USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Wilbraham annual report 1956-1960 > Part 39
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In analyzing our budgets, one can't help but realize there are certain expenses that we have very little control over because of the "price of progress," the "influence of inflation" and the problems created by our "population explosion." The rate of change in this revolutionary process is very difficult to plan for and to make any logical predictions. This unusual increase in population can be classified as abnormal as far as the rate of growth is concerned, but it must be recognized as being normal for us and up to this point we have weathered the storm with unusual success. As you know we are not economists, but it appears to us as only common sense that we keep our costs under control as much as possible and to do so we must exercise certain restraints and make certain sacrifices to work out of this dilemma with some financial stability. It must be understood by all of us that we cannot take more out of this economy than we put in. We must plan our budgets conservatively and not spend every- thing we have, nor to the full extent of our borrowing capacity. We must remember that every dollar we do borrow we must pay back with interest. We should finance ourselves and restrain our borrowing only to good business propositions. We are obli- gated to provide adequate educational facilities, but we feel every restraint should be exercised to keep costs at a minimum and still not jeopardize the educational standards.
For the coming year let us resolve not to ask for more than we are willing to provide for and on this conservative vein we will close the chapter for another year.
We appreciate the cooperation extended to us during the past year by all the Departments, Committees, Officials and Employees in responding to our suggestions.
ROGER T. HINTZE, Chairman JESSE L. RICE RICHARD L. DANFORTH
12
13
Comparison of Town Expenditures for 1959 of all Towns in Massachusetts, Grouped by Population to Show Percentage Cost for Each Classification of the Town Services
POPULATION OF TOWNS IN MASSACHUSETTS
Over 15,000
10,000 to 15,000
6,000 to 10,000
4,000 to 6,000
2,500 to 4,000
Under 2,500
WILBRAHAM
General Government
4.2
4.0
4.3
4.0
5.1
5.7
4.5
Public Safety
12.2
9.2
8.0
7.7
7.4
4.8
4.1
Health and Sanitation
5.9
4.4
2.9
2.9
2.6
1.8
.7
Highways
8.7
8.9
9.8
9.5
10.7
15.8
4.6
Public Welfare
5.2
6.7
8.1
6.1
8.6
6.9
4.1
Veterans' Service
.8
1.4
1.3
1.0
1.I
1.2
.5
Schools
37.8
40.3
43.8
46.9
42.6
47.4
62.7
Libraries
1.5
1.I
.9
.8
1.0
1.0
1.3
Recreation
1.8
1.2
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.2
.8
Pensions
1.9
1.2
1.0
.9
.8
.5
.6
Unclassified
3.9
4.1
2.4
3.5
4.4
5.6
1.9
Public Service Enterprises
7.6
8.1
7.0
4.4
8.2
2.6
2.8
Debt Repayment plus Interest
8.5
9.4
9.5
11.2
8.6
6.1
11.4
OUR TOWN
Photo by H. Bogue
Young people use the Public Li- brary. Mrs. Rudge passes cookies at a Library Tea.
WORKS & LIVES
*
-
Photo by R. McGee
Our youth have fun dancing
14
The Bucket Brigade helps empty a flooded basement - Wilbraham Community Spirit!
Photo by H. Bogue
1960 STYLE
----
Photo by H. Bogue
The Triple Trio entertains at the Policemen's Ball
15
Finance Committee Report
The accelerated growth evidenced during the past decade in the population of Wilbraham has continued for another year. Consequential expansion in Town services and facilities is una- voidable. Coincident therewith is the increasing cost of labor and materials affecting today's economy. All of this adds up to an inevitable increase annually in the cost of adequate and effec- tive Town operation.
Each year these circumstances add to the responsibility of the Town officers, department heads and committees to consider with increasing care the recommendation of funds to be appropriated and the expenditure of these funds. As in the past, the Finance Committee has conferred with all persons responsible for budget recommendations. Expenditures during the past year have been reviewed. Contemplated expenses for the future have been thoughtfully considered.
Comparison of the years 1960 and 1961 is as follows:
1960
Appropriations to be raised by taxation
$1,280,736.32
Appropriations from available funds 117,180.80
Total
$1,397,917.12
1961
Appropriations recommended to be raised by taxation $1,462,020.67
Appropriations recommended from available funds 387,171.95
Total
$1,849,192.62
As indicated above, the amount recommended to be raised by taxation for 1961 is $181,284.35 in excess of the amount voted to be raised by taxation in 1960. This amount is accounted for as follows:
$22,604.00 Increase for local School budget. 47,608.88 Increase for Town's participation in regional school budget.
23,390.59 Increase for Town services in Article 5 other than schools.
16
21,880.88 Increase for highways under Chapters 81 and 90 of the General Laws and for street construction (Special Articles) .
50,000.00
Voted at prior Special Town Meetings for school construction (Special Articles) .
6,000.00
600.00
For revaluation of real property (Special Article) . For Industrial Development Commission (Special Article).
5,000.00
Increase for Stabilization Fund (Special Article).
5,000.00
For Master Plan Survey for Water Department (Special Article) .
$182,084.35
less 800.00
Total Increase Reduction of Equipment Item - Police Cruiser (Special Article) .
$181,284.35 Net Increase
It should be borne in mind that the amount of $181,284.35 referred to in the preceding paragraph does not indicate the extent to which there may be a change in the tax rate for the year 1961. Other factors are involved in determining the tax rate. The Finance Committee is frequently asked to indicate what change is to occur in the annual tax rate. It is pointed out that despite notions to the contrary, the Assessors, in accordance with the General Laws of the Commonwealth, are the sole body fixing the tax rate. Furthermore, at the time this report is pre- pared certain factors affecting determination of the tax rate such as assessments from state and county, revenues from state, local revenues and the amount of valuations and overlay from the Assessors are not available to the Finance Committee. In prac- ticability, this precludes any accurate forecast on the part of the Finance Committee as to actual change in the tax rate. For pur- poses of guidance in preparing the budget, the Finance Committee can only make its best estimate of these unknown factors and therefore may only conjecture as to change in the tax rate.
It is recommended to the Selectmen that a qualified accountant be employed in the year to come. This recommendation is made for the purpose of improving the present system of Town ac- counts. After thorough consideration, it is the opinion of this Committee that the Town should install an approved system of accounting in keeping with that recommended by state fiscal
17
authorities. In the opinion of this Committee it is essential that more detailed accounts and recorded information be available monthly and particularly at the time of budget preparation to assist Town officials, department heads and Committees in dis- charging their fiscal responsibilities. Specifically, the services of such accountant and installation of an improved system of ac- counting would provide, when needed, more complete informa- tion than now available with respect to:
(a) Total debt, both inside and outside debt limit - with principal and interest payable in the current year;
(b) Uncollected taxes, by applicable years, with statement as to the tax title account;
(c) Assessors' list of estimated receipts for the prior year -. and actual collections applicable thereto;
(d) Surplus Revenue with debits and credits during the prior year;
(e) List by departments of unexpended balances of prior year's general appropriations;
(f) Unexpended balances of particular or special appropria- tions;
(g) Deficits in overlay, underestimate of State, County, etc. taxes or charges which must be absorbed;
(h) Balance of Overlay Reserve;
(i) Receipts during prior year from Massachusetts and/or U.S.A. o/a charities, both as to relief and as to adminis- tration costs.
It is also the conclusion of this Committee that budgets with respect to certain departments should be prepared and presented to voters on a "segregated basis." A segregated budget is one which requires that various items of a department's budget be subject to separate vote by the voters. For example, it is generally recommended by State fiscal authorities that expense items be segregated as follows:
(1) Personnel service (or, salaries and wages)
(2) Expense (or, general maintenance)
(3) Outlays, including new equipment
(4) Repairs
Obviously utilization of a segregated budget is practicable only with respect to departments where the total to be budgeted is of sufficient amount to expediently permit segregation by func- tion as indicated above. In some instances the division of items
18
as indicated above should be modified to fit a particular depart- ment. It is recommended therefore that the Finance Committee for the year to follow request departments, where appropriate, to submit segregated budgets and that such budgets be so pre- sented at subsequent Town Meetings.
It is further recommended that the Selectmen appoint a Sur- vey Committee to study and recommend appropriate job evalua- tions and wage scales for Town employees and officials. Such survey should be thoroughly considered with respect to other comparable communities and the results of such study should be available to Town officials, department heads and the Finance Committee prior to preparation of 1962 budget.
With respect to Special Articles to be included in this year's warrant the Committee would like to make particular reference to the Article regarding a revaluation of real property. We have reviewed the findings of the special committee appointed by the Selectmen to study this problem. It is our opinion that the extent of inequities in current valuations indicates need for revaluation. We concur with recommendation of the special committee as to the manner in which such revaluation should be accomplished. Inasmuch as the cost of such revaluation can be amortized over a three-year period we recommend favorable action by the voters with regard to the Article.
The Finance Committee has reviewed with the School Build- ing Committee the suggested method of financing the proposed addition to the Pines School at an estimated cost of $468,000. It is estimated at this time that approximately $30,000 of this amount is applicable to land cost, site work, general contract and architectural costs, legal fees and equipment in which the State Building Assistance Commission will not participate. The balance of $438,000 (estimated) will be divided equally between the Town and the State. By borrowing less than the share to be reimbursed by the State Building Assistance Commission the Town can take advantage of the five-year financing plan offered by the State under such circumstances. It is therefore recom- mended that the Town borrow the sum of $209,000 in the form of short term notes over a five-year period as needed and finance the remainder of the cost with funds in the amount of $22,443.90 available from the Stony Hill Surplus Account and the balance from the Stabilization Fund. Subsequent to preparation of this report and prior to the Annual Town Meeting bids for actual
19
cost of this work will have been obtained from contractors and the exact amounts to be required in the financing of the proposed construction can be presented at such meeting.
It is the opinion of this Committee that the advantages to the Town of a substantial Stabilization Fund are evident from the preceding paragraph. Through the medium of this Fund neces- sary capital expenditures can be anticipated and prefunded in such manner as to greatly alleviate the effect of acute increase in tax rates or necessity of long-term financing which might other- wise occur as such capital expenditures become necessary. Bear- ing in mind future needs of the Town including additional school facilities, extension of the water system, library and ultimately a sewage disposal plant, it is recommended that throughout the years ahead the annual rate of contribution to the Stabilization Fund be increased in order to more adequately prefund such anticipated expenditures.
The Finance Committee herein expresses to all officials, de- partment heads and committee representatives appreciation for their cooperation and effort devoted to achieving, in the opinion of the Committee, as economical budget estimates as possible.
ALDO ALBERICI, Chairman
IRVING J. CORDNER EARL W. DECORIE
ALBERT H. HOWES
JOHN W. JUECHTER, JR.
FRED T. GOOGINS
RUSSELL R. MOFFATT
HERMAN G. GRANDCHAMP
ALBERT E. NEALE
Report of the Wilbraham School Committee
Educationally, 1960 has been a good year for the schools in Wilbraham. There has been a continuing review and strengthen- ing of the academic program, satisfactory class size has been maintained, and the teaching has improved with additional train- ing and experience. Routine repairs and maintenance have been carried out as scheduled, to protect the community's investment in a modern school plant. Despite the increasing pupil load, addi- tional assistance has been provided to insure proper attention to individual needs.
Through a coordinated effort by the Regional District, the school system in Hampden, and the Wilbraham schools, a quali- fied speech therapist began conducting remedial speech classes in September. At the present time, eighty five pupils are receiving this special training. One year earlier, a school adjustment coun- sellor, trained to work with disturbed children, was jointly em-
20
ployed by Wilbraham and Hampden. These specialists, in con- junction with the school psychologist, support and supplement the efforts of the classroom teachers to provide maximum educa- tional benefits for each pupil.
The modern foreign language program in grades seven and eight, using a language laboratory as an oral drill facility, and the opportunity to begin Latin in grade eight, have provided a desirable first step to accelerate and enrich the programs of the academically talented students.
The science program in grades one through eight has been strengthened with the use of mobile science tables, demonstra- tion and participation experiments, and large group teaching by specialists. This method, grouping several classes together for a special demonstration or exhibit, provides maximum utilization of teaching abilities and a better educational experience for a greater number of students. A subject matter specialist concen- trates on the preparation of a single superior lesson while the pupils in his class participate in a series of such lessons.
Looking back over the past twelve months is a rewarding experience for this committee. Much of the intended growth and improvement planned for 1960 has been accomplished, and the long range pattern of school development in this community has been advanced.
In the years immediately ahead, the schools in this community must continue to expand and improve if our pupils are to be adequately prepared to face the requirements of our competitive society. The citizens of Wilbraham have long provided impres- sive educational facilities to accommodate the expanding school population. The Memorial School in 1950, the Memorial School and Pines School additions in 1953, the Stony Hill School in 1956, its addition a year later, and Minnechaug High School in 1959, are the visible evidences of the support provided for public education by this community.
Once again, we face a dangerous shortage of classroom facili- ties. The 1959 Annual Report recorded the growing school population and action taken by the Selectmen and School Survey Committee to solve the problem. Based on present available cen- sus figures as included in this report, the school system will be lacking one classroom when school opens in September, 1961, despite the complete use of the Springfield Street School, long considered an emergency, or temporary facility. These same cen-
21
sus figures show a need for three additional classrooms a year for the next six years. This Committee does not attempt to pre- dict births, so all long range planning is based on a six-year pre- school population. The seriousness of the growing classroom shortage becomes more evident when one considers the eighteen to twenty four months required to construct a new school. The School Committee has worked closely with the School Building Committee, and unanimously supports and endorses its immedi- ate and long range planning.
If the School Committee is to continue to provide an adequate education for the children of this community it must, as in the past, have the support of the citizens not only in providing neces- sary school facilities, but in the acceptance of the annual operat- ing budget as developed by the School Committee after months of careful study and consideration. Recruiting and holding quali- fied and experienced teachers is the most effective means of insur- ing a sound educational system. Your School Committee has developed a salary schedule that is competitive with those in area communities, and has worked throughout the summer to develop a fair and reasonable balance between the needs of the school system and the financial ability of the community.
It is with pride in accomplishment that we have reviewed the progress made in the schools in Wilbraham, and we wish to ex- press our appreciation to the teachers and the administrative personnel for the outstanding work they are doing. We firmly believe that the program will continue to improve, and will war- rant the continued support of the community.
MATTHEW GOZDOWSKI, Chairman
MR. HARRY DABAGIAN
MRS. BYRON MUSSELMAN
MR. ALEXANDER MARCO
MRS. MANSFIELD WILLIAMS
BUDGET ESTIMATE 1961
Expense of School Committee
$230.00
Superintendent's Salary
9,350.00
Expense of Superintendent (to include out-of-state travel)
9,087.00
Supervisors' Salaries
19,344.00
Principals' Salaries
16,375.00
Expense of Principalship
7,346.00
Teachers' Salaries
315,584.00
Textbooks
6,500.00
Expense of Instruction, Supplies
12,234.00
Custodians' Salaries
28,514.00
Fuel
11,840.00
Expense of Operation, Miscellaneous
14,375.00
Repairs
5,850.00
22
Health
5,906.00
Transportation
54,388.00
Tuition
23,275.00
Miscellaneous Auxiliary
4,586.00 2,460.00
Total
$547,244.00
Less : Available P. L. 874 Funds
5,628.00
Amount to appropriate
$541,616.00
COMMUNITY PROGRAM
$6,000.00
1961 Credit Estimate on Account of Education
Chapter 71, Section 7A - Transportation
$35,000.00
Chapter 70, Section A
67,691.96 10,153.79
Chapter 70, Section B, Regional
Vocational
6,000.00
State Wards
2,600.00
School Adjustment Counsellor
3,760.00
Special Class
7,400.00
$132,605.75
SCHOOL CALENDAR 1960-1961
First Term: Wednesday, September 7 through Friday, December 23
Second Term: Tuesday, January 3 through February 17
Third Term: Monday, February 27 through Friday, April 14 Fourth Term: Monday, April 24 through Friday, June 16
School will close on all legal holidays, Friday, October 20, Hampden County Teachers' Convention, and Friday, March 31st, Good Friday. Schools will close at noon on November 23 for Thanksgiving.
The Wilbraham School Committte schedules regular meetings on the 2nd Monday of each month. Special meetings are scheduled as required, and all meetings are open to the public.
SCHOOL STATISTICS Enrollment
The enrollment of pupils by grade as of October 1, 1960 is shown below :
Grade
1
3
1
5
6
7
8
Spec.
Total
Pines
26
29
30
28
24
24
161
Springfield St.
29
26
55
Stony Hill
105
99
106
93
83
84
570
Memorial
26
31
31
30
22
28
148
157
23
496
186
185
167
151
129
136
148
157
23
1282
Census Report and Comparison October 1, 1960
Year tô
Year Born
Enter School Census 1960
Census 1959
Census 1958
Census 1957
Census 1956
1954
1960
186
172
171
155
149
1955
1961
170
159
144
128
104
1956
1962
175
156
156
134
92*
1957
1963
157
154
137
90*
1958
1964
162
139
89*
1959
1965
127
84*
1960
1966
112*
* 9/12 of year recorded
23
New Equipment
Children in School Census and Their Distribution October 1, 1960
5-7 Years
7-16 Years
Total
Boys
233
725
958
Girls
230
607
837
Total
463
1332
1795
Distribution
In Public Schools
217
1203
1420
In Vocational Schools
1
1
In Private Schools
32
125
157
Not enrolled in any school
214
3
217
463
1332
1795
Total on October 1, 1959
304
1211
1515
Number of Pupils in Elementary Schools by Grades Five Year Period 1955-1960 As of October of Each Year
Grade
1
2
3
4
5 103
93
7 100 94
8 86 90
80
17 1029
1957
132
122
126
130
148
112
1958
148
136
126
126
133
147
105 122
91 104
92
19 1153
1959
172
162
140
123
143
133
170
101
*
23
1167
1960
186
185
167
151
129
136
148
157
**
23
1282
# Grade 9 now at Minnechaug High School
School Building Committee Report
The School Building Committee was appointed by the Select- men on June 16, 1960, superseding the School Survey Commit- tee, as a result of the June 6, 1960 Special Town Meeting. The Committee was authorized, by a motion passed at this Special Town Meeting, to obtain preliminary plans and engineering studies in connection with the proposed construction of additional school facilities recommended by the May 13, 1960 report of the School Survey Committee. $17,000.00 was appropriated for this purpose.
The Wilbraham School Survey Committee's May 13, 1960 report highlighted the following:
The Need: Wilbraham grade 1-8 enrollment has averaged an increase of over 72 pupils/year through the years since 1948 and is expected to continue or accelerate. To cope with this enrollment increase, Wilbraham has been building new schools at an average rate of three classrooms per year. This need for classrooms is expected to continue or accelerate.
{Continued on Page 29]
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Spec. Total
1955
131
135
145
116
987
1956
122
131
129
148
116
102
6
9 78
100
13 1079
PERSONS EMPLOYED IN THE WILBRAHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Name
Position
Year Appointed
Education and Professional Training
Office :
Irving H. Agard
Superintendent 1950
Eva M. Ellis
Executive Secretary
1959
Joann L. LedDuke Anna B. Tupper
Bookkeeper
1957
Clerk.Typist
1959
Stony Hill School : Richard J. Curry
Marion H. Castaldini
Secretary, Stony Hill, Pines and Springfield Street
1956
Gordon S. Bates
Grade 6
1958
B.S., M.Ed., Springfield College
Thomas W. Lennon
Grade 6
1958
B.S., American International College
Amelia S. Riley
Grade 6
1957
B.S., Worcester State Teachers College
Muriel M. Pellissier
Grade 5
1958
B.S., Westfield State Teachers College
Gina I. Frangie
Grade 5
1954
B.A., M.Ed., American International College; Springfield College
Mary E. Moody
Grade 5
1955
Fitchburg State Teachers College
Elizabeth C. Benson
Grade 4
1959
B.S., Westfield State Teachers College
Alice F. Foley
Grade 4
1955
Fitchburg State Teachers College
Mildred M. Powell
Grade 4
1960
B.S., Univ. of Nebraska; Univ. of Mass.
Anne T. Stachowicz
Grade 3
1959
B.S., Springfield College
Therese M. Dowd
Grade 3
1957
A.B., Our Lady of the Elms College
Barbara R. Hanson
Grade 3
1957
B.S., Westfield State Teachers College
Charlotte E. Prochnow
Grade 3
1957
B.S., Bridgewater State Teachers College
Marjorie Befford
Grade 2
1958
Fitchburg State Teachers College
Mildred Lockwood
Grade 2
1959
B.S., Westfield State Teachers College
Frances A. Ward
Grade 2
1954
B.S., Worcester State Teachers College
Joanne S. Ewig
Grade 1
1955
B.S., Skidmore College
Joyce Bowser
Grade 1
1958
B.A., Providence Barrington Bible College
B.A., M.Ed., Lafayette; Fitchburg State Teachers College Burdett College
Principal, Stony Hill, Pines and Springfield Strect 1954
B.A., M.A., American International Col.
25
PERSONS EMPLOYED IN THE WILBRAHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS (Continued)
Name
Position
Year Appointed
Madeline Harrington
Grade 1
1952
Stella Mondoux
Grade 1
1958
Henry Hyde
Custodian
1954
Thomas Farnham
Custodian
1958
Mildred Cotter
Cook
1950
Ella Lindsay
Cook
1957
Isabella Rollins
Cook
1953
Eva Sideleau
Cook
1956
The Pines School:
Helen S. Strauss
Principal, Grade 5
1930
B.S., M.S., Columbia; Springfield College
William Kozlowski
Grade 6
1957
B.S., M.Ed., Westfield State Teachers Col.
B.S., Teachers College, Danbury, Conn.
B.S., Westfield State Teachers College
Susan J. Quimby
Grade 2
1960
Mary E. Johnston
Grade 1
1950
Michael Pyzocha
Custodian
1954
Julia Dougal
Cook
1952
Jean Lajzer
Cook
1960
Springfield Street School :
Grade 1
1958
B.A., American International College
Carol B. Glista
Grade 2
1958
B.S., Westfield State Teachers College
Memorial School:
Lincoln A. Dexter
Principal
1954
B.S., M.Ed., Rhode Island State; Worcester State Teachers College
Florence M. Le Van
Secretary
1956
Muriel Boyce
Junior High
1960
B.A., M.Ed., Framingham Normal; B. U.
A. Louise Bradley
Junior High
1952
Charles T. Coolong, Jr.
Special Class
1958
Wallace C. Dec
Junior High
1959
B.S., University of Massachusetts
Marion Didrikson
Junior High
1959
B.B.A., American International College
Ruth C. Hood
Grade 4
1959
Emma B. Habin
Grade 3
1960
B.S., Westfield State Teachers College
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