Wilbraham annual report 1932-1940, Part 16

Author: Wilbraham (Mass.)
Publication date: 1932
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 956


USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Wilbraham annual report 1932-1940 > Part 16


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).


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73


Transportation.


With the closing of outlying schools, the increase in the number of tuition pupils who attend school out of town, and the enactment of law with reference to transportation, the problem of transportation of school children has been assuming increasing importance. The law authorizes the school com- mittee to contract for transportation over a period of three years. During the past summer a contract for transportation of elementary and high school pupils in Wilbraham Street and vicinity was renewed and two new routes were established. The townspeople may be interested in the terms of these contracts.


John Bradlenski was awarded a three year contract for transporting elementary school pupils from the Stony Hill and Edward F. Powers districts to the Wilbraham Street school and for transporting thirty-five high school pupils from Wilbraham Street and vicinity to Springfield, at $1,660 per year. Additional high school pupils to the number of five are being transported by Mr. Bradlenski at twenty cents per pupil per day.


George W. Motyka was awarded a three year contract to furnish two buses, each transporting thirty-six high school pupils living on Boston Road or roads leading into it to Spring- field, and for transporting elementary school pupils from East Wilbraham to the North Wilbraham school and from the Plains section to The Pines school, at $3.000 per year. One of Mr. Motyka's buses is designed to carry fifty-four high school pupils, and he is being paid $1.50 per day in addition to the above for running this bus through The Pines section and loading it to capacity.


Three year contracts for transportation have always been awarded on a bid basis. It is worth noting that the quality of the service secured in this way has gradually improved and at the same time the contract prices have been lower.


It is a matter of economy for the school department to keep the Wilbraham Street high school bus load up to its max- imum of forty and the Boston Road buses loaded to their maximums of thirty-six and fifty-four respectively. This means that every few weeks it is necessary to make transfers. It is also important for the sake of order and good conduct on the buses that every pupil know to what seat he is entitled.


74


This also means the issuing of new seating arrangements several times during the school year.


A sufficient justification for the change along the Boston Road from Street Railway to bus transportation is found in the savings made. With the present enrolment this amounts to about $1,500 annually. Even with this saving and at. the lower tuition rates, because of the gain in the number of tuition pupils, high and trade school expenditures during 1936 will be larger than ever before.


Reduction in Tuition Rates.


The school department of the city of Springfield during the past few years has been obliged to cut down on its expendi- tures. This has meant a lower per pupil cost. Throughout the commonwealth the practice is to fix tuition rates at a figure approximating the cost per pupil. Your committee believes that the Springfield school committee is disposed to follow this practice. As per pupil costs in Springfield have gone down, requests have been made by this committee, as well as by the other school committees of this superintendency union, that the Springfield tuition rates be decreased. This has been done. For a time the senior high school tuition rate was $190 a year. In 1933 it was reduced to $170, and again beginning September, 1935, to $160. The rate in the junior high schools was reduced from $140 to $135, and then to $130. These reductions in tuition rates mean that the town is paying for tuition for the current year approximately $1,000 less than it would have paid under the rates in effect a year ago, and $3,500 less than would have been required under the rates in effect prior to September, 1933.


School Enrolment Trends.


In the annual report for 1932 this subject was discussed. A table giving the births recorded in town, the first grade mem- bership, the eighth grade membership, the total membership of the elementary schools, and the total number of high and trade school pupils from 1922 to 1932, was included. The table showed a falling off in the number of births recorded in town from 77 in 1923 to 34 in 1932, a maximum first grade enrolment of 159 in 1924 and a minimum of 71 in 1932. The eighth grade enrolment during the period had increased from 25 to 59. The total elementary school enrolment reached a maximum of 516 in 1925 and had dropped to 460 by 1932.


75


High and trade school membership showed a steady gain from 63 in 1922 to 153 in 1932. Data for 1922, 1925, 1932 are given again herewith together with the figures for 1933, 1934, and 1935.


Births Recorded


First Grade


Eighth Grade


Elementary Schools


High and Trade Schools


1922


69


129


25


460


63


1925


55


148


30


516


80


1932


24


71


59


460


153


1933


21


61


46


439


158


1934


37


50


54


413


163


1935


32


54


47


370


182


The enrolment in the elementary schools of the town has dropped from a maximum of 516 in 1925 to 370 at the present time. This is a loss of 146 pupils. But the town is growing in population. The last two years have shown a tendency for the number of births recorded in town to increase. This year the membership in grade 1 shows a slight gain. It is quite possible that the enrolment in the elementary schools has dropped to its lowest point and that the next few years will show gain rather than loss.


The number of high and trade school pupils is still in- creasing and has reached a total of 182 at the present time. The forecast for next year, based on pupils now in the eighth grade and in high and trade school, is 214. This will make a surprisingly large enrolment of tuition pupils, greater than was expected and probably greater than the several years to follow 1936 will show. The increase is partly explained by the pop- ularity among Wilbraham pupils of the Springfield trade school. Fifty-two boys and girls from the town of Wilbraham are enrolled in this school.


Pre-School Center.


For nearly two years a pre-school center in charge of Mrs. Isabel Riddle was conducted at The Pines school. The salary of the person in charge and a large part of the other expenses were met by the federal government. The conditions as to employment of a teacher, the children to be enrolled, the hours the school was to be in session, and so on, were prescribed by the federal government. The project was greatly appre- ciated by the parents whose children attended. If possible, it would have been continued this year, but new requirements


76


which the town could not meet were set up by the authorities, and the school had to be discontinued.


Projects.


Extra curricular projects are always being carried on in the Wilbraham schools. It is difficult to measure the educa- tional value of these projects, but I believe them to be of great value in breaking up the monotony of school life and bringing teachers and pupils together on a sympathetic footing. The following list is by no means a complete one, but will serve to illustrate what I have in mind when speaking of them.


At the Stony Hill school Miss Laramee's pupils last year collected and destroyed a considerable number of egg clusters of the tent caterpillar.


At The Pines school the pupils for several years have held exhibits of flowers and of vegetables. This year they also put on a very interesting leisure time project exhibit. One of the schools prepared a puppet show, each pupil in the classroom making at least one puppet.


At Wilbraham Street for two successive years Mrs. John- son's school has won first place in a state-wide forestry note- book competition carried out under the auspices of the Mass- achusetts State Federation of Women's Clubs and sponsored by the American Forestry Association. If this school should succeed in making first place again this year, the large medal awarded will become the property of the school.


At this building, too, the pupils, concerned over the fact that their desk tops had been scratched and cut, refinished all the desk tops in the intermediate and grammar rooms. This was done during the noon hour, the recess periods, and after school. The workmanship was surprisingly good. The appear- ance of the classrooms has been grealy improved, and teachers and pupils take a justifiable pride in their part in bringing this about.


The East Wilbraham school children furnished the Christ- mas entertainment for the North Wilbraham P. T. A. this year, the words for the songs and the play being the work of their teacher, Miss Cone. It was a very creditable entertain- ment.


At North Wilbraham the pupils have issued a school paper.


Acknowledgements.


The Parent-Teacher Associations of Wilbraham and North


77


Wilbraham have been a constant influence making for the betterment of the schools. This influence is felt in the helpful attitude and intelligent interest shown by the members of the Associations. It has also expressed itself repeatedly in concrete ways. During May the North Wilbraham schoolhouse was fitted out with a radio in one classroom and loud speakers in the others. This makes it possible for a radio program interest- ing to one of the schools to be received without interfering with the others, though, of course, it is not possible for one school to listen to one program while another school listens to a different program at the same time.


At Wilbraham Street a very practical improvement was made by the construction of a bicycle rack in the basement. The cost of this was met fifty per cent by the school depart- ment and fifty per cent by the Parent-Teacher Association.


Respectfully submitted,


FREDERIC A. WHEELER.


Report of School Physician


To the Superintendent of Schools, School Committee, and Parents of Wilbraham:


As school physician I have Schick tested 69, vaccinated 57, immunized 99, and examined 391; made three visits to schools on call, two house visits because of contagious disease, and examined two for work certificates. I thank all with whom I have worked for their hearty cooperation.


ARTHUR L. DAMON, M. D.


Report of School Nurse


During the year the school nurse has assisted the school doctor in vaccinating 57, immunizing 99, and Schicking 69 child- ren, and also in the examination of 391.


The absence of diphtheria for several years proves how valuable the immunization clinics have been.


At the physical examinations 41 mothers were present to talk to the doctor and in some instances make arrangements for corrections. Of the children examined, 320 were found to


78


have defects. Four had not been vaccinated, but presented exemption certificates. These certificates are good for only one year, and, if not renewed, the children must be vaccinated. Nutritional defects were found in 22 children, but 8 of these had improved since the last preceding examination. Postural defects were found in 22, and these children were given litera- ture prescribing corrective exercises. Similar literature ยท was given to 20 with flat feet. Improvement in posture was shown by 29 children and an improved condition of the feet by 16. Ten children had skin troubles such as acne, impetigo, or scabies, and were advised regarding treatment. The examina- tions showed 251 with defective teeth. Many of these have since received treatment, as the report of the dental clinic will show. There were 18 cases of defective vision. Nine of these have been taken by the nurse to an oculist, five had been fitted to glasses, one has been treated because of injury to the eye, and in one instance the condition had progressed so far that glasses would be of no avail. In the other two cases glasses were not indicated at present. Some of the others have been taken care of privately. We hope that all will eventually see an oculist. After all, if a child cannot see as well as he should, he cannot get the best results in work. Notices of defective tonsils were sent to 67, and 23 of these have had corrections during the year. Arrangements for 6 of these corrections were made by the nurse. Two children were found with nasal obstructions and 8 with enlarged cervical or thyroid glands.


In April the children and teachers were very fortunate in hearing Dr. Helen McGillicuddy, Educational Secretary of the Massachusetts Society for Social Hygiene. Dr. McGillicuddy visited the Pines, Wilbraham Street, and North Wilbraham schools and gave six talks on social hygiene.


Through the Hampden County Tuberculosis Association, arrangements were made with the Westfield Sanatorium to have six children X-rayed. One of those X-rayed is now at the Westfield State Sanatorium for treatment. Two more were advised as to diet and rest, and are to be X-rayed again next year. Two other children were taken by the nurse to the Sanatorium for X-rays, but these were negative.


During the year the nurse has made 690 inspections. These resulted in the exclusion from school of 14 children with pedi- culosis, 6 with skin trouble, and 23 with symptoms of con- tagion or with temperature.


79


When 358 children were weighed in September, 200, or 56.3 per cent, were classed as A or up in weight, and 22, or 6.1 per cent, were classed as D. Two children showed no gain, and one had lost weight. This to me is a good record for these times.


At Camp Frederic Edwards five children spent twenty-one days of their vacation, gaining a total of thirteen and a half pounds. The greatest individual gain was four pounds.


The nurse has made a total of 393 visits to schools and homes and held 261 consultations with teachers, parents, pupils, and others.


I wish to thank the school committee, the superintendent, teachers, and others for their cooperation.


Respectfully submitted, SIGNE L. POLSON, R. N.


TABLES OF STATISTICS


School Calendar, 1935-1936


Fall Term: Tuesday, September 3, to Friday, December 20. Winter Term: Thursday, January 2, to Friday, February 21. Spring Term: Monday, March 2, to Friday, April 24.


Summer Term: Monday, May +, to Thursday, June 18.


Children in the School Census and Their Distribution


October 1, 1935


5 to 7


7 to 14


14 to 16


years


years


years


Boys


32


202


67


Girls


40


207


69


Total


72


409


136


Distribution :


In public school


62


292


104


In vocational school


0


0


22


In private school


7


116


3


Not enrolled in any school


3


1


7


Total


72


409


136


Total on Cct. 1, 1934


89


432


127


80


Membership by Schools and Grades, December, 1935 Grade 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Class


Special


School


Total


Stony Hill


4 5 6 2 :


18


The Pines


24 10 15 15 8 18 21 20


15 146


Wilbraham St.


8 8 5 6 7 11 13 11 69


East Wilbraham


4


3 3 5 8


23


North Wilbraham


14 7 13 15 11 26 12 16


114


Total


54 33 42 43 35 55 46 47 15


370


Dec., 1934


50 45 44 43 55 54 51 54 17


413


Grammar School Graduates, June, 1935


Alice E. Backus


Frederick William Miller


Walter Joseph Bak


Emil T. Motyka


Glorina Irene Beaupre


Edward J. Motyl


Doryce G. Bower


Bernice Elizabeth Nagman


Wanda Josephine Brut


Jane A. Nawoj


Priscilla Alden Cady


Josephine A. Obrzut


Richard S. Childerhose


Stanley S. Obrzut


Raymond Chrzanowski


Genevieve Opalinska


Frank Ciecko


Stella Sophie Panek


Alexander T. Cieplik


Arietta Agnes Perreault


Ida Edith Cocchi


Clara Doris Porteri


Paul T. Corriveau


Joseph S. Przybycien


Chester Raymond Crafts


Emma Rice


Helen Rita Dempsey


Myrtie Anne Riddle


Pasqualina DePinto


Stanley Szczebak


Robert Howd Doolittle


Amelia Trybus


Rita-Fay Farrar


Walter John Tupek


Charles Foy


Reed Marshall Wade


Charlotte Marie Hall


Myrtle E. Hill


Eugene Francis James


Mabel Evelyn James


Josephine M. Koslovski Stephen Edward Lopata


Theodore Lopata


Irene Barbara Luberda


William Harold Wade Patricia Anne Walker Theodore L. Wallace John Mitchell Workum Genevieve A. Zawrotny Julia Bertha Zawrotny Stanley Joseph Ziemba


81


Number of Pupils in High School


December


1935


1934


Classical High School


14


13


High School of Commerce


22


22


Technical High School


40


46


Classical Junior High School


48


35


Palmer High School


7


8


Total


131


124


Trade School


52


39


Grand Total


183


163


HONOR ROLL On Honor Roll of Springfield Schools One or More Times During 1935


Mary Backus


Sigmund Gumula


Bertha Bak


Wanda Kawa


Mary Boduch


Edmond Lapine


Eleanor Bodurtha


Theodore Lopata


Doryce Bower


Frederick Miller


June Brindley


Gretchen Miller


Jennie Brosch


William Preston


Doris Burgess


Henrietta Richmond


Marion Calkins


John Swiatek


Raymond Chapin


Clementina Tumidjaska


Richard Childerhose


Nancy Wright


Barbara Coote


Emil Wyzik


Wendell Coote


Emeric Wyzik


Elinor Cordner


Awarded Certificates by The A. N. Palmer Co., 1934-35 for Excellence in Penmanship


Doryce Bower


Emile Motyka


Wanda Brut


Edward Motyl


Priscilla Cady


Jennie Opalinska


Helen Dempsey


Stella Panek


Lena DePinto


Myrtie Riddle


Myrtle Hill


John Skorupski


Eugene James


Amelia Smolinska


Anna Jarosz


Lucy Walch


Josephine Koslovski


Jennie Zawrotny


Felicia Mazur


Julia Zawrotny


Julian Misiaszek


Stanley Ziemba


82


School Directory, January 1, 1936


Stony Hill School Liane S. Laramee, 45 Park St., Palmer


Grades 1-5


The Pines School


Mrs. Agnes I. Simmington, Principal, No. Wilbraham Grade 8 Marjorie A. Fernald, 31 Itendale St., Springfield Grade 7 Mrs. Mabel E. Welch, 216 Jasper St., Springfield Grades 5 & 6 Mrs. Yolande R. Aldrich, 25 State St., Monson Grades 3 & 4 Marion L. Holland, 218 Pearl St., Springfield Grades 1 & 2 Helen S. Kochanek, 39 Ludlow Ave., Indian Orchard Spec. Class


Wilbraham Street School


Mrs. Eleanor B. Parsons, Principal, Hampden Grades 7 & 8 Mrs. Esther L. Johnson, 8 Randall Pl., Springfield Grades 4, 5 & 6


Katherine A. Hart, 64 Rochelle St., Springfield Grades 1, 2 & 3


East Wilbraham School


Adele M. Cone, Boston Road, No. Wilbraham Grades 1-5


North Wilbraham School


Marion E. Kelley, Principal, No. Wilbraham Grades 7 & 8


Mrs. Mary G. Logan, North Wilbraham Grades 5 & 6


Ruth M. Gennett, 57 Woods Ave., Holyoke Grades 3 & 4


Mrs. Minnie M. Sanderson, North Wilbraham


Grades 1 & 2


Supervisor of Art Mrs. Helen B. Tower, 23 Haskin St., Springfield Supervisor of Music Mrs. Ethel C. Morse, 244 Pearl St., Springfield Superintendent of Schools


Frederic A. Wheeler, East Longmeadow


Superintendent's Clerk


Emily O. Cormier, East Longmeadow


School Physician


Dr. A. L. Damon, North Wilbraham


School Nurse


Signe L. Polson, 36 Summit St., Springfield


School Dentist Dr. Irving P. Dineen, 162 Main St., Indian Orchard


83


Resources


Cash in Treasury


$53,943.28


Old Age Assistance


(Due from other cities, towns and Commonwealth) 1,181.17 Public Welfare Accounts


(Due from other cities, towns and Commonwealth) 2,267.87 School Tuition-Town of Monson 23.00


Tax Titles 10,294.50


Outstanding 1935 Excise Taxes


207.09


Outstanding 1935 Real Estate Taxes


34,626.96


Outstanding Water Department Bills


501.99


$103,045.86


Liabilities


Estimated liabilities to other cities and towns because


of current relief cases


$2,500.00


Other outstanding bills


60.00


School Bonds


15,000.00


Water Bonds


64,000.00


$81,560.00


SUMMARY


Account


Appropriation Expenditures


Balance


Aid to Agriculture


$25.00


$25.00


Assessors' Expense


100.00


86.66


$13.34


Care of Parks


150.00


150.00


Cemetery


400.00


412.27


27.25


From Trust Funds


39.52


Contagious Diseases


2,600.00


1,650.74


949.26


Contingent


600.00


From Reserve


16.91


616.91


County Tax


4,841.51


County Tuberculosis Hospital


480.64


480.64


Dental Clinic


600.00


596.15


3.85


ERA and PWA


2,500.00


From Reserve


3,000.00


4,919.31


580.69


Fire Department


2,900.00


2,897.92


2.08


Forest Warden


100.00


From Reserve


74.75


174.75


Gypsy Moth


500.00


499.68


.32


Hampden County, Dog Licenses


655.40


84


Highways: Miscellaneous


$1,000.00


$1.33


Chapter 81: Town


$6,450.00


14,046.85


$998.67 14,020.61


26.24


State


6,450.00


Reserve


1,146.85


Chapter 90: Town


600.00


Stony Hill County


600.00


1,800.00


1,557.36


242.64


State


600.00


Chapter 90: Town


2,000.00


Glendale


County


1,700.00


7,308.95


7,308.95


State


3,400.00


Reserve


208.95


Chapter 90: Town


2,000.00


Tinkham Rd. County


1,700.00


7,100.00


7,088.71


11.29


State


3,400.00


Hydrants


1,650.00


1,650.00


Insurance and Bonding


1,200.00


983.38


216.62


Interest


1,000.00


1,000.00


Legal Claims


500.00


241.55


258.45


Library


1,000.00


1,354.90


261.60


From Dog Taxes


616.50


Liquor Law Enforcement


500.00


500.00


Memorial Day


75.00


59.50


15.50


Office Rent


144.00


144.00


Old Age Assistance


2,000.00


2,177.37


From Reserve


177.37


Overdrawn Accounts


2.00


2.00


Planning Board Expense


25.00


15.00


10.00


Police


300.00


76.60


223.40


Printing Town Reports


228.00


228.00


Public Welfare


10,000.00


10,445.40


1.11


From Reserve


446.51


Refunds: Excise


117.82


Licenses


202.60


Tax Titles


33.00


Real Estate Tax


51.15


Road Machinery


3,500.00


3,385.00


115.00


Schools


65,646.00


62,554.27


3,091.73


School Bond and Interest


3,720.00


3,720.00


Soldiers' Relief


200.00


312.45


From Reserve


112.45j


Special State Tax


18.00


State Tax


4,700.00


State Parks and Reservations


50.23


Street Lights


2,000.00


2,186.97


From Reserve


186.97


Tax Collector's Expense


300.00


289.27


10.73


Town Clerk's Expense


50.00


50.00


Town Officers


4,340.00


4,032.62


307.38


Treasurer's Expense


225.00


221.87


13.34


85


Tree Warden


$200.00


$88.45


$111.55


Water Bond and Interest


6,720.00


6,720.00


Water Department From Reserve


2,750.00


2,879.24


129.24


Total Expenditures for 1935


$157,969.88


Auditor's Report


I have audited the books and accounting records of the Town of Wilbraham, Mass., for the year ending December 31, 1935.


In my opinion, based upon my examinations, and infor- mation furnished me, they have been fairly and accurately kept.


WM. E. PORTER,


Town Auditor.


The report of the State Audit of the Town's accounts for 1935 is not available, since the State auditors have not yet made the 1935 audit in Wilbraham.


When the same is completed and the report is made to the Selectmen, any one interested is invited to review the same upon application to the Selectmen.


86


Town Warrant


COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS


Hampden, ss.


To either of the Constables of the Town of Wilbraham in the County of Hampden.


GREETING:


In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Wilbraham qualified to vote in town affairs to meet in Grange Hall in said town on Monday the third day of Feb- ruary next, at ten o'clock a. m. to bring in their votes for town officers and act on the following articles. The polls will open at 10 A. M. and may be closed at 2 P. M. unless the meeting votes to extend the closing time.


Article 1. To choose a moderator to preside in said meeting.


Article 2. To choose a Town Clerk, a Town Treasurer, and Tree Warden for the ensuing year, one Selectman for three years who shall be a member of the Board of Public Welfare, one Assessor for three years, five Constables, one Auditor for the ensuing year, one School Committee for three years, Collec- tor of Taxes for the ensuing year, one Cemetery Commissioner for three years, two members of the Planning Board for three years, one member of the Board of Water Commissioners, for three years, one Library Trustee for three years, all on one ballot, also all other Town Officers


Article 3. To hear and act on reports of che Selectmen, Board of Public Welfare, Treasurer, School Committee, and other officers.


Article 4. To fix the compensation of all elected Town Officers for the ensuing year.


87


Article 5. To raise such sums of money as may be deemed necessary for defraying the expenses of the Town for the ensuing year and appropriate the same and vote how the same shall be raised.


Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1936, and to issue a note or notes therefore payable within one year and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws.


Article 7. To see if the Town will instruct the Selectmen to prosecute any person selling or transporting intoxicating liquors in this Town contrary to the laws of the Common- wealth or take any action in regard to the same, or raise any money for the same.


Article 8. To see what disposition the Town will make of the Dog Tax of 1935.


Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sum of money to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen for necessary costs of materials and trucking on the local Works Progress Administration projects or on local projects operated under the successor, if any, of the Works Progress Administration or to take any action upon same.


Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sum of money for the improvement of Glendale Road, provided the State and County contribute toward the same, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter Ninety, General Laws


Article 11. To see if the Town will instruct the Select- men to institute or defend suits and employ counsel for the purpose of protecting the interests of the Town and to raise and appropriate a sum of money for same or take any action thereon.




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