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'9 relief is necessary, which might be secured if this building alone was to be considered, by adding an extension to the present structure, or by erecting an entirely separate building. 'i'he Adams school is not crowded at present, but its attendance is increasing, and at no very distant day will demand attention. Considering the present condi- tions and demands, there seems to your committee three courses for the town to choose between; First, to erect a new building to be be occupied exclusively by the High school, and reopen some of the old district schools to relieve the Hancock school; second, to erect a new building exclusively for the High school and either enlarge the Hancock school or build an entirely separate building to relieve it, or, third, to build a new building sufficiently large to accommodate the High school and some of the grades from the Hancock school, and later, when necessary, from the Adams school. After carefully considering these various plans, your committee disapprove of the first, because it believes that the reopening of the district schools would be a step backward towards the system discarded 10 years ago. We disapprove of the second plan as needlessly expensive at the present time, although, otherwise, the most desirable. We approve of the third plan, as under all the present circumstances meeting the urgent needs with the least expense and in no way interfering with that part of the second plan, suggesting the enlarge- ment of the Hancock school, or the erection of a separate primary building when the further growth of the town demands it. We therefore, recommend that the town immediately provide for the erection of a new school building on the site of the present High school building, or on some more desirable one, if such can be found, said building to comprise not less than eight (8) rooms, to accom- modate the High school and such grades from the Hancock school and Adams school as the School Committee may determine, and as the cost of brick construction is only about one-third more than that of wood, while its depreciation is, of course, scarcely anything as com- pared with wood, we recommend that the building be erected of brick. We urge that its construction be begun as early as possible, in order to relieve the present congested condition above referred to without further unnecessary detriment to the school system of the 20 town. Upon inquiry and investigation, your committee find that the cost of such a building would be from $5,000 to $6,000 per room according to the quality of material used, and we believe that the present is a most opportune time for providing for the cost, as the final payment on the Hancock sc000l is made in June of this year, and a similar arrangement could be made for the payment of the cost of the new building by spreading it over a period of years. In concluding it is appropriate to state that Mr. Edward P. Bliss, who is a member of our committee, has been unable to meet with us on account of his absence from town, but his well known attitude with reference to all that advances the interests of our schools is an ample assurance of his cordial indorsement of this report. Our committee wish also to express our sorrow for the sickness of Mr. Charles A. Wellington, the only other member whose signature is not appended. Mr. Wellington has taken a great interest in the investi- gations of the committee, and did his condition permit, he would heartily join in the recommendations herein made. Respectfully Submitted, EDWIN A. BAYLEY, MARY E. WOODWARD, EMMA W. DAVIS, IDA L. WILLARD, J. ODIN TILTON, HERBERT V. SM ITR, ABRAM C. WASHBURN, CHARLES H. WISWELL, JAMES P. MUNROE, PATRICK F. DACEY. And on his motion Voted, That the report be accepted.