Wilbraham annual report 1956-1960, Part 39

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


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]


24


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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