USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Wilbraham annual report 1951-1955 > Part 49
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BUDGET ESTIMATE, 1956
General Expenses
Expense of School Committee
$ 100.00
Superintendent's Salary
7,250.00
Expense of Superintendence (to include out-of-state travel) 5,373.00
Expense of Instruction
Supervisors' Salaries
17,546.00
Principal's Salary
4,950.00
Expense of Principalship
3,802.00
Teachers' Salaries
139,907.00
Textbooks
5,095.00
Supplies
8,595.00
Expense of Operation
Custodians' Salaries
17,771.00
Fuel
8,130.00
Miscellaneous
9,366.00
Maintenance
Repairs and Replacements
4,179.00
Auxiliary Agencies Health
4,275.00
Transportation
46,614.00
Tuition
74,237.00
Miscellaneous Auxiliary
3,550.00
Outlay
New Equipment
700.00
$361,440.00
Community Program
$4,000.00
Contingency for Opening New School
$2,900.00
1956 ESTIMATES OF CREDITS ON ACCOUNT OF EDUCATION
Chapter 71, Section 7A, Transportation
$25,000.00
Chapter 643
60,000.00
Vocational
3,000.00
Tuition for State Wards
600.00
$88,600.00
The primary duties and responsibilities of the Wilbraham School Committee are the continued development and improvement of the educational opportunities offered the children of this community. Faced by rising costs, expanding enrollment, a teacher shortage, and lack of classroom space, your committee has difficulty in maintaining
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT (Continued) 1956 Est. of Credit on Acct. of Education (Continued)
the basic instructional program. Let us face the fact that good schools cost money to build and to operate, but no better investment of individual or community funds can be made than in the education of your children. It is the most important factor in the future existence of this nation as a free democracy that it be the best educated nation in the world to forestall another war; and, if war comes, to win it. An unusually high percentage of Wilbraham's chil- dren have the native intelligence and the family finances to attend college. Unless your schools, from the first grade through high school, are of the highest standards, college entrance is difficult and successful college work is most doubtful. Competition for college entrance will be increasingly difficult in the years ahead. Equal or better facilities than other communities must be provided if our chil- dren are to be accepted by our colleges. Double sessions or over- crowded classrooms of forty or more pupils may appear reasonable to some people as a makeshift or temporary arrangement. It should be remembered that those children thus handicapped in their early educational training will continue to be at a disadvantage as they compete for college admission and employment. As parents and taxpayers, it is your responsibility to rectify this situation by pro- viding the necessary classrooms, facilities, teachers, and financial support.
A succession of inexperienced teachers can hardly produce the best results, even if classes are held to a workable size. Every effort must be made not only to attract interested, qualified teachers, but to hold these teachers in this community so that the students will benefit by the experience they gain here. In-service courses, pro- fessional advice and leadership, combined with classroom supervision, methods demonstrations, and necessary materials and equipment, will assure a rapid adjustment of beginning teachers, improve the present teaching staff, and most important of all, provide a better education for the children. At present, too much of the teachers' day is spent on non-teaching duties. Counting and rolling cafeteria money, making reports, checking notices, duplicating class materials, and answering telephone calls require many hours a month that could better be employed in working with the children. With our present salary schedule, it is poor economy to occupy teachers with non- teaching duties. These duties will be better carried out by less costly and more qualified personnel.
As the number of pupils and classrooms continues to increase in the Wilbraham schools, there is an equal increase in the requirements of the art, music, and physical education programs. If the pupils are to receive the quality of training and instruction traditional with the Wilbraham schools, additional personnel must be provided. No longer can one person, no matter how well trained and experienced, correctly teach all the pupils in this town in each of these subjects. In the interests of financial economy, this instruction could be re- duced to the minimum required by law, but your children would not receive the instruction which has been previously provided. The law of the Commonwealth now requires any community with five or more retarded pupils to establish a special class for their instruction. At the present time, Wilbraham has more than the required number of children as determined by the standards of the Department of Edu- cation. To meet the requirements of this law and to improve the educational opportunity for these children, your committee will estab- lish a special class in September, 1956.
The 1956 budget request for $361,440.00 is an increase of $71,734.00 over the 1955 budget. This increase is caused by expanding enroll- ment, additional teachers, a higher salary schedule both in starting
35 A
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT (Continued) 1956 Est. of Credit on Acct. of Education (Continued)
salaries and increases to the present staff, additional classroom space to heat and maintain, and a major repair item in a new roof and classroom lights at the Springfield Street School. This increase is partly offset by the additional reimbursements that will come from the Commonwealth.
The enrollment table below shows the continued growth of the community. With 144 pupils in grades 10-12, 987 in grades 1-9, and 729 pre-school children, the years of greatest enrollment are still ahead.
ENROLLMENT FIGURES 1949-1957
Year
Grades 1-6
Grades 7-9
Grades 10-12
Total Grades 1-12
(Enrollment Figures)
1949
311
92
90
493
1950
367
89
93
549
1951
449
104
103
656
1952
523
132
93
748
1953
612
167
99
878
1954
679
225
115
1019
1955
723
264
144
1131
(Census Figures)
1956*
773
279
196
1248
1957*
806
296
234
1336
* No allowance made for move-ins
Each year, as of October 1st, a school census is taken. The purpose of the census is to determine the number of children between the ages of seven and sixteen residing within the community, and is the basis for the distribution of funds as an aid to education. At the same time a count is made of all pre-school children to determine the size of entering classes and make possible orderly planning for classrooms, teachers, textbooks, and supplies.
The October 1, 1955 census follows. You will note that the pupil count by birth years shows a remarkable increase over those regis- tered in 1954, 1953, and 1952. The continued high percentage of families moving into this community with pre-school and school age children has made the previously satisfactory method of school plan- ning by counting births no longer accurate as a guide. Each year the entering first grades are larger than any figures indicate and the number of move-ins into grades already in school has been very high.
COMPARISON FIGURES ON 1955, 1954, 1953, 1952 CENSUS
Year to Enter School
October 1, 1955
October 1, 1954
October 1, 1953
October 1, 1952
1955
131
120
118
112
1956
143
128
111
111
1957
136
128
113
95
1958
114
104
103
95a
1959
134
117
74a
1960
139
91a
1961
63a
a. 9/12 of the year recorded.
Based on actual enrollment figures and the October 1st census, the following tables show the expected future enrollment and the number of classrooms needed to carry on the educational program. No allowance has been made for move-ins.
36 A
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT (Continued) 1956 Est. of Credit on Acct. of Education (Continued)
1
2
3
4
5
6
Total
7
8
9
Total
9
10
11
12
PG
Total
Grand Total
September of 1955
131
135
145
116
103
93
723
100
86
78
264
1 69
48
25
1
144
1131
September of 1956
143
131
135
145
116
103
773
93
100
86
279
79
69
48
196
1248
September of 1957
136
143
131
135
145
116
806
103
93
100
296
86
79
69
234
1336
September of 1958
114
136
143
131
135
145
804
116
103
93
312
100
86
79
265
1381
September of 1959
134
114
136
143
131
135
793
145
116
103
364
93
100
86
279
1436
September of 1960
139
134
114
136
143
131
797
135
145
116
396
103
93
100
296
1489
Rooms available :
Rooms needed : Year
Needed
Available
Shortage
Springfield Street School
3
September, 1955
34
31
3
The Pines School
6
September, 1956
38
31*
7*
Memorial School
22
September, 1957
40
39
1
31
September, 1958
42
39
3
September, 1959
44
39
5
Stony Hill Road School, 8 rooms under construction, started December, 1955.
September, 1960
46
39
7
September, 1961
47
39
8
* This shortage will be eliminated if the elementary school on Stony Hill Road is completed by September 1, 1956.
37 A
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT (Continued) 1956 Est. of Credit on Acct. of Education (Continued)
At present, it appears that the new school will not be ready for occupancy in September, 1956. If this happens there will be an actual shortage of seven rooms. In order for Wilbraham pupils to attend school, a double session program, using seven classrooms and involving 14 classes of pupils must be organized unless the necessary rooms can be located within the community. In 1955, with a shortage of three rooms, the cafeteria, stage, teachers' room, and hallways were used. Forty pupils were placed in some rooms with a helping teacher. This has not provided a satisfactory educational program. An attempt was made last year to place some of the overload in nearby towns on a tuition basis; however, these towns, faced with the same overcrowded conditions, did not have facilities to take our children.
Again this year, notice has been received that Springfield's tuition rate for high school pupils will be increased. Based on the new tuition rate, the 1960 cost to the Town of Wilbraham will be approx- imately $136,500.00. The fact that this tuition rate is steadily in- creasing, the strong possibility that the City of Springfield will be unable to take our tuition pupils in a few years, (The Committee has already been notified that the Town of Palmer can no longer accept tuition pupils.) and the knowledge that the number of high school pupils will continue to increase, caused this committee to establish a study group to conduct a Community Conference on Janu- ary 31, 1956. This conference is in line with President Eisenhower's educational program as endorsed by Governor Herter which urges all communities to hold such conferences on the educational problems. The members of this group, representatives of seventeen civic organ- izations in the community, were divided into four teams to gather information and prepare reports for the Community Conference. Its purpose is to present to the voters of this community recommenda- tions for the solution of Wilbraham's high school problem. Each team was assigned a specific area of study so that the final report would be factual and complete. The four basic areas of study are enrollment, curriculum, a local high school, and a regional high school. Since the answer to the high school needs as determined by the voters of this community will, in a large manner, influence the solution of our elementary space needs, the study has been confined to the high school. The study groups have visited nearby local and regional high schools, and have met with regional study groups from East Long- meadow and Hampden. The School Committee is very appreciative of the way the members of the study groups have worked to gather information needed and in giving their time in analyzing and pre- senting it to the community. It is this awareness of civic responsi- bilities which will assure our children of good educational oppor- tunities.
With the opening of school in September, 1956, a new schedule of school hours and transportation routes will go into effect. It will eliminate the present inequality where some elementary pupils are arriving at school thirty-five minutes before school starts and do not leave school until thirty-five minutes after classes are dismissed. Some first grade pupils spend an eight and one-half hour day away from home though only six hours are spent in the classroom.
After evaluating the costs and available state-aid of the transpor- tation program, the School Committee will continue its present policy of requesting additional sidewalks in all the areas where pupils may walk safely to school. This is one budget item where the operating costs can be reduced without adversely affecting the educational program.
38 A
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT (Continued) 1956 Est. of Credit on Acct. of Education (Continued)
During the summer months, the projection room on the second floor of the Memorial School was converted into a combined business office, committee meeting room, conference room, and Superintendent's office. This space, previously used for storage of minor supplies, now provides adequate space for the necessary records and adminis- trative and policy meetings required to efficiently plan and operate the schools.
The members of the Wilbraham School Committee wish to express their personal and official appreciation to all members of the staff for the excellent work being accomplished with the pupils of Wilbra- ham. With your continued effort and the support of the citizens of this community, our schools will continue to show improvement and development. We realize that overcrowded conditions make teaching and administrative work most difficult and we appreciate your willing cooperation and patience.
MARSHALL E. ROPER, Chairman
LOUISE D. SCHATZ
DORRANCE T. GREEN
Members of the Wilbraham School Committee
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
(By vote of the Wilbraham School Committee, the report of the Superintendent of Schools has been adopted as part of the Wilbraham School Committee's report.)
To the School Committee of the Town of Wilbraham:
As Superintendent of Schools for the Town of Wilbraham, I sub- mit my fourth annual report.
Changes in school personnel not shown on the chart on the follow- ing page are as follows:
Mr. Frank Ballas, teacher, resigned, June 30, 1955
Miss Marguerite Meehan, teacher, resigned, June 30, 1955
Miss Phyllis Parsons, teacher, resigned, June 30, 1955
Miss Janet Smith, teacher, resigned, June 30, 1955
Mrs. Mary E. Travis, teacher, resigned, June 30, 1955
Miss Maxine J. Westfall, teacher, resigned, June 30, 1955
ENROLLMENT
The enrollment of pupils by grades as of October 1, 1955 is shown below.
Grade
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 Total
Spfld. St.
25
27
31
83
Pines
28
30
33
32
33
29
185
Memorial
78
78
81
84
70
64 100
86
78
719
39 A
PERSONS EMPLOYED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Name
Position
Year Appointed
Education and Professional Training
Office
Irving H. Agard Christine Clark
Superintendent
1950
Secretary
1950
B.A., M.Ed., Lafayette, Fitchburg Ac.S., B.S., Bay Path, A. I. C.
Springfield Street School Millicent G. Green
Principal, Grade 3
1938
North Adams
Myra D. Stetson
Grade 2
1954
Salem Normal
Merilis M. Scott
Grade 1
1953
B.S., Fitchburg, Springfield
Henry Hyde
Custodian
1954
The Pines School
Principal, Grade 6
1953
B.S., Tufts
Helen S. Strauss
Grade 5
1930
B.S., M.S., Columbia, Springfield
Ruth G. Backus
Grade 4
1953
Framingham
Esther L. Johnson
Grade 3
1949
Mary E. Johnston
Grade 2
1950
Ruth Lesser
Grade 1
1954
William E. Tupper
Custodian
1950
Memorial School
Principal
1954
B.S., M.Ed., Rhode Island State
Evelyn E. Nowak
Secretary
1954
High School of Commerce
Marilyn E. Stone
Junior High
1952
B.A., M.A., Smith, Columbia
Helen A. Walinski
Junior High
1953
B.A., College of Our Lady of the Elms
Alan J. Rubin
Junior High
1955
B.A., M.A., A. I. C.
Clinton Hanscom
Junior High
1954
B.A., M.A., A. I. C.
Robert P. Garvey
Junior High
1955
B.A., St. Anselm's
Eleanor P. Wolfson
Junior High
1955
B.A., A. I. C.
A. Louise Bradley
Junior High
1952
B.A., M.A., A. I. C.
Edward L. Germain
Junior High
1954
B.A., A. I. C.
Julia Rosenbeck
Junior High
1954
Framingham State Teachers' College
Norma P. Dunphy
Junior High
1955
B.A., Tufts
Jane S. McMahon
Grade 6
1953
B.S., Bridgewater
Richard J. Curry
Grade 6
1954
· B.A., M.A., A. I. C.
Audrey L. Church
Grade 5
1954
B.A., St. Xavier
Gina Impoco
Grade 5
1954
B.A., M.Ed., A. I. C., Springfield
·Westfield State Teachers' Westfield State Teachers' B.A., A. I. C.
Lincoln A. Dexter
Worcester State Teachers'
Robert D. Bengle
40 A
41 A
Pearl R. Adams
Grade 4
1955
New Paltz Normal School
Mary Moody
Grade 4
1955
Fitchburg State Teachers'
Alice Foley
Grade 4
1955
Westfield State Teachers'
Marguerite G. Brady
Grade 3
1942
Perry Normal
Annamae Martin
Grade 3
1954
B.A., College of St. Rose
Marion L. Holland
Grade 2
1922
Frances A. Ward
Grade 2
1954
B.S., Worcester State Teachers'
Joanne S. Ewig
Grades 1, 2, 3
1955
Stella C. Mondoux
Grade 1
1954
Clara B. Merrill
Grade 1
1944
Madeline L. Harrington
Grade 1
1952
John Polaczak
Custodian
1949
George Morrison
Custodian
1953
Andrew Rogerson
Custodian
1953
Supervisors
Helen B. Tower
Art
1921
Massachusetts Normal School of Art
Dwight D. Killam
Music
1955
B.Mus., Syracuse
Therese A. Bailey
Reading
1950
B.A., M.A., Westfield, A. I. C.
Richard P. Spencer
Physical Education
1953
B.A., University of Massachusetts
Health
Janet M. Horacek
Nurse
1954
R.N., Springfield Hospital
Arthur H. Goodwin
Physician
1947
M.D., Tufts
Irving P. Dinneen
Dentist
1929
D.M.D., Tufts
Hot Lunch Program
May Jenkins
Manager
1950
Marjorie Bartlett
Cook
1950
Mildred Cotter
Cook
1950
Rose Morin
Cook
1953
Winifred Bennett
Cook
1953
Pauline Harvey
Cook
1953
Isabella Rollins
Cook
1954
Julia Dougal
Cook
1952
Honorata Opalinski
Cook
1953
Transportation
Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Samble Mr. George W. Motyka
1930
1932
B.S., Skidmore
B.S., Westfield
Farmington State
B.S., M.S., University of Massachusetts
Springfield Teachers'
REPORT OF THE SUPT. OF SCHOOLS (Continued)
HEALTH
The following is a summary of the health report submitted by the school nurse.
December 1, 1954 - December 1, 1955
Physical Examinations
219
Parents Present
53
Notices Sent for Physical Defects Noted
8
Dental Examinations
932
Dental Notices Sent
476
Dental Repair
11
Weight and Height
981
Vaccinations Scars Checked
980
Notices Sent for No Vaccination
2
Audiometer Tests
448
Hearing Notices Sent
12
Visual Acuity
941
Notices Sent
67
Examined by Family Eye Specialist
57
Fitted with Glasses
33
Pre-School Vaccinations
29
Children Sent to the Child Guidance Clinic
2
Children Sent to the Springfield Hospital Clinic
1
Children Sent to Camp Frederic Edwards
4
Home Calls and Children Taken Home
213
Contagious Diseases
72
Head Examinations
1484
Notices Sent
26
Polio Vaccine (1st Injection only)
181
Mrs. Janet Horacek continues to look after the health of the school children. Her program of classroom and home visits has aided greatly in the advancement of good health practices. She and Dr. Goodwin share the credit for the excellence of the school health record. Additional duties were assumed by them last year when 181 children received their first injection of the polio vaccine.
HOT LUNCH PROGRAM
The pupil participation in the school lunch program continues at a high level. A comparison of the figures in the table below indi- cates the continued growth.
1952
1953
1954
1955
Class A, Hot Lunches
full meal, milk, dessert
73,480
85,976
97,785
117,452
Additional servings of milk
12,202
17,976
25,483
111,045
Claims received, U.S.D.A. $ 6,845.58 $ 8,005.08 $ 9,967.07 $13,713.35 Cash received for lunches
15,302.91
18,060.60
20,894.29
24,616.49
Salaries to Lunchroom
Personnel
5,227.50
6,195.50
8,552.00
8,890.50
Payments for Food and
Supplies
14,412.89
19,044.16
21,357.89
25,589.98
In September, the price of lunches for the junior high school pupils was increased to $0.25 per day in order to provide a larger meal for the older children. The large increase in the servings of milk is the result of the special federal program that makes milk available at $0.02 for 1/2 pint carton. For the first time, the cafeteria workers have been placed on a weekly basis for pay, rather than on an hourly rate. The costs have more than been offset by the increased productivity resulting from steady employment. The com-
42 A
REPORT OF THE SUPT. OF SCHOOLS (Continued)
plete program continues to operate on a self-supporting basis without aid of local funds.
The full responsibility for this fine program belongs to Mrs. May Jenkins and her staff. Since the first meal was served in 1950, Mrs. Jenkins has been manager. The Memorial School cafeteria was in operation during the August flood and served meals to evacuated people, indicating the possibilities of a major feeding station if another disaster should strike.
The lunch program has been operating under difficulty because of crowded conditions. With the opening of the new school on Stony Hill Road, facilities will be available to prepare lunches for The Pines and Springfield Street Schools, thus freeing the Memorial School kitchen from the overload problem.
PUBLIC LAW 874
Again, this year, the Wilbraham schools qualified for federal funds under Public Law 874 for aid in operating costs. These funds are directly available for expenditure by the School Committee. In this area, the Armory and Westover Air Base are the main federal places of employment. Their cutting back policies indicate that the Town of Wilbraham will no longer meet the requirements to receive aid. At least 3 per cent of the total of pupils enrolled must have a parent employed in a non-service federal establishment to qualify for reim- bursement. In 1954, $3,939.70 was received and carried forward into 1955 for emergency use. In 1955, $3,869.11 was received. $3,536.86 has been expended for textbooks and supplies, leaving a balance of $4,271.95 which will be carried into 1956 as an emergency account.
Continuing with the repair policy established by the School Com- mittee - one of the planned, yearly upkeep and maintenance to prevent major repairs - the exterior of the Memorial School was painted by contract, three classrooms were painted with custodial labor, and minor repairs were made throughout the school plants to keep them in their generally good condition. One of the storage closets in the auditorium was converted into a dual library and physical education storage room and another into storage space for audio-visual equipment.
The community use of the school buildings has increased over last year. Throughout the winter months, local organizations have sched- uled regular meetings in the two auditoriums. A revised schedule of rentals has placed these activities on a more self-supporting basis.
The full potential of the educational program has not been realized this year because of the overcrowded classes and lack of necessary facilities. Regular classes have been held on the stage and in the cafeteria. Elementary grades of 40 pupils were slightly relieved by assigning an additional teacher to help with the instruction. While this has helped, conditions are not such as to get the best results. Large classes do not allow for individual help, and the confusion inherent in make-shift arrangements makes strong discipline difficult to maintain.
One of the most serious aspects of the situation is the inability of providing a satisfactory challenge to the superior pupils. With a large group, the program is geared to the medium or average ability, with little opportunity to provide the enriching and stimulating situ- ations necessary for stronger pupils. One of the greatest oppor- tunities facing a school system is more efficient use of present facilities and equipment. With over-loaded classes and pupils failing to show the desired gain, empty classrooms in the summer months invites a possible solution. This past summer, the Wilbraham School System had a six-week summer school, designed to give concentrated assistance to pupils having difficulty in the elementary grades. Since the classrooms, textbooks, and materials were available, the only
43 A
REPORT OF THE SUPT. OF SCHOOLS (Continued)
cost to the community was the teachers' salaries. One hundred and twenty pupils attended the school and each showed excellent individual progress. Several were able to make up a grade deficiency. The greater number of pupils succeeded in learning parts of the work missed through absence or lack of individual attention. It is planned to offer a similar program in 1956. Only after the results of several years of regular classroom progress has been studied and evaluated, will it be possible to determine whether or not a summer school pro- gram is of long term value to the community.
After seeing the excellent results of the Opportunity School for a one year period, a corresponding program for the gifted and advanced pupil seems to suggest itself. It would give these children the correct motivation and encouragement with the opportunity to in- crease their normal abilities.
The educational policies of the past three years have been continued. In the elementary grades, the major emphasis is on the mastery of the basic skills. Continued studies show that a high percentage of junior and senior high school failures are the result of weaknesses in the basic study skills. The use of phonics in all elementary grades, stressing the arithmetic program, insisting on good handwriting, daily spelling drills, all combined with practical discipline is develop- ing a better prepared pupil. The transition from the elementary program with its single homeroom teacher to the departmentalized junior high schedule has been difficult for some pupils to make. The first introduction to independent study and thinking and daily home- work assignments have shown a need for better reading skills. To meet this deficiency, a reading program with the purpose of increas- ing reading speed and, more important, comprehension has been added to the seventh grade program.
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