Wilbraham annual report 1956-1960, Part 13

Author: Wilbraham (Mass.)
Publication date: 1956
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 654


USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Wilbraham annual report 1956-1960 > Part 13


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45


VOCATIONAL TUITION : (total, $10,857.75) City of Springfield, $10,820.25; Town of East Longmeadow, $37.50.


MISCELLANEOUS AUXILIARY: (total, $2,579.89) A. Boilard Sons, Incorpo- rated, risers for graduation, $48.00; Associated Typographers, programs for graduation, $32.00; Richard John Curry, lettering diplomas and awards, $38.20; Jeremiah Donohue, police for graduation, $4.50; J. L. Hammett Company, diplomas, certificates, $118.23; Wesley Holdridge, police for graduation, $4.50; Lloyd M. Hoover, insurance, $2,251.45;


19


Howard Lumber Company, lumber for risers, $28.21; Sinico Press, tickets and programs for graduation, $54.80.


NEW EQUIPMENT: (total, $1,590.62) Carlisle Hardware Company, fan, $39.95; Cascade School Supplies, tables, $380.00; Chalero Music Com- pany, cymbals and holders, $22.00; G. Fox & Company, curtains, Stony Hill School, $353.00; Roger T. Hintze, files, desks, $83.00; Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, desk, $5.00; Montgomery Ward, radio, battery, $60.55; Movocco Film, tape recorder and lamp, $181.60; New England Blue Print Paper, letterguide templates, $41.17; Rand McNally, maps, $104.45; Shipping Room Suppliers, projector, $24.99; Soundco Electronic Supply, Webcor phonographs, $59.91; Springfield Office Supply, mimeograph, $235.00.


BUDGET ESTIMATE, 1958


General Expenses


Expense of School Committee


$150.00


Superintendent's Salary


8,000.00


Expense of Superintendence (to include out-of-state travel)


8,866.00


Expense of Instruction


Supervisors' Salaries


23,127.00


Principal's Salary


6,250.00


Expense of Principalship


5,369.00


Teachers' Salaries


208,450.00


Textbooks


5,890.00


Supplies


10,483.00


Expense of Operation


Custodians' Salaries


22,454.00


Fuel


11,650.00


Miscellaneous


11,689.00


Maintenance


Repairs and Replacements


4,800.00


Auxiliary Agencies


Health


5,150.00


Transportation


60,390.00


Tuition


119,521.00


Miscellaneous Auxiliary


5,000.00


Outlay


New Equipment


910.00


$518,149.00


Community Program


$5,280.00


1958 ESTIMATES ON ACCOUNT OF EDUCATION


Chapter 71, Section 7A, Transportation


$36,000.00


Chapter 643


64,000.00


Vocational


4,000.00


State Wards


1,000.00


Special Class


2,000.00


$107,000.00


20


COMPARISON FIGURES ON 1957, 1956, 1955 AND 1954 CENSUS


Year to Enter School October 1, 1957 October 1, 1956 October 1, 1955 October 1, 1954


1957


133*


137


136


128


1958


151


133


114


104


1959


152


150


134


117


1960


155


149


139


91a


1961


128


104


63a


1962


134


92a


1963


90a


# 133 entered public school in grade 1, 1957.


The balance has been accounted for in private schools or moved from town.


a. 9/12 of year recorded.


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 submit my sixth annual report.


Persons employed in the public schools are: (See chart on pages 29, 30, 31).


Changes in school personnel not shown in the chart on pages 29, 30, 31 are:


Mrs. Myra D. Stetson, teacher, resigned, July 22, 1957


Mrs. Doris Crespi, teacher, resigned, July 19, 1957


Mrs. Margaret Bresnahan Lamay, teacher, resigned, April 26, 1957


Miss Ruth Lesser, teacher, resigned, June 30, 1957


Mr. Richard Van Loan, teacher, military leave of absence, June 30, 1957


Mr. William E. Tupper, custodian, deceased, July 1, 1957 Mr. Clinton Hanscom, teacher, resigned, August 5, 1957 Mrs. Audrey L. Church, teacher, resigned, June 30, 1957 Miss Carol Costigan, teacher, resigned, June 30, 1957 Mrs. Merilis M. Scott, teacher, resigned, June 30, 1957 (leave of absence, January June, 1957)


Mrs. Emily LaMontagne, cook, resigned, January 1, 1957 Mrs. Katherine Nelson, cook, resigned, January 1, 1957 Mrs. Rose Morin, cook, resigned, February 23, 1957 Mr. Richard P. Spencer, supervisor, military leave of absence, June 30, 1956


21


ENROLLMENT


The enrollment of pupils by grade as of October 1, 1957 is shown below.


Grade 1


2


3


4


5


6


7


8


9


Spec. Total


Spfld. St. 27 22


30


79


Pines 30 24


22


27


25


152


Stony Hill 45 28


27


47


69


24 34


250


Memorial 30


48


47


56


54


54 105 91 100 13 598


SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM


The school lunch program operates with two preparation kitchens, one at Memorial School and the other at Stony Hill School. In addition, meals are served at The Pines School and Springfield Street School by transporting the food in thermos containers from Stony Hill School. A comparison of the figures below shows the continued growth of this program.


1955


1956


1957


Class A, Hot Lunches


full meal, milk, dessert


117,452-


98,575* 124,650


113,431


Additional servings of milk


111,045


129,579


Claims received, U.S.D.A.


$13,713.35


$12,823.21*


$15,972.57


Cash received for lunches


24,616.49


23,813.72


28,512.43


Salaries to Lunchroom Personnel


8,890.50


9,525.00


12,266.00


Payments for Food and Supplies


25,589.98


29,075.52


29,833.89


* No lunches were served at the Stony Hill and The Pines Schools during September and October, 1956 because of the double session program.


HEALTH


The following is a summary of the report submitted by the school nurse.


December 1, 1956 to December 1, 1957


Physical Examinations


242


Parents Present


6


Notices Sent for Physical Defects Noted


2


Dental Examinations


692


Dental Notices Sent


289


Dental Repair


31


Height and Weight


351


Vaccination Scars Checked


158


Notices Sent for No Vaccination


0


Hearing Tests


1457


Hearing Notices Sent


28


Massachusetts Vision Test


1543


Notices Sent for Visual Defects


94


Examined by a Family Eye Specialist


71


Fitted with Glasses


55


Pre-School Vaccinations


20


22


Head Examinations


1014


Notices Sent


12


Children Sent to Camp Frederick Edwards


4


Home Calls and Children Taken Home


159


Contagious Diseases Polio Vaccinations


93


233


Flu Shots to Town Employees


78


The committee has maintained its annual repair schedule, com- pleting all major projects as planned in the 1957 budget. By using the custodial staff, the work was done during the summer months at considerable savings to the town.


At The Pines School, two classrooms, the health room, and all purpose room were painted. Plastic tile was installed around the serving area of the all purpose room. The exterior trim was painted. Asphalt flooring was installed throughout the original building. All rooms were cleaned and ready for the opening of school. Plastic tile was installed around the serving area of the all purpose room at the Stony Hill School. The regular summer cleaning program was completed. No major repair projects were proposed for the Springfield Street School because it is planned to close it in September 1958 when the Stony Hill Addition is opened. Four classrooms, the special class room, and all lava- tories were painted at Memorial School. The exterior trim on the west side was painted and the lawn was regraded and fenced. Bulletin boards and audio-visual equipment were installed in the cafeteria to better adapt this room for instructional purposes.


As a result of an article sponsored by the School Committee at the March, 1957 Town Meeting, a sidewalk has been con- structed along Stony Hill Road from The Pines School to River Road. This sidewalk has helped to insure the safety of the children going to and from school.


Throughout the year, a continuous program of teacher pro- curement and training has been developed. With the co-opera- tion of the colleges in the area, excellent practice teachers have been assigned to do their training in our schools. Several of these student teachers, becoming familiar with the school program and its methods, have applied and received contracts for full- time teaching positions. Outstanding teachers in other systems have been observed and interviewed for teaching positions. After a careful study of references and records, the Wilbraham School System has been fortunate in obtaining excellent, experienced teachers to fill existing vacancies.


Each fall, an orientation program begins before the pupils


23


return to class. This program, under the direction of Mrs. Therese A. Bailey, Elementary Supervisor, familiarizes the be- ginning teachers with this system's policies; and for returning teachers, serves as a refresher program. Beginning teachers meet regularly each month during the fall for courses in all the basic subjects.


Our improved salary schedule and the excellent building facilities, textbooks, and supplies, have made Wilbraham a desir- able place to teach. It is imperative that the town continue to develop its school program to meet the increasing demand for well prepared pupils. The staff recruitment program will be truly successful when Wilbraham is the first choice for teaching candidates.


The instructional program has been strengthened by adding to the length of the school day and requiring systematic sched- uling of homework for all pupils. The faculty is requiring care- ful preparation of all daily work, with quizzes once a week and a longer review once a month. With intensive day by day teach- ing and this program of written reviews, every effort is being made by the teachers to have the pupils attain mastery of the basic subjects.


The program of instruction is designed to recognize outstand- ing pupils in specialized academic fields and encourage them to work to the full capacity. The students through the Student Council, under the direction of the faculty, govern the social life. The academic program is not one of free choice, but is based on the stoic requirements of mental discipline and scholastic accomplishment necessary for success in an adult world. Too many of the children have yet to learn to do the necessary mental drudgery for academic success. This can be corrected only through parental help in making certain that the pupils are doing their work. The teachers will meet with the parents by appointment to discuss a pupil's progress. With a clear under- standing of the requirements of the daily program, and making certain that the homework is being done, a parent will know that his child is taking full advantage of his educational oppor- tunity. A child should come to class alert to face an educational experience, determined to do his best work, respectful of his teacher and the work his teacher is doing, and ready to do the tedious hours of mental discipline necessary for productive achievement.


24


1


Return to HISTORY Wilbraham, Mass.


The continued improvement of the Wilbraham schools is the result of the wholehearted co-operation and hard work of the school staff. The teachers, supervisors, principals, custodians, school lunch personnel, nurse, doctor, and office staff, have taken great pride in their work and earned the appreciation and respect of this community. Through the efforts of these people over a period of years, our school system continues to improve. Each member is constantly looking for ways to better educate our children.


I have greatly enjoyed my work with you, the School Com- mittee, and wish to thank you for your efforts and understanding.


IRVING H. AGARD, Superintendent of Schools


SCHOOL CALENDAR 1957-1958


First Term: Wednesday, September 4 through Friday, Dec. 20 Second Term: Thursday, January 2 through Friday, February 21 Third Term: Monday, March 3 through Friday, April 25 Fourth Term: Monday, May 5 through Friday, June 20


School will close on all legal holidays; Friday, October 25, Hampden County Teachers' Convention; and Friday, April 4, Good Friday. Schools will close at noon on November 27 for Thanksgiving.


The Wilbraham School Committee schedules regular meetings on the second Thursday of each month. Occasionally the mem- bers are unable to meet at that time. However, the School Com- mittee will be pleased to meet with anyone by appointment.


SCHOOL STATISTICS Children in School Census and Their Distribution Oct. 1, 1957


5-7 Years


7-16 Years


Total


Boys


162


632


794


Girls


128


525


653


290


1157


1447


Distribution


In public schools


146


997


1143


In vocational schools


27


27


In private schools


29


129


158


Not enrolled in any school


115


4


119


290


1157


1447


Total on October 1, 1956


288


1167


1455


25


Number of Pupils in Elementary Schools by Grades Five Year Period 1952-1957 As of October of Each Year


Grade


1


2


3


4


5


6


7


8


9


Spec. Total


1952


118


90


86


67


70


58


36


38


655


1953


136


128


95


92 87


88


78


66


63


38 779


1954


134


131


130


101


87


97


83


70


69


902


1955


131


135


145


116


103


93


100


86


78


987


1956


122


131


129


148


116


102


94


90


80


17


1029


1957


132


122


126


130


148


112


105


91


100 13 1079


Number of Pupils in the Several High Schools and Trade Schools


Five Year Period 1952-1957


Year


Classical High School


High School of Commerce


Technical High School


Ludlow High School


Palmer High School


West Spring- field


Trade High School


Total


1952


16


13


37


3


2


22


93


1953


12


15


42


1


8


2


21


101


1954


17


21


41


10


2


20


111


1955


21


22


58


19


24


144


1956


31


33


79


13


26


182


1957


50


34


94


6


32


216


Community Program ITEMIZED ACCOUNT


Appropriation


$4,800.00


Expenditures (Payrolls)


4,751.77


Unexpended Balance


$48.23


Dental Clinic


Dental Examinations were made and completed in all schools in the Town of Wilbraham.


All Dental Service in clinic was completed during the year 1957.


Appropriation


Expenditures


$1,050.00 $1,014.95


Unexpended Balance $35.05 EXPENDITURES: (total, $1,014.95) Dr. Irving P. Dinneen, $1,000.00; Ryan Dental Supply Co., $14.95.


DR. IRVING P. DINNEEN, School Dentist


School Bonds and Interest Expenditures 1949 - ITEMIZED ACCOUNT


Appropriation


$21,570.00


Expenditures


21,570.00


Unexpended Balance $0.00 EXPENDITURES: (total, $21,570.00) Second Bank State Street Trust Co., $21,570.00.


26


1953 - ITEMIZED ACCOUNT


Appropriation Expenditures


$25,605.00 25,605.00


Unexpended Balance $0.00


EXPENDITURES : (total, $25,605.00) Second Bank State Street Trust Co., $25,605.00.


1956 - ITEMIZED ACCOUNT


Appropriation $38,037.50


Expenditures


38,037.50


Unexpended Balance $0.00


EXPENDITURES : (total, $38,037.50) Second Bank State Street Trust Co., $38,037.50.


1957 - ITEMIZED ACCOUNT


Appropriation $5,500.00


Expenditures


5,500.00


Unexpended Balance $0.00 EXPENDITURES : (total, $5,500.00) Second Bank State Street Trust Co., $5,500.00.


New School - Stony Hill Road ITEMIZED ACCOUNT


Brought forward from 1956 $22,893.26 Expenditures 22,754.74


Unexpended Balance $138.52


EXPENDITURES: (total, $22,754.74) Warren H. Ashley, $444.99; F. W. Madigan, contractor, $19,424.31; Valley Cinema, Inc., intercom. system, $1,193.00; G. Fox Co., stage curtains, $1,435.00; Simons, $90.00; Wilco Screw Machine Products Co., installing railing and material, $97.50; Rand.McNally Co., globes, $69.94.


New School Addition - Stony Hill Road ITEMIZED ACCOUNT


Brought forward from 1956 Bond Issue


$55,000.00 400,000.00


$455,000.00


Expenditures


224,182.96


Unexpended Balance $230,817.04


EXPENDITURES: (total, $224,182.96) C. E. Anderson, survey, $60.00; Warren H. Ashley, $19,035.79; Ray S. Snyder Co., $1,074.13; William F. Logan, insurance, $668.20; Philip Keene, investigation of subsurface, $304.00; Albert H. Howes, reimb. for telephone calls, $6.90; F. W. Dodge Corp., advertising, $80.10; Gainey's Construction Newsletter, advertising, $24.90; The Springfield Union, advertising, $36.04; Fred Medard Prod- ucts, Inc., $500.00; Richco Products, Inc., floor machines, $888.30; Cascade School Supplies, Inc., $9,212.85; Edward L. Center, Inc., vacuum cleaners, $609.75; F. W. Madigan Co., contractor, $191,682.00.


27


**


.


--


*


O


1957 GRADUATING CLASS, WILBRAHAM JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL


Back Row, left to right: Joseph Reardon, Ed- ward Fife, David Bennett, Mitchell Workum, Kenneth Baker, William Thurlow, Byron Mussel- man, Robert Moffatt, Robert Daniele, Donald Finlayson.


Fourth Row: Sarah Sampson, Caro- lyn Dickey, Doreen Dougherty, Marjorie Jameson, Janiee Bowker, Cristel Noe, Kathleen Engel, Jo- anne Allen, Elaine Rose, Judith Rice, Stephanie Bellinger, Judith Wheeler, Dorothy Arabik, Caro- lyn Duncan, Barbara Reddish, Anita Jones. Third


Row: David Morse, James Panek, Gary Small, Raymond Yamer, John Anderson, Nancy Wheeler, Stacia Szczebak, Jean Greendale, Margaret Brown, Lynn Lovejoy, Janice Dulski, Patricia Putnam, Bruce McAllister, Hugh Mobley, Richard Robi- taile, Lawrence Gosciminski, Carl Pease, Timothy Connelly. Second Row : Patricia Palozie, Agnes Gore, Shirley Poulin, Ida Bernardes, Geraldine O'Brien, Sandra Lopata, Gail Narreau, Nancy Scott, Penelope Chase, Judith Agard, Jean Ander-


son, Anne Normoyle, Thelma Wells, Carol Pease, Elaine Leroux, Barbara Los. First Row: Gerald Yamer, Jeffrey Finn, Paul Canney, Dennis Mur- phy, James Chechile, George Robinson, Denny Smith, Francis Motyl, Robert Brown, Charles Di- Mascola, Richard Eisold, Carl Dygon, Stephen Swiatek, Jeffrey Howe, James Cieplik, Ronald Gendron. Absent when the picture was taken: Carl J. Alsing, Rockland Genza, Richard Good- rich, Edward Lasky.


PERSONS EMPLOYED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS Position


Name


Office


Irving H. Agard


Superintendent


1950


Christine Clark


Executive Secretary


1950


Joann L. LedDuke


Secretary


1957


Springfield Street School Millicent G. Green


Principal, Grade 3


1938


North Adams


Charlotte E. Prochnow


Grade 2


1957


B.S., Bridgewater State Teachers'


Eugenia F. Fowler


Grade 1


1957


Nicolet, Canada


Henry Hyde


Custodian


1954


The Pines School Li3-1029


Robert D. Bengle


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


Therese M. Dowd


Grade 3


1957


A.B., Our Lady of the Elms College


Marion H. Mckinstry


Grade 2


1956


Massachusetts School of Art


Mary E. Johnston


Grade 1


1950


Westfield State Teachers'


Michael Pyzocha


Custodian


1956


Li 3-4247


Stony Hill School


Richard J. Curry


Principal, Grade 6


1954


B.A., M.A., A. I. C.


Marion H. Castaldini


Secretary, Pincs and Stony Hill


1956


Mary E. Moody


Grade 5


1955


Fitchburg State Teachers'


Irene Walinski


Grade 5


1957


A.B., Our Lady of the Elms College


Alice F. Foley


Grade 4


1955


Westfield State Teachers'


Annamae B. Martin


Grade 4


1954


B.A., College of St. Rose


Janet S. Wagner


Grade 3


1956


B.A., Middlebury


Frances A. Ward


Grade 2


1954


B.S., Worcester State Teachers'


Madeline L. Harrington


Grade 1


1952


B.S., M.S., University of Mass.


Joanne S. Ewig


Grade 1


1955


B.S., Skidmore


Henry Hyde


Custodian


1956


Year Appointed


Education and Professional Training


B.A., M.Ed., Lafayette, Fitchburg Ac.S., B.S., Bay Path, A. I. C.


29


PERSONS EMPLOYED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS (Continued)


Name


Position


Year Appointed


Education and Professional Training


Memorial School Lincoln A. Dexter


Principal


1954


B.S., M.Ed., Rhode Island State Worcester State Teachers'


Florence M. LeVan


Secretary


1956


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.


Olindo Dragone


Junior High, Guidance


1956


B.A., M.A., University of N. Carolina


Middlebury, University of Naples


Robert P. Garvey


Junior High


1955


B.A., St. Anselm's


A. Louise Bradley


Junior High


1952


B.A., M.A., A. I. C.


Doris H. Alleman


Junior High


1956


B.S., A. I. C.


Robert J. Kime


Junior High


1956


B.S., State Teachers' of Boston


Julia F. Rosenbeck


Junior High


1954


Framingham


Joan C. Ruggles


Junior High


1956


B.S., Springfield College


James R. Rafferty


Junior High


1957


B.B.A., University of Massachusetts


Gina I. Frangie


Junior High


1954


B.A., M.Ed., A. I. C., Springfield


Jane S. McMahon


Grade 6


1953


B.S., Bridgewater


Carolyn F. Paulides


Grade 6


1957


A.B., Skidmore


William L. Kozlowski


Grade 5


1957


B.S.Ed., Westfield State Teachers'


Amelia S. Riley


Grade 5


1957


B.Sc., Worcester State Teachers'


Elizabeth A. Phillips


Grade 4


1956


B.S., New Platz State Teachers'


Doris Ann Schmidt


Grade 4


1957


B.S.Ed., Westfield State Teachers'


Barbara R. Hanson


Grade 3


1957


B.S.Ed., Westfield State Teachers'


Marguerite G. Brady


Grade 3


1942


Perry Normal


Cynthia Adams


Grade 2


1957


B.S.Ed., Springfield College


Marion L. Holland


Grade 2


1922


Springfield Teachers'


Clara B. Merrill


Grade 1


1944


Farmington State


Dorcas E. Weiner


Special Class


1957


B.S., M.Ed., Springfield College


Esther L. Johnson


Art. Music, all schools


1940


Westfield Still


30


John Polaczak George Morrison Everett Pickens


Custodian


1949


Custodian


1953


Custodian


1957


Supervisors


Helen B. Tower


Art 1921


Massachusetts Normal School of Art


Dwight D. Killam


Music


1955


Therese A. Bailey


Elementary


1950


Donald H. Long


Physical Education


1956


Millicent G. Green


Handwriting


1956


B.S., University of Massachusetts North Adams


Health


Janet M. Horacek


Nurse


1954


R.N., Springfield Hospital


Arthur H. Goodwin


Doctor


1947


M.D., Tufts


Irving P. Dinneen


Dentist


1929


D.M.D., Tufts


Hot Lunch Program


May Jenkins


Manager


1950


Memorial


Winifred Bennett


Head Cook


1953


Emma F. Chamberlin


Cook


1956


Muriel E. Jones


Cook


1957


Mary E. Marco


Cook


1957


Stony Hill


Mildred Cotter


Cook


1950


Ella Lindsay


Cook


1957


Isabella Rollins


Cook


1953


Eva Sideleau


Cook


1956


Pines


Julia Dougal


Cook


1952


Honorata Opalinski


Cook


1953


Transportation


Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Samble


1930


Mr. George W. Motyka


1932


B.Mus., M.Mus., Syracuse, Boston Univ. B.A., M.A., Westfield, A. I. C.


31


Report of the School Committee for the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District


FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR 1957


Administrative Budget


Appropriated from Hampden and Wilbraham Expended


$7,482.00


5,600.25


Balance


$1,881.75


Debt Service


Appropriated from Hampden and Wilbraham


$2,200.00


Expended


1,596.51


Balance


$603.49


Planning Notes, Bonds, and Interest


$200,051.07


Expended


192,397.62


Balance


$7,653.45


1958 BUDGET ESTIMATE


Administrative Budget


General Control


$8,960.00


Expense of Instruction


9,484.00


Operation of Plant


2,600.00


$21,044.00


Costs to Hampden and Wilbraham - Maintenance


Hampden


$4,705.44


Wilbraham


16,338.56


To the Citizens of Hampden and Wilbraham:


The active interest and support by both communities make it possible to write in this first annual report that a regional high school will be open in September, 1959.


On October 20, 1956, citizens of both towns voted to form the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District. The com- mittee organized with Marshall E. Roper, Chairman; Mrs. Grace L. Kibbe, Treasurer; Irving H. Agard, Superintendent of Schools and Secretary; and Sergius J. Bernard, Assistant Superintendent. On November 27, 1956, a $100,000 loan was authorized to complete detailed plans for the school.


Shortly after the first of the year, the committee engaged Dr. John E. Marshall as Educational Consultant for the pro- posed high school. Dr. Marshall's assistance in planning the


32


REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE: Mr. Furnans, Wilbraham; Mrs. Musselman, Wilbraham; Mr. Roper, Chairman, Wilbraham; Mrs. Wiggenhauser, Wilbraham; Mr. Reese, Wilbraham; Mr. Agard, Superintendent of Schools, Wilbraham; Mr. MacMullen, Hampden; Mr. Johnson, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Hamp- den. Absent at time of picture, Mr. Holmes, Hampden.


school has made possible an outstanding educational facility as well as an efficient building to operate and maintain.


With the assistance of Mr. E. Ray Pease, a member of the Wilbraham Board of Assessors, the committee located an excel- lent site for the school. A two-year option was obtained on 37 acres of land on Main Street in Wilbraham owned by Mr. Her- man C. Heiden.


In February, Mr. Sergius J. Bernard resigned his position as Assistant Superintendent of Schools in the region to accept a position in Easthampton. Mr. Kenneth E. Johnson, Superintend- ent of Schools in Hampden was elected to fill the vacancy.


Following careful interviews, studies of qualifications and buildings of 20 architects, the committee selected the firm of Alderman and MacNeish to design the regional high school. Working from the committee's and Dr. Marshall's Educational Specifications, this firm drew plans for the high school. The committee worked closely with the architect and engineer, ap- proving each phase of the plans. Throughout the planning stages, advice and assistance was obtained from the Massachu- setts School Building Assistance Commission and the Emergency Finance Board.


On May 27th and 28th, public information meetings were held in Hampden and Wilbraham to discuss the preliminary plans and costs of the proposed project. Other meetings were held with the Selectmen of both towns, Finance Board, Advisory Committee and organizational representatives. A brochure was mailed to all residents in the district before the public meetings.


33


Throughout the summer, the committee met on a regular schedule as detailed plans and specifications were developed. News releases were prepared on a regular schedule to inform the voters of the progress. After obtaining approval by state boards and officials, final plans and specifications were advertised for bids. Following the November 19 bid opening, the committee was able to establish a building construction budget of $1,890,- 000. Seven general contract and 62 sub-bids were received, indi- cating good competition. Plans for a swimming pool, part of the physical educational facilities, were developed as an alternate. The cost was determined to be $110,000. The final decision on a swimming pool was left to the voters of the district by placing a separate article in the warrants for the town meetings.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.