USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Webster > Annual report of the municipal officers of the Town of Webster, Maine, for the year ending 1952 > Part 3
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TEMPORARY LOANS
Paid: Mfg. National Bank, Bal. 1951 Loan Mfg. National Bank
Balance Due
Due Mfg. Nat. Bank
$ 4,600 00
Received : Temporary Loans
20,000 00
$24,600 00
$24,600 00
GENERAL LOANS
Paid : Mfg. National Bank
1,754 08
Due Mfg. National Bank, Feb.1, 1952 Loan
$ 3,284 62
$ 3,284 62
$ 3,284 62
OVER-DRAFTS
. Applied as Payment General Loan Appropriation
$ 1,530 54
$ 1,530 54
$ 1,530 54
ABATEMENTS AND DISCOUNTS
Discounts of 1951 Taxes
15 29
Alyse Cyr, error C. C. Holden, error
9 75
W. B. Wilson, Valuation error
3 90
15 60
D. & A. Pelletier, valuation error
5
$ 512 .31
7 64
Balance February 1, 1952
$ 585 27
$ 4,600 00 14,000 00 6,000 00
$ 1,530 54
$ 1,530 54
42
68 25
Romeo and Eva Berube
Lee W. Davis, Heirs, error
19 50
Anna Galipeau, road agreement
42 12
Valmore Caron, veteran
1 56
Clinton Burnham, deceased
3 00
William Kmieper, deceased
3 08
Gaston Giguere, paid in Lewiston
11 70
W. H. Hinman Co., error assessment
L 56
Ralph Sherman, small radio
3 12
Arthur Wright, no radio
3 00
Raymond Poirier, veteran
1950 Tax
1950
Leo Laberge, house burned
1947 Tax
Norman Huntington, left Town
35 18
Unexpended
$ 400 00
Received :
385 10
$ 785 10
$ 785 10
RESOURCES
Cash in Treasury
$ 543 17
Accounts Receivable
893 51
Uncollected Taxes, 1951
8,291 81
Uncollected Taxes, 1950
228 30
Uncollected Taxes, 1949
190 87
Uncollected Taxes, 1948
100 93
Uncollected Taxes, 1947
7 44
Tax Liens, 1950
94
Tax Liens, 1949
585 80
Tax Liens, 1948
448 22
Tax Liens. 1947
244 20
Tax Liens, 1946
321 68
Tax Liens,
1945
170 25
Tax Liens,
1944
125 02
Tax Liens, 1943
134 04
Tax Liens, 1942
171 50
Tax Liens,
1941
165 40
Tax Liens, 1940
112 40
Tax Liens, 1939
206 38
Tax Liens, 1938
58 53
Tax Liens, 1937
45 48
Tax Liens, 1935
18 75
Tax Liens, 1933
8 40
$13,976 02
00
Ben Davis, no radio
3 00
Louis Boutin, Poll tax paid
22 80
4 48
Appropriation
Interest 1948-49-50-51 Taxes
43
Less Reserve for losses on taxes, tax liens and tax deeds
Total Resourses
$13,976 02
467 75
$13, 508 27
LIABILITIES
Mfg. Nat. Bank, General Loan
$ 1,754 08
Mfg. Nat. Bank, State Aid Road # 2 Loan
6,000 00
Total Liabilities
$ 7,754 08
Balance in favor of Town
$ 5,754 19
Respectfully submitted, JAY A. WALKER, DEAN A. WHEELER, RAYMOND L. EMOND, Selectmen of Webster.
44
REPORT OF TREASURER
To the inhabitants of the Town of Webster, I hereby sub- mit my annual report for the fiscal year ending February 1, 1952.
RECEIPTS
Balance from 1951
$ 2,963 94
From State of Maine
State Aid Roads
$ 2,618 30
Town Road Improvement
1,374 36
Snow Removal
1,557 50
School Funds
9,213 82
Rail Road Stock
26 51
Bank Stock
42 86
Dog Tax
41 78
Forest Fires
10 12
Health and Welfare
984 63
15,869 88
Winifred Sawyer, Collector
1948 Taxes
3 43
1949 Taxes
36.81
1950 Taxes
4,697 39
1951 Taxes
52,439 62
Excise Taxes
2,769 33
59,946 58
Licenses and Permits
Louise Cote
1 00
Carise Dumont
1 00
Deane Wheeler
14 00
James C. Cushman
1 00
Philomena and Palangi
12 00
2 00
Ed Willoughby
32 00
45
Rent of Brick Block
Deane Wheeler
$ 629 00
Town Poor
1
33 00
$
30 75
Deane Wheeler Mrs. Chester Colby
23 70
Healey Asylum
87 45
Out of Town Poor
$ 189 35
City of Lewiston
201 41
Town of Greene
60 00
Town of Hiram
450 76
Fire Dept. Outside Services
$ 227 98
Town of Greene
38 39
Town of Wales
15 00
Town of Litchfield
281 37
Rent of Town Hall
$ 54 00
Ralph Winslow
10 00
Teen Age Dramatic Club
100 00
Webster Lodge
60 00
American Legion
7 13
Edwin Willoughby on acct.
231 13
46
Recieved from Trust Funds
D. D. Golder M. T. Maxwell Spear Cemetery
$ 6 50
10 00
12 00
William Maxwell
6 00
34 50
Pending Sale of Mortgages by Selectmen to Tenants
Clarence 0. Beals 10 00
Sale of Mortgages by Selectmen to Tenants
Alfred Galipeau $ 51 00
137 02
Leo Laberge
188 02
Sale of Mortgages by Selectmen to others
Armandine Hogan ( Pinard Place ) 72 62
Received on Liens
Rena Jones, on acct. ,1949 Lien $ 97 00
Everett Davis 1950 Lien
107 48
Sam Wise ( Leo Lachance ) 1950 Lien
51 64
Rena Jones, Bal. 1949 Lien
13 99
Leo Laberge, 1949 Lien
22776
Joseph and Lea Boulette, on acct. 1949 Lien
2 24
Joseph and Lea Boulette, on acct. 1949 Lien
25 00
Leo Iaberge, 1949 Lien
20 18
Leo Laberge, 1950 Lien
12 03
Leo Laberge, 1950 Lien
32 48
Matheis Jolin, 1950 Lien
12 04
Matheis Jolin, 1950 Lien
16 11
Leo Laberge, 1950
Joseph and Lea Boulette, on acct. 1949 Lien 25 00
22 79
Joseph and Lea Boulette, 1949 Lien
22 80
47
L. and B. Couture, ( St. Pierre ) 1949 Lien $ 43 90
Joseph and Lea Boulette, Bal.
1949 Lien
129 61
Paul Roderigue, 1949 Lien
58 13
John and Grace Michard, 1949 Lien
29 61
$ 744 79
Miscellaneous Receipts
Loans in Anticipation of Taxes
$ 20,000 00
School Dept., Winter Work 6 59
Town of Wales, Grader Rental
6 00
Town of Wales, H. S. Tuition
63 94
Lawrence Ashton, Sewer Acct.
34 50
Town of Greene, H. S. Tuition
83 40
Town of Harpswell, H. S. Tuition
100 00
Leonard Thompson, Sewer Acct.
55 34
Elizabeth Kempton, Sewer Acct.
55 34
Town of Wales, Grader Rental
3 00
Town of Lisbon, à of Line Survey
142 98
Joe Riley, Sewer Acct.
56 00
20,607 09
$102,149 13
EXPENDITURES
Town Warrants No. 1 to No. 36A Inclusive $101,605 96
To Balance in Treasury Feb. 2 1952 543 17
$102,149 13
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK F. GREENLEAF.
48
REPORT OF TAX COLLECTOR
To the Citizens of the Town of Webster:
I herewith submit to the Citizens of Webster, my report as Tax Collector of the Town for the Fiscal year ending February 1, 1952
Dr.
$60,981 09
1951 Commitment
233 97
1951 Supplementary Tax
211 72
1951 Interest Collected
$61,426 78
Cr.
$52,439 62
Discounts
211 84
Abatements
8,262 50
Due from Collector
Number of resident taxpayers 464. Non-resident 206.
EXCISE TAXES (346)
Dr.
$ 2,764 93
Received
Cr.
2,769 93
Paid Treasurer
Cash on hand, February 1, 1952 $ 657.72
1951 UNPAID TAXES
Resident $ 4 56
#Conrad Allen
50 31
Arthur Albert
6 12
*Kenneth Bergeron
253 11
Joseph Boulette
38 27
Erlon Bragg
1 95
Alvin Batchelder
43 56
Henery Bergeron
83 07
Pearl Bulick
4 56
George Buck
9 75
*Albert Clifford
48 75
Octavia Cloutier
40 56
Francis Coulombe
3 00
Arthur Cote
L 56
Ruth Drinkwater
4 56
Edward Donavan
69 81
Walter Estabrook, Heirs
110 37
*Carl Eiler
Jean & Mary Gallipeau
199 29
Cash Paid Treasurer
512 11
Unpaid Tax
71
$61,426 78
Number of poll taxes 326.
49
3 00
George Gayton
102 96
Gaston Giguere
97 38
Antonio Houle
3 00
Arthur Hodsdon
3 00
Weston Jones
81 12
Matthias Jolin
108 81
Alphonse Lavoie
91 92
John Linnehan
156 00
Ruth Moore
29 91
Wendell Moore
3 00
John Michaud
4 56
Holman Muller
6 12
Alcine Madore
19 50
Harold Niles
4 56
John Nelson
3 00
Joseph Parise
106 08
#Arthur Poussard Eben Pillsbury
69
Walter Peach
00
John Rainey
4 56
Coleman Ridlon
3 00
Napoleon Roderique
3 00
Alex Stenhouse
4 56
Ernest Spaulding
15 60
Laforest Small
3 00
Frederick Stevens
58 04
F. E. Sleeper, Heirs
3 00
Carl Spearin
22 23
Edwin Willoughby
4 56
Kelsey Young
Non-Resident
48 75
John Alexander
140 40
Bertrand Bissonette
29 25
Wilfred Baril
19 00
Clarence Beal
29 25
Adrian Blanchette
07
Louis Bourisk
48 75
*Edmand Bilodeau
10
Domonique Bellevance
39 00
Antonio Croteau
3 90
Roy Campbell
35 10
Eugene Carpentier
3,494 00
Deen Woolen Mills
175000
Raoul Daigle
58 50
Arthur Frachette
31 20
Alfred Gallipeau
48 75
Laurier Giradin
14 50
Florence Grant
39 00
Ellery Jones, Heirs
39 00
Victor Leclerc
6 12
#Roger Lariviere
51 36
Arthur Michaud
3 00
Gilbert Martin
47 07
#Henry Tetrault
50
Alcide Lapointe
48 75
Iew., Aub. Working Mans Club
7 80
Roger Langelier
5 07
George Inberge
11 70
Jules Lavoie
9 75
Albert Modee
24 57
Betty Holbrook
5 07
Marcelle Provencher
24 57
Frank Falangi
558 87
Arthur Pare '
9 75
Victor Roy
39 00
Paul Roderigue
58.50
Gladys Smith
185 25
Herbert Teel
75
Raymond Savage
15 60
Standard 011
11 70
* Paid since January 31, 1952
1950 REPORT
Dr .
Unpaid Tax
Interest
$ 5,814 79 154 02
$ 5,968 81
Paid Treasurer
$ 4,697 39
Liens
1,117 94
Unpaid
153 20
Due from Collector
28
$ 5,968 81
UNPAID TAXEZ
Bertrand Bissonette
19 00
Emil Boulette
4 52
Eugene Roulette
3 00
Arthur Frachette
28 50
Leo Lachance
4 52
George Laberge
14 40
Henry Lanevielle
19 00
Matthias Jolin
3 04
Murray Heirs
1 52
Clarence Parker
3 00
Robert Pelletier
6 04
Raymond Prevost
3 00
Ernest Spaulding
1 52
Alex Stenhouse
3 00
Jos. Boulette
39 14
1949 REPORT
Unpaid Tax Interest
$ 185 49
2 93
188 42
51
Paid Treasurer Abatement Unpaid
Cr.
$ 36 81
3 00
148 61
-
$ 188 42
Unpaid
40 42
Jos. Boulette
1 54
Emile Boulette
34 65
Laurier Gautier
47 36
Frank Palangi
23 10
Emile Poulin
1 54
Ernest Spaulding
1948 REPORT
Dr.
$ 154 74
Unpaid Tax
50
Interest
$ 155 24
Paid Treasurer
$
3 43
Unpaid Tax
$
155 24
Unpaid
145 89 $
145 89
Jos. Boulette
Wik & Hand 3
3 00
1947 REPORT
Topeld Tax
$
10 44
Abatement
5 96
Unpaid Tax
$ 10 44
Wm . Hand
Unpaid
5 96
While submitting my report for 1951, I wish to express to the cit- izens of Webster, my deep appreciation of their continued good will and support, While the amount of uncollected tax is nearly $ 2,400 more than last year, we must take into consideration that the assess- ment was about $ 13,614.00 larger, and that the books closed 2 weeks earlier, so we have really done better, and with the continued indus- tries in our town, we hope for a better 1952.
I would like to urge all the small taxpayers, say under $ 10.00 to pay their taxes EARLY. I think all of you whose taxes run from $3.00
10
44
Ciro
: 48
2 92
Ba Sturtevant
Cro
151 81
52
to $ 10.00, can, if you try, pay this sum at least before December Ist. It will save work and expense, and make a better appearance on the books.
Respectfully submitted, WINIFRED S. SAWYER. Tax Collector.
53
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SCHOOL FUND ACCOUNT
Resources
Balance unexpended February 1, 1951
$ 3,133 52
Appropriation
9,193 82
State School Fund
20 00
State of Maine
247 34
Tuition, sec.
$ 32,594 68
Expenditures
Teachers' Wages, elementary :
Louise T. Bibber
1,666 72
Lucie Videto
1,650 04
Thelda Dobbins
1,666 72
Onie Small
622 16
Irene Hurd
16 00
Helen Huston
944 40
Eleanor Sloat
24 00
Evelyn Katula
16 68
Bernice Elie
50 00
Town of Lisbon
9 00
Dawn Conant Grant
888 80
Annie Skidgell
8,315 68
Teachers' Wages, secondary :
Guy Johnson
1,811 00
Suzanne Murphy
777 90
Eleanor Ascher
578 84
Frank Dorr
8 00
Mrs. Perley Sloat
40 00
Clarence E. Penley
1,585 40
Richard Mayo
1,166 60
Alton Curtis
10 00
Bernice Elie
10 00
Edna Purinton
10 00
Winifred Sawyer
$ 416 64
$ 761 16
20,000 00
54
Dawn Conant Grant Richard Berry
$
9 00
12 00
6,435 38
Fuel :
P & P Fuel Co.
$ 781 65
Fred C. McKenney, Inc.
167 67
W. E. Maxwell
5 00
George Buck
30 00
Walker Ice Co.
8 00
Norman Bulick
8 00
Charles Gardner
5 90
1,006 22
Janitors, Janitor Supplies & Cleaning
Ralph Winslow
$ 448 00
Jesse Stockford
293 00
Edward Spencer
550 00
M. F. Bragdon Paint Co.
12 93
Bauer Hardware Co., Inc.
17 39
Robert Hamel
31 50
R. M. Hill
12 70
Charles Gardner
88 51
Pearl Bulick
15 00
J. E. Spencer
56 80
A. Quellette
8 00
Atlantic Excelsior Co., Inc.
9 00
Alger Bros. Inc.
2 69
Berry Paper Co.
21 75
Robert Hamel
3 00
Ellen Ramsey
19 50
Charles Prince
36 00
W. F. Huen
34 73
Whitcomb Supply Co.
8 82
Florence Ramsey
1 39
Walter Fogg
51 75
1,722 46
Conveyance : Israel Winner
$ 1,666 69
55
A. L. Parent & son Rosario Pinard
600 00
Leo Laberge
300 00
Theodore Atwood
105 47
Louis' Garage
74
Videto's Garage
5 50
Harry H. Smart, Inc.
24 44
Charles Gardner
11 65
Jewett-Ford Inc.
5 20
W. F. Huen
4 50
Poussard's Store
7 09
Daniel Quellette
3,423 81
Tuition, secondary :
Lisbon School Department
$ 355 92
Lewiston School Department
1,755 00
City of Auburn
2,444 63
Textbooks :
Lorenz Publishing Co.
$
64
Beckley Cardy Co.
1
Webster Publishing Co ..
159 43
Scott Foreman & Co.
17 17
Doubleday & Co.
7 59
American Book Co.
16 28
The Macmillan Co.
117 38
Ginn & Co.
27 00
College Entrance Book Co.
76 89
Town of Lisbon
. 60
Suzanne Murphy
1 32
Frontier Press Co. of Boston
23 00
Gregg Publishing Co.
5 04
South Western. Publishing Co.
34 17
1
642 39
Supplies : J. L. Hammett Co. Beckley Cardy Co.
37 64 172 00
333 71
30 13
124 75
Boston Music Co.
$ 118 50
500 00
56
$
19 41
Denoyer Geppart Co.
18 84
World Book Co.
68
The Willis Music Co.
9 19
Cascade Paper Co.
4 25
Lucie Videto
3 00
Richard Mayo
59 78
Gledhill Bros., Inc.
38 67
Berry Paper Co.
7 62
Byron Atwood
62 07
Town of Lisbon
6 84
Beaudette & Co., Inc.
1 15
Walter Ashe
12 91
Student Council Sabattus High School
18 25
C. R. Purington Magazine Agency
4 57
M. N. Perkins Co.
62 25
Kitchen & Glover
24 25
LeMessenger Publishing Co.
34 25
Science Kit
2 40
E. C. McGraw
46 00
Scholastic Magazine
120 00
Evan C. Martin
1 75
St. Johnsbury Trucking Co.
95 44
Central Scientific Co.
3 33
Hall & Knight Hardware Co.
866 54
Water, Light & Power:
$ 165 88
Central Maine Power Co.
6 60
Roland S. Dowing
15 00
Martin Spring Association
83 20
New England Tel. & Tel. Co.
270 68
Total School Fund Expenditures Balance unexpended February, 1952
$ 25,127 79 7,466 89
REPAIR ACCOUNT
Resources
$ 1,200 00
Appropriation Transferred from bus account
516 00
1,716 00
210 34
Overdraft February 1951
$ 1,505 66
57
Expenditures
Theodore Atwood
$ 28 00
Maine Sand & Gravel, Inc.
9 72
Byron Atwood
151 25
Beckley Cardy Co.
6 59
Town of Webster
34 50
Camera Service Center
12 00
The Sun-Journal
5 25
Jesse Stockford
10 00
w. E. Maxwell
33 71
Charles Gardner
13 60
Edward Spencer
475 00
Archie Rouleau, Inc.
1 50
Linwood Prince
40 00
Orrin Dunlap
6 32
Builders' Supply House
88
Pineland Lumber Co.
40 00
Bernard T. Young, Inc.
7 50
Henry S. Wolkins Co.
86 93
Limoges Lumber Co.
45
Hall & Knight Hardware Co.
32 07
Balance February 1952
1,139 39 366 27
INSURANCE ACCOUNT
Resources
Balance unexpended February 1951
$ 32 25
Expenditures
A. Q. Miller, Inc. $ 15 00
15 00
Balance February 1952
$ 17 25
-
A. Landry & Sons
4 50
William Clifford
8 00
M. F. Anderson
32 64
Ivan Wallingford
92 98
Mrs. Delmar Hurd
6 00
58
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee and Citizens of Webster:
The annual school report of the condition and progress of the Webster schools if herewith submitted.
The elementary schools and high school were maintained 180 days for the school year ending June 1951. Thirty pupils enter- ed the sub-primary grade, 21 completed the eight grade and three graduated from high school. The total registration for the year was 221 elementary pupils and 35 high school pupils. The aver- age daily attendance was 215 pupils. Eighty-five pupils were con- veyed at expense of the town.
The enrollment for the fall term of 1951 is given below:
School
Teacher
Salary No. of Pupils
Sabattus High School
Richard Mayo
$ 2800
52
and
Suzanne Murphy
2000
Grade 8
Alton Curtis
2100
Grade 6,7
Eleanor Sloat
1700
45
Grades 4,5
Lucie Videto
1700
38
Grades 2,3
Thelda Dobbins
1700
41
Subprimary, 1
Onie Small
1700
56
Ricker
Annie Skidgell
1600
19
Following is the pupil enrollment in the Webster schools as of September 5, 1951:
S.P.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
11
12
Total
Sabattus
High School
13
8
9
5
35
Village
Building
18
23
19
19
21
24
17
141
Greene
Street 32
24
56
Ricker
2
3
1
5
1
2
2
3
19
Total 34
27
19
28
20
21
23
27
17
13
8
9
5 251
principal of
Mr. Frank Dorr resigned his position in June as Sabattus High School and Mr. Richard Mayo was elected to fill the vacancy. Mrs. Eleanor Ascher resigned her position one week be- fore school opened for the Fall term. Mr. Alton Curtis was em- ployed to fill this position. Mrs. Annie Skidgell was elected to teach the Ricker School. It was with regret that the committee accepted the resignation of Mrs. Louise Bibber who had taught so faithfully and well for twenty-four years in the Webster schools. Mrs. Eleanor Slcat was hired to fill the position.
59
REPAIRS
During the past year the Village School building has been painted and new toilets installed. Through the cooperation of Mr. Mayo and the high school pupils the toilet rooms have been painted. Should it be necessary to keep open the Greene Street School building next year the unsanitary toilets in this build- ing should be removed and provision should be made for the in- stallation of modern toilets. I would recommend that better lighting be provided for the village building this coming year.
ACCOUNTS
All school bills have been paid to February Ist. Since the town's books have been closed two weeks earlier than last year all teachers, janitors and conveyance drivers have been paid for thirty-four weeks instead of thirty-six. There is a bal- ance of $ 7,466.89 in the common school account.
I would rec- ommend an appropriation of $ 11,650 for the common schools for the coming year. I would recommend an appropriation of $ 1000 for repairs for the coming year.
The citizens of Webster must make some major decisions rela- tive to its schools.
I would like to call the attention of the citizens of Webster to the crowded condition of the school rooms. At the beginning of the Fall term there were 40, 38, and 45 pupils in the elemen- tary classrooms of the village building and 56 pupils were in the Greene Street School. To relieve the over-crowded condition at the Greene Street School the two grades have been placed on a half-day session basis. Next year's entering class will be prob- ably larger which will make all the rooms more crowded .
I would like to quote from a recent report made by Mr. W1111am 0. Bailey of the State Department of Education. Mr. Bailey states "It is obvious that the public school pupils of Webster are in- adequately housed. Increased enrollments over the years have re- quired the local school officials to make adjustments to the end that space which was never intended for instructional purposes has had to be adapted to that use. The time has come when it is no longer possible to operate an efficient, educational program in the buildings that are available.
I would recommend that an elementary building of at least four rooms be built to house the four elementary grades. With the assistance of the Maine School Building Authority this building could be built without too much financial burden to the town.
The citizens of Webster should decide by a legal vote whether they wish to maintain a high school. I would like to quote from the recent report of Mr. John Cass, of the State Department of Education. He states " The conflicts within the community - es- pecially concerning the school -- seems to be reflected in the high school students. This lack of school spirit, respect for the school, lack of morale, seems to stem from feelings of un-
60
certainty or lack of security in the youngsters. The whole con- stitutes a poor learning situation. I believe that this commin- ity climate is responsible more than any single factor for this school situation.
The vital question which the voters should decide is - should Sabattus spend enough money to provide its high school pupils an opportunity to secure an education to prepare themselves for modern living or should the town discontinue its high school and provide for the education of the students elsewhere. If the high school is maintained, in order to provide for those pupils who are now taking occupational courses elsewhere, it will be necessary to expand the present curriculum and employ additional teachers. It will be necessary to provide more classroom space. The present village building should be used for high school purposes and an eight room elementary building should be built for the elementary pupils.
If the present high school is discontinued the town will pay tuition charges for all of its high school pupils and should pay for the conveyance of these pupils to a school. It will still be necessary to provide additional rooms for the elementary pupil. Under the new state subsidy plan the Town of Webster will rec- ieve from the state annually 45 % of all its operational expen- ditures for its schools.
In closing, I would like to quote a statement by Harland A. Iadd, States Commissioner of Education with whom I concur. Mr. Ladd states " The school situation in the Town of Webster rep- resents perhaps the most important problem which the citizens will face during the next quarter of a century. The lives of people are the core of the considerations. The achievements of personal aspirations for good education cannot be effected by patch-work measures. I hope that the citizens will recognize that major steps are necessary in the immediate future and that they will tackle them without prejudice, and with calm deliber- ation. Their conclusion, I am confident, will be right and proper. "
I wish to express my appreciation for the cooperation which I have received during the past year from the members of the school committee, teachers and citizens who are interested in the best education possible for the children of Webster.
Respectfully submitted,
ELMER O. SMALL
61
STATE of MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Augusta
November 29, 1951
TO :
The Superintending School Committee of Sabattus, Maine
FROM: Harland A. Ladd, Commissioner
CONCERNING: Inspection of Sabattus High School, Webster, Maine
Paragraph 12 of Section 3 of chapter 37 prescribes as a duty specifically imposed on the Commissioner of Education of Maine "to cause an inspection to be made and to report to the school committee his find- ings and recommendations whenever the superintending school committee or the superintendent of schools of any town, or three citizens thereof, shall petition him to make an inspection of the schools of said town ;... " Such a petition was received with sabattus High School, Webster, Maine, as the focal point of the concern of Mr. John H. Frost and two other signers.
In conformance with the language and intent of the law, three officials of the Maine Department of Education were delegated to act for me in the "inspection" function. They performed their duties during the latter part of September and early October. Subsequently, they submitted individual reports to me on their specialized areas of investigation. Realizing the significance of my returns to the community, the matter has been the subject of conferences here for the purpose of exploring all phases of the issues and for reaching agreements on recommendations. In order that the committee may have as full and complete information as possible, the several memorandums from my assistants are attached and should be construed as a part of this report.
Addenda I. Memorandum from Mr. Philip A. Annas, Associate Deputy Commissioner, Secondary Education.
Addenda II. Memorandum from Mr. William O. Bailey, Deputy Commissioner, Planning and Research.
Addend& III. Memorandum from Mr. John C. cass, Director of Guidance. The testing scores of individual pupils herein contained are strictly confidential to the superintendent and the committee.
I wish that I might give full approbation to the school program at sabattus. My first employment as a college graduate was & teaching position in that community and I hold it and the citizens of that time who were my friends in high esteem. My duty lies in another direction, however, and I must accept and perform it as objectively and professionally as possible. The recommendations which follow represent opinions and judgments based on the backgrounds of the four men concerned and their partial study of the educational program in the community. I hope fervently that they may serve constructive purposes for the future. No criticisms of local school officials or teachers is intended or implied. We have no reason to believe that they are other than fine people who are
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devoted to the responsibilities which devolve upon them.
1. The educational program at Sabattus High School as it is maintained at present does not represent a sound investment of funds nor can it yield reasonable returns in the educational values for which public secondary schools are maintained. It is inadequate in physical aspects, in teaching strengths, materials, and tools, and in morale. Moreover, the curriculum is not geared to the needs of the students of the community. It is recognized that the school unit is small but even with allowances for this very pertinent factor, the total environ- ment does not stand the test of analysis and comparison.
2. The division in community attitudes toward and support of Sabattus High School has been and is devastating in its impact on both the program and the students. The seriousness of this fact is aggravated further by the duration of the turmoil as it has existed. In some towns there have been festers of criticisms with resulting disturbance of a temporal nature but generally adjustments have been made and the people re-united in support of a revised program. To my knowledge, the cleavage in sabattus has persisted and seemingly increased for a decade, at least. It is a truism often demonstrated that a school is no stronger than the public opinion which supports it. This factor then is among the crucial elements to be considered in planning for the future.
3. The testimony which has come to me during the past five years supplemented by the findings and conclusions of my associates makes the issue clear cut, as I see it. The vital question is -- should sabattus provide, maintain and operate a quality secondary school with a curriculum which includes at least two occupational courses or should the town dis- continue its high school and provide for the education of its students elsewhere?
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