GOVERNANCE Directors Annual Reports to BOT 1932

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 03: GOVERNANCE ADMINISTRATION
Series 05: GOVERNANCE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Series 07: DIRECTORS
Director’s Annual Reports to BOT 1932-33
Glyn Morris, PMSS Director, 1931-1942

1229 “1932 Line Fork.” Mrs. Hiram Hall and Wendall. Mrs. Henry Cornett and Doyle. Mrs Irving Browning and Maye (?). Mrs Jason Smith and Pearl. Mrs. Green Cornett and Lillian May. Mrs. Hen Lewis. Mrs. Jerrett Lewis. [VI_39_1229_mod.jpg]

GOVERNANCE Director’s Reports to BOT 1932
April, May, September, October, November
Glyn Morris

TAGS: Governance, 1932-1933, director’s annual reports to BOT, Glyn Morris, PMSS Board of Trustees, progressive education, PMSS Advisory Board, Darwin D. Martin, Pine Mountain Health Association, Dr. Kenneth Gould, endowment funds, Peder Moller, Oscar Kneller, financials, dental clinics, Dorothy Bolles, Annville Institute, Fair Day, student enrollment, Southern Mountain Handicraft Guild, Reconstruction Finance Corporation, the Road over the mountain, Student Government, silo, donations

INTRODUCTION

The year 1932 was obviously productive in the community, characterized by the group portrait of mothers and babes-in-arms. The reports by Glyn Morris in his second year as Director demonstrates productivity of a different sort. Morris intently focused on a Progressive Educational Program as well as building out the institutional support system. The following images and list of their contents are of a September 1932 letter to Darwin D. Martin, (PMSS Trustee,) reports to the Board of Trustees and the Advisory Board for the 1931-1932 academic year, and one report apparently written at the end of the 1932-1933 academic year.

[NOTE: Trustees’ letters that are not an official part of the Annual Report may be found on pages for the individual trustees’ correspondence.]

APRIL 1932

01-02 April 5, 1932. Two-page report to Board of Trustees and the Advisory Board of PMSS from Glyn Morris, Director. [01] The second meeting of the Pine Mountain Health Association was held on March 12th with 20 members present. Dr. [Kenneth] Gould gave a talk on scabies and hookworm. There is a total of 28 paid members.

Although having a hard year financially, the School drew only $1734.81 from the endowment. Morris considered this “very good” when measured against the financial climate of the country and against other mountain schools. He states the need for buying new laundry equipment, costing $500; recommends several volunteer workers for next year and asks for help with this.

[02] Spring planting is underway under direction of Peder Moller, Oscar Kneller, and students. Kneller is building a lime kiln in connection with the agriculture classes. Financials as of April 1 indicate excess of disbursements over receipts at $2,301.71.

MAY 1932

01-02 May 6, 1932. Two-page report to Board of Trustees and the Advisory Board of PMSS from Glyn Morris, Director. [01] Morris reports on a late April visit by the State Board of Health which provided a dental clinic for the children that addressed 129 corrections to student dental health issues that were deemed most serious. He also reported on the annual visit of Miss Dorothy Bolles of Boston who provided instruction to students on English Country Dances for the upcoming May Day celebration. The speaker for the May Commencement was chosen to be Dr. William A. Worthington, Director of Annville Institute, Annville, KY. He was commended on how he handled boy-girl relations at Annville. [02] Morris also notes that the enrollment of students at Pine Mountain has increased by 25% from the previous year. Eight students were to graduate and seven of those plan to go to college. Twenty-seven students graduated from the Junior High School. Financials show $336.14 funds on hand for May and current bills for April, payable May 1st is $1124.81. He gives the excess of disbursements over receipts as $788.67.

SEPTEMBER 1932

01-03 September 22, 1932. Three-page letter to Mr. Darwin D. Martin, Trustee, from Glyn Morris, Director. [01] Morris submits financials for the year ending June 30, 1931, for Martin’s inspection and advice. Morris provides figures for the annual subscriptions and contributions for the year ending June 30, 1931, and 1932, some of which should have gone into the endowment fund. He encloses a list of subscriptions and contributions as they came in by months for 1930-31, 1931-32 and July and August 1932-33. He notes the percentage of drops in the last two school years and predicted the same in the coming school year. He calculates what he expects to receive as maximum income for the present year. [02] Morris describes the expenditures this year (salaries and other expenses). “…[E]ven should we remain within this budget we are still $11,986.40 in the red. I dislike very much to continually transfer money from our invested funds but I cannot see how I can ever get this budget balanced. The deficit is a little too much for me.” He will send an itemized edition of his proposed cuts when he receives the auditors’ report. [03] A list of 3 columns of dollar amounts and totals for 1930-31, 1931-32, and July 1932.

OCTOBER 1932

Morris reports that 126 students are enrolled, including “Little School.” Compares figures with fall 1931. “(One of the problems of schools like Pine Mountain is the great turn-over in students.)”
Gives cost per capita of maintaining a student in 1930-31 was $401.85, and in 1931-32 the cost was $365.65.
Describes the annual Community Fair Day celebration with an exhibition of local products.
Explains the students’ work in Contemporary History class and their plans for a mock election.
Requests laundry equipment at cost of $500 and expresses hope for donations.

Declares that the School will be $11,000 in the red at the end of the year. Morris recommends an annual budget of at least $35,000.

The plan is here, and it must be kept going. Doubtless the need was very great in the formative period of Pine Mountain’s history, but all the money, and all the human effort which have been stintlessly poured into the work here will be lost if we do not receive more money to carry us through the present crisis.

In the second week of October PMSS was host to the Conference of the Southern Mountain Handicraft Guild. 14 Mountain Schools were represented.
Financial Statement, October 31, 1932:
Accounts payable $4,182.07
Accounts received $2,984.82
Deficit $1,197.25

NOVEMBER 1932

01-03 November 1932. Three-page report to the Board of Trustees and the Advisory Board of PMSS from Glyn Morris, Director. [01] Morris announces that 95 community men will benefit from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and explains how the program works, using vouchers. He updates progress on road repair and the beginnings of “a road of six percent grade from the top of [Pine Mountain] down to Divide and then back towards the school.” A committee (Henry and William Creech, Bish Boggs, John Turner, and Morris) is working on right-of-way through the Nolan property; received approval from the fiscal court of Harlan County. He describes the savings to the School of a year-round passable road and mentions dependence on Inter-Mountain. He describes the Student Government, consisting of seven elected students, known as the Council, who handle disciplinary problems. [02] Morris explains that a dry summer prevented filling the silo; gives 1931 and 1932 figures for the costs of the Dairy and the savings resulting from having all the necessary hay on hand. He explains his “argument for building the silo this year” and what can be done to assure the silo is filled for next year. [03] Although the School has reduced expenses, the financial situation remains serious. “Either we must draw on the invested funds, or make some drastic changes in the organization of the school itself.” Morris ends with a financial report for November 30, 1932, showing an excess of disbursements over receipts of $2296.75.

MAY 1933(?)

03-05 A three-page undated report (possibly May 1933) to the Board of Trustees and Advisory Board members from Morris, [03] who highlights the activity of the past year, especially the “large legacy” from the estate of Col. Durrett of Midway, KY. Securities are estimated to be $93,000 and anticipated additions from the sale of real estate. It is a significant addition to the endowment “especially at such a time as this.” Morris expresses gratitude to Col. Durrett and Katherine Pettit who secured Durrett’s interest in PMSS.

The school year (1932-1933?) closed with 96 boarding students and 16 day students enrolled. “The graduating class of eight, [was] the same size as that of the previous year, which was the largest in the history of the school.” 86 students requested to return which leaves little room for new students. Commencement was in the Chapel and the speaker was Rev. A.E. Lehman, Director of the Red Bird Settlement School. Morris then summarizes the School’s work for the past year, which

…from an educational and cultural viewpoint was very successful…The academic curriculum was somewhat revised, with less emphasis on subjects of no use to the life of our students, and with more emphasis place on the Social Sciences, Current History, elementary Economics, Social Problems, Ethics as found in the New Testament…. Besides the practical courses in wood-working, home economics and agriculture, we had a small class in printing….

He mentions the use of the library, the students’ responsibilities, students’ public forums, debates, assemblies, Student Government, [04] intramural athletics for boys and girls, folk-dancing festival, presentation of H.M.S. Pinafore, singing of ballads and folk-songs, the “high level” of student health. Also, two new bridges, a block-stone section laid in from of the barnyard, removal of the manure pit, new fencing and road sections, renovation around Uncle William’s Memorial Fountain, repairs to swimming pool, new stone steps built from road to the “Cabin,” farm-drain tile laid, installation of new laundry equipment, building of the silo, block-stone floors laid in the mule stalls, new concrete floors inside the barn, and 30 acres under cultivation, mostly in Lespedeza [bush clover], oats and clover planted in the bottom land to build up the soil. Morris details the financing of the silo, underwritten by Mr. Martin, Mr. Kneller, and Morris. He compares dairy expenses of May 31, 1932, with this year’s expenses, showing a “large difference” in savings.

GALLERY: GOVERNANCE Director’s Annual Reports to BOT 1932

01 – 02 APR 1932 1932_04_directors_reports_001 through 002
01 – 02 MAY 1932_05_directors_reports_001 through 002
01 – 03 SEPT 1932_09_directors_reports_001 through 003
01 – 02 OCT 1932_10_directors_reports_001 through 002
01 – 03 NOV 1932_11_directors_reports_001 through 003
03-05 MAY 1933(?) 1932_05_directors_reports_003 through 005