Cumberland County ME Archives History - Schools .....Report Of Superintending School Committee 1932 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/me/mefiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 24, 2007, 1:57 pm REPORT OF SUPERINTENDING SCHOOL COMMITTEE To the Citizens of Bridgton: We submit the following report of our work for the year ending February, 1932. 1. North Bridgton: The lighting in the primary room was changed to meet standard specifications by removing windows from the right of the room and placing them in the rear. Total lighting space was increased by one-half. 72 square feet of hard surface blackboard was installed. These changes made a great improvement in the room. The same changes should be made in the grammar room as soon as possible. The lighting of the building was further improved by removing several large trees. The desks were refinished. New doors built for toilet vaults. 2. South Bridgton: The walls of the grammar room were in very bad condition. They have been covered with Upsom Board and walls and ceiling given two coats of paint. The woodwork in the primary room was painted and the halls refinished. 3. Sandy Creek: Steel roofing applied to the east side of the building, gives it an all-steel roof. Desks were sanded and varnished. 4. Primary A: The ceilings in the first and third grade rooms were lowered about three and one-half feet, the walls covered with Upsom Board and the interior of both rooms given two coats of paint. The appearance of the rooms is much improved and there is a saving of one-fifth in heating space. We were fortunate to secure enough good second-hand adjustable desks and chairs to furnish the first grade room. This made a saving for the town of about $400.00. Desks in the third grade room were refinished. It was necessary to replace about 20 feet of stove pipe. 5. Primary B: Steel roofing placed on half the roof not previously covered. It was found necessary to relay the drain to the septic tank. The tiling was lowered two feet and an unsanitary condition remedied. The partition and radiator were moved from the center of the main hall to give more open space and better lighting. We are experimenting at Primary B with a pipe-rail and coat hangers in place of the old wall hooks. The results are very satisfactory, and the children are learning to take better care of their clothing. The idea should be extended to other buildings. 6. Gymnasium: The room on the second floor of the gymnasium formerly' used for manual training and now used for sewing classes was never refinished. A little carpenter work, some paint and a few days' labor have given the room an attractive appearance. 7. The fence between the firehouse and the high school building has been rebuilt, with iron posts. 8. High School Building: Lights have been lowered in three rooms and two lights have been added in Room 2. A cupboard and bookcase was built in grade 4 room. New treads on the stairs to the boys' basement. 9. Woodwork, glass and floors in all buildings were thoroughly cleaned and the floors oiled. 10. Radio speakers installed in six classrooms. (Cost of speakers not charged to repair account.) As a result of the depression, voters are taking more interest than usual in the expending of tax money. It is a good sign. Individuals, cities, states and nations have been on a spending spree. It is time to apply the brakes, but if they are not applied with judgment, we do ourselves permanent injury. Everybody has a theory as to how and where the brakes should be applied. Since education is one of the largest single items of public expense, it must be examined for wasteful practices. In making up our budget for 1932-33, we have reduced the total amount by a considerable sum. This has not been done by eliminating waste because there was none, but rather by temporary substitutions and delayed improvements. We shall exercise the strictest economy. We call your attention to the following considerations: 1. The cost of instruction has just reached the average for the state and Maine stands 36th among the other states. The wages of the classroom teachers should not be reduced. Their average salary of $17.51 per week for the year does not allow them a standard of living to which their service to the community should entitle them. No salary increases are included in the budget. 2. The enrollment in our schools has increased this year four and one-half per cent. The 16 added pupils in high school represent an added expense of over $1,300.00. 3. Cost of maintenance has decreased very little; not enough to offset expenses due to increased enrollment. 4. To solve the problems which face the next generation, our children need more and better education than ever before. It cannot be safely delayed even one year. 5. The budget has been carefully made up and should receive the endorsement of the voters. The school committee are all taxpayers and can be trusted not to waste the public's money. 6. We must make sacrifices, if necessary, to keep our schools up to their present level. Schools at their best have never kept up with the needs of society. IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED 1. Toilet facilities for teachers in high school building. 2. Girls' locker and dressing-room. 3. Changed lighting, in North Bridgton Grammar. 4. Ceilings covered in Primary B. 5. Fire escape at North Bridgton. 6. New floor in gymnasium. 7. Walk and yard fence at Primary B. 8. Fence at back of high school yard along Depot St. 9. Several buildings, especially South Bridgton school-house, need painting. This should not be delayed long. The budget does not provide for any of the major improvements mentioned. BUDGET, 1932-1933 Common schools, $16,500.00 Raised in 1931 $17,000.00 High school, 7,300.00 " 8,000.00 Supplies, 600.00 " 700.00 Textbooks, 900.00 " 900.00 Repairs, 1,000.00 " 2,000.00 Water and lights, 500.00 " 400.00 Miscellaneous, 500.00 " 500.00 S. S. committee, 150.00 " 150.00 Supt.'s salary, 875.00 " 875.00 Academy tuition, 700.00 " 500.00 Industrial education, 2,000.00 " 2,000.00 $31,025.00 $33,025.00 Reduction 1932-1933-$2,000.00 or 6%. Respectfully submitted, C. H. COOK, ROSA I. BURNHAM, FRANK M. STONE. Additional Comments: Extracted from: ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MUNICIPAL OFFICERS OF THE TOWN OF BRIDGTON MAINE For The Fiscal Year Ending February 1st 1932 Together with the Report of School Officials BRIDGTON NEWS PRINT File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/me/cumberland/history/schools/reportof43gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mefiles/ File size: 7.4 Kb