,623.53, an increase of 14%. The larger budget was due mainly to these reasons :
1. The decision of the School Committee to move the minimum salary for begin- ning teachers from $4200 to $4700
2. The necessity of budgeting for a full year in 1963 for the additional teachers hired for September, 1962
3. Increments and adjustments in salaries
4. The need to improve and modernize the curriculum
This picture is not as dark as it may seem, since the average per pupil cost for the school year ending June 30, 1963 was $352.00 compared with a state average of approximately $391.0 per pupil.
State reimbursements in this five year period went from $176,920 to $219,068 for an average gain of close to 5%. This coupled with federal monies turned back to the town by the Committee has resulted in a net average cost to the town for public education of about 82% of the total cost.
To operate our schools at reasonable standards is either going to call for a more generous state aid program or a stepped-up federal aid program. It is doubtful whether local re- sources can carry this burden much longer.
To conclude : Schools were in session 180 days, beginning September 5, 1962, and ending June 19, 1963. The Committee held 18 regular meetings and one special meeting during the year.
The School Committee thanks the various civic committees, town departments, and the many individuals who have been so cooperative and helpful to the school department during the past year.
Respectfully submitted, Wilmington School Committee Arthur V. Lynch, Chairman Glen E. Connolly, Vice Chairman Richard E. Keane, Secretary John F. Hartnett Edward F. Page George G. Robertie
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Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee and Citizens of Wilmington:
I herewith submit my fourth Annual Report as Superintendent of the Wilmington Public Schools for the year ending December 31, 1963.
Education in a free society must adapt as times, conditions, and needs of society change. In our public schools this adaptation is brought about by continual evaluation of the cur- riculum by the professional staff, lay groups, and members of the School Committee. During the past year, major emphasis was placed on improving the curriculum in reading, mathematics, English, and science. Status reports on these subjects, progress notes in other areas, and recommendations for improving the total school operation follow:
STATUS REPORTS
In 1961, the reading program was reorganized and expanded to meet more exacting demands in the fields of comprehension, vocabulary use, and individual study skills at both the elementary and secondary school levels. Some results of this reorganization are :
1. In grades two through six in the basic reading skills in 1961, 50% of the pupils were reading at grade level; in September 1962, the figure rose to 79%; and in September 1963, it reached 90%.
2. A developmental reading program is in progress for all seventh, eighth, and ninth grade students. The program is based on the use of Science Research Associate Laboratories, and material is geared to meet the needs of the slow, the average, and the gifted learner. Concurrent with this are briefing sessions for all English teachers in the teach- ing of reading, including demonstration lessons in phonics and other reading skills.
3. To round out the program, the members of the Reading Department conduct remedial classes, tutor individual students who have severe reading difficulties, confer with teachers on pilot programs, and compile lists for supplementary and library reading in the various schools.
Paralleling the strengthening of the reading program was the start of a massive overhauling of the English textbook inventory in grades seven through twelve to broaden and deepen the base of all phases of the language. It resulted in the purchase of several thousands of dollars worth of new books in the various types of literature - essay, fiction, biography, narrative poetry, and drama. Excellent dollar return on the monies allocated for this pro- ject was realized through the extensive purchase of paperback books. Phases two and three of the program call for (1) the development of a system of standards within the department, (2) an expanded vocabulary program, and (3) further utilization of reading skills materials with groups at all levels of competency.
In mathematics, a complete change-over to "modern" mathematics is underway. This is neces- sary if Wilmington High School is to maintain its position of preparing its graduates both for future careers in which mathematics is required and for mathematics requirements in college.
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The program has the endorsement of the country's top flight mathematicians and is an inte- gral part of the mathematics curriculum in many of the leading school systems in the United States.
At the elementary level, the "modern" mathematics program will be introduced in grades one and two in the early spring of 1964, and for grades three, four, five, and six in September of 1964. Meantime, a course in "modern" mathematics for all elementary teachers, and work. shops and orientation programs for parents will be conducted by members of the school department.
It is well to note that this change-over is more in approach than in content. Its aim is i provide children with a greater understanding of the structure of mathematics and to de- velop skill in thinking mathematically.
In science, the need for a curriculum guide in elementary science has been acute. To meet this need, a committee of elementary teachers, under the direction of the supervising principals, and with consultants from nearby universities and publishers, have been working for the past year and a half compiling a guide for use in grades one through six. Editing and collating were accomplished in the summer of 1963, and the curriculum guide became pari of the elementary school program in September of the same year. It is too soon to evaluate the final worth of the guide, but early reports do indicate that the teachers are pleased with it, and that the children are receiving a more thorough grounding in all phases of elementary science.
At the secondary level, the teachers are in the process of putting together curriculum pro. posals that will result in (1) the introduction of a modern chemistry course called "CHEM" in addition to traditional chemistry, (2) the return of a P.S.S.C. (Physical Science Study Committee ) physics course which the students are now ready for because of the advanced mathematics program, and (3) the replacement of general science in grade nine with an earth physical science course.
PROGRESS NOTES
Summarized below are the accomplishments, the highlights, and the special activities of the 1963 school year. They are worthy of more than passing attention, for they are a credit to the teachers, the principals, the supervisors, and the students.
French is now on a solid basis in grade eight, thus making for a five year secondary se- quence in this subject. Grade seven will be phased in as soon as funds permit. French is no longer a part of the elementary program. The latter action was taken because of (1) the lack of a solid program in grades seven through twelve which removed the value of elementa: learnings in French, and (2) the unavailability of teachers who have the necessary language qualifications to carry existing TV programs beyond two periods per week, thus causing a breakdown in articulation and student interest.
Steady advances were made in the Fine and Practical Arts Programs.
In Industrial Arts, new course sequences were being streamlined to enable the student to specialize intensively in his junior and senior years after taking introductory and ex- ploratory courses in woodworking, metal working, electricity, and graphic arts in his freshman and sophomore years.
In Home Economics, a complete four year program, covering foods, clothing, nutrition, chil care and family living, is fully operative for the first time.
The Art and Music Festivals are reaching quality stature with each succeeding year. The band is ready for concert work; the repertoire of the choral groups is expanding; more stu dents are majoring in Art at the post high school level.
The School Health Department administered Sabin Oral Polio Vaccine, Type II, to 3344 pupil. gave 3447 vision tests, conducted 3619 hearing tests, and assisted in 1254 physical
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examinations, in addition to the handling of routine office visits of pupils, home visits, school visits, parent conferences, attendance at professional meetings, record keeping, and the registration of new pupils in the school system. This Department is a tremendously important and valuable adjunct of the regular school program, and the nurses know and do their work well under the supervision of Doctors Gerald Fagan and Ernest MacDougall.
The Physical Education program, while maybe not ideal, is educationally sound, has no frills, and can hold its own with many school systems spending far more money on this program than Wilmington. Emphasis this past year was placed on correcting muscle weaknesses in the shoulders and girdle area of students, and increasing the time spent on calisthenics, rythmic exercises, tumbling, and gymnastics.
The Special Education Department, responsible for educational programs of our mentally re- tarded children, is making great strides to better meet the needs of this type of child. The curriculum is becoming more varied, more individualized, and more meaningful. Parents and friends in increasingly large numbers are providing invaluable aid to the staff. High- light of last year's activities in this department was the first graduation for students of the senior division. It was exceptionally well received by the parents and public, and the ceremony was a source of great pride and inward satisfaction to the students. This recog- nition was long overdue.
The latest survey of the Class of 1963, Wilmington High School, reveals the following statistics :
Four Year Colleges
39%
Technical Schools
8%
Junior Colleges 3%
Business Schools
4%
Preparatory Schools
2%
Nursing Schools 4%
Armed Forces
7%
Working Force
33%
Total
100%
Total to further education
and Armed forces
67%
Besides the large increase in the number of youngsters attending college, the trend that seems to be prevalent in the last few graduating classes has been an increase in the number of youngsters attending technical schools instead of immediately entering the work- Ing force or the Armed services.
[n social studies at the high school level, the latest trend is to place emphasis on the philosophies of the various periods rather than on the memorization of multitudinous facts. Members of the department are currently working on curriculum revision and sequence and should be ready for major recommendations in these areas in another year.
Library services were intensified in all subject fields at the secondary level, in order to help our young people become more skillful and more discriminating in their use of libraries and printed materials, and to provide them with materials and services appropriate to their Individual investigations. Total circulation for the past year was 42, 307 from an inventory of 6,873 volumes, or about 4.5 per pupil. This compares favorably with the state picture.
RECOMMENDATIONS
'o meet the many problems that face our schools and our community in the years ahead, some .ong range plans and recommendations are in order. These problems range in scope from how ;o meet the impact of automation on the productive capacity of the future graduates of the high school to how to adequately finance the construction of new schools. Some of the ways might be as follows :
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1. Continue to emphasize and upgrade reading programs, grades one through twelve. For a person who must be retrained because of loss of job caused by automated machinery, and this is likely to happen at least three times in his productive life, the stronger his mastery of read- ing skills, the stronger his chances of successful reassignment.
2. Continue to provide the Business Department with modern equipment and material particularly in the fields of key punch and data processing. Over the years, this has been one of the strongest departments in the high school, and its graduates are much sought after by the business community.
3. Establish a Work-Study-Program in the high school for the "marginal" student. This program wherein a student spends only part of a day in school and the remainder in some type of work experience in the com- munity, would be a boon for students who might otherwise quit school, and who have lost confidence in themselves.
4. Provide special psychological services to counsel and help children who are neglected, maladjusted, emotionally disturbed, or potentially de- linquent. It has been amply demonstrated by the social researchers and the courts that if a child receives the essential help when malad- justment is first observed, he may be saved from its developing effects, which lead to poor scholastic achievement, poor relationships with home, school, and society, and eventual delinquency. Although member- ship in the Lowell Mental Health Clinic is helping to alleviate some of these problems, it is probably not enough.
5. Push vigorously and enlist the support of all lay groups for a more generous and equalized state aid allotment to local education. The time has long since passed when the property tax alone can be expected to carry the burden for the support of public education in many com- munities. This is unrealistic, if not discriminatory. Wilmington is one of these communities.
6. Initiate as soon as conditions permit a replacement program for the Whitefield, Center, Rogers, and Walker Schools. These schools have more than served their original purpose, and only the valiant efforts of the Maintenance Department prevent them from becoming dilapidated and more obsolete, not to mention hazardous because of fire danger. They cannot serve us much longer.
7. Consider the possibility of a pilot program which would permit quali- fied seniors in our high school to do independent study in the many fine museums, libraries, cultural centers, laboratories, and other resources in the Boston Metropolitan area. We now have a few seniors, and will have more, who are capable of doing the traditional five days of schooling in four. To permit these students to broaden their whole range of scholarship, for example, one day a week under skilled super- vision, in an appropriate location, could be an exhilarating learning experience.
These are but a few of the many challenges. Always with us are the problems of adequate salaries for teachers, more health services, additional special programs for the physically and mentally handicapped, and more and better instructional aids. However, the spirit and willingness with which you have met these problems in the past augurs well for the future of Wilmington. The teachers and the administrative staff stand ready to serve you.
In closing, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all who helped in the succes of the school program during the past year. Much would go undone without their cooperation
Respectfully submitted, Harold S. Shea Superintendent of Schools
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WILMINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILMINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS
MEMBERSHIP BY AGE AND GRADE - OCTOBER 1, 1963
AGE - GRADE DISTRIBUTION
19 and
Ages :
5
6
7
8
9 10
11
12 13
14
15
16
17
18
over
Grades
Totals
1
98
364
48
510
2
78
287
63
7
435
3
2
57
258
59
10
2
388
4
49
252
62
14
377
5
44
188
49 16
297
45
216
50
13
1
325
36
195
47
13
1
292
8
1
57
163
52
12
2
287
39
186
61
18
1
1
306
10
47 137
36
12
232
50
154
39
4
2
249
1
57
110
22
4
194
Ungraded
1
4
7
11
6
7
10
13
5
5
1
73
98 445
396
373
369
316
324 325
272
312
267
272
163
27
6 3965
6
7
9
11
12
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Maintenance Department
Boutwell School:
Ventilation improved in kitchen T.V. antenna replaced
Oil burner overhauled and check valve in- stalled on pipe from oil tank
Edging installed on five sink counter tops All inside doors and window sills sealed
Buzzell School:
Installed a hot top sidewalk from front door to Swain School parking lot (Highway Dept. )
Center School:
Patched floors, refitted doors, also minor repairs Sanded and sealed floors in two rooms
Glen Road School:
Sealed all interior doors and window sills Repaired laminated beam - room #9. Re- moved dead logs and debris from play yard Ventilation in kitchen improved Heating vent system overhauled Stage repaired
High School:
Installed heating unit in metal shop Painted gymnasium, auditorium, foyer and all outside doors, upper structure and heating ducts, bulletin boards, boys' locker room, carpenter shop, metal shop and main office Greenhouse dismantled Roof patched on #1 wing, skylights over library covered with plastic Ventilation in boys' locker room improved Installed roof drain Yard around boiler room hard topped Replaced drain cover and rebuilt top of drain in teachers' parking lot
High School (continued) :
All boiler filters serviced, firewalls checked
Filled in all cracks in walls and painted All stairway railings painted Replaced broken tile
Sanded and resealed bleachers in gym Repaired leak in kitchen roof and girls' locker room
Sanded and sealed all work tables in art and home economics rooms (50 student tables, 50 student desks )
Caulked all windows and doors where neces- sary
Mildred Rogers School:
Outside of building painted completely Two new sinks installed
Rebuilt cupulo, replaced wood shingles Installed new conductor drain-pipes Made and installed new identification name sign
North Intermediate School:
Made and installed four 4' x 8' bulletin boards
Made and installed three book cases in guidance room
Made and installed book shelves on three walls 5' high Made and installed receiving and checkout desk for books
Installed iron grating outside gym doors Made and installed teachers' mail cabinet Made and installed sewing cabinet and 86 sewing boxes
Swain School:
Basement floor repaired and covered with waterproof paint
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Wildwood School :
Link fence installed outside picture win- dow south wing Blackout curtains installed in all purpose room Putty replaced and glass where necessary Outside awning repaired
Library table and all wooden chairs stripped and refinished Boiler room door repaired Sealed and hung five new inside doors Tar patched roof Made and installed strips on outside vents
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