150 Norwood High Students Walk Out and March to Protest $5 Million Renovation Delays-October 31, 1985

Class Walkout and March to Unusable Senior High Building

frustrated by ongoing construction delays that have locked them out of their own school, approximately 150 Norwood High School students cut classes this morning and marched a mile from their temporary quarters at Junior High North to the senior high school building.

The boisterous crowd, dominated by seniors, assembled on the front steps of Norwood High to protest the delayed $5 million rehabilitation project. Originally scheduled for completion on August 30, the project is now more than two months overdue, leaving the town’s 950 high school students displaced. While official plans call for returning students to the high school after winter vacation break, many school and building officials have openly expressed skepticism, predicting students may spend the entire academic year at Junior High North—a building closed a year prior due to declining enrollment.

Students expressed deep anger over losing their senior year atmosphere and targeted their frustration at general contractor Anchor Construction of Lowell:

• “We wanted to make everyone in town realize we really don’t like it at North,” said senior Robert Way.
• “We don’t want to graduate from the junior high,” added senior Jennifer DeAnglis.
• “Maybe if other towns hear about this, they won’t be getting jobs anymore,” remarked senior Thomas Foley.

During the demonstration, a student smashed an Anchor Construction job site sign on the high school steps. Observing police officers, including Sgt. William Travers stationed on Nichols Street, reported that the crowd caused no traffic disruptions and remained otherwise well-behaved.

Forceful Debate Before the School Committee

The morning walkout followed a tense School Committee meeting the previous evening, where more than 50 students packed the chamber to voice their frustration. Class President Thomas Sharkey read aloud a letter from senior Donna McKenna: “As seniors we are being cheated out of one of the most important years of our education. Our memories will always be marred.”

Parent John Taylor, whose daughter is a senior, criticized the general contractor: “Anchor Construction is aptly named. It’s an anchor that’s holding these kids back.” Senior David Petrie added that school morale has hit an all-time low due to curtailed athletic programs, reduced science labs, and smaller library facilities.

During the meeting, officials offered differing perspectives on the crisis:

• School Committee Chairman Richard Kief shared the students’ bitterness but noted the renovation project is managed by the town’s Permanent Building Construction Committee, not the school board. Kief praised the students’ orderly presentation as far more effective than a walkout.
• Superintendent James R. Savage defended the temporary facility, asserting that despite its shortcomings, Junior High North remains equal or superior to half the high schools across the Commonwealth.
• School Committee Member Alan M. Uliss encouraged civil disobedience and suggested students file formal complaints and petitions with the State Attorney General’s Office, the state Legislature, and the Better Business Bureau.
• Related Precedent: On October 17, a dozen culinary arts students at the adjacent Henry O. Peabody Vocational School staged a similar protest over delayed library renovations ahead of their Thanksgiving reopening target.

Students indicated they do not plan further walkouts, while the School Committee committed to improving the flow of construction status updates directly to the student body.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger