Henry W. Diggs Vows to Support Superintendent Louis J. Taris if He Returns to Norwood School Committee-October 16, 1981

Former school committee chairman Henry W. Diggs announced last night that if he regains his seat on the committee in next year’s election, he intends to vote to renew the contract of Schools Superintendent Louis J. Taris.

Diggs, who served on the school board for roughly 18 years before being unseated in a contentious 1978 recall election organized by opponents of the committee’s spending policies, has not yet officially declared his candidacy but indicated a run is likely.

Shifting Tides on the School Committee

Diggs’ potential return could dramatically alter the political arithmetic of the seven-member school board. Currently, four votes are required to renew Taris’ contract.

On June 10, the committee voted 6 to 1 to deny Taris a new contract when his current agreement expires in June 1982. However, the political landscape has shifted significantly in the months since:

• Changed Votes and Reconsideration: Committee member Richard Joseph, who originally voted against Taris, announced weeks ago that he has reversed his stance and now supports renewing the contract. Meanwhile, members Charles C. Saraca and Margery McKenna expressed mixed feelings. Saraca noted he has been checking with school administrators and teachers and observed marked improvement in Taris’ leadership: “If I feel I made a mistake, I’ll change my mind… He’s showed me some class. He’s in there pitching and working every day.”
• Departing Opposition: Committee member William F. Egan, a vocal opponent of Taris’ contract renewal, has publicly stated he will not seek re-election next year.
• Consistent Support:Joseph Pentowski remains the sole committee member who backed Taris during the initial June vote.

Diggs’ anticipated vote would represent a crucial third voice in favor of retention. Reflecting on his past tenure and the superintendent’s performance, the 74-year-old former chairman remarked, “I haven’t seen any reason not to keep him—unless they know an awful lot more than I know. Yes, I’ll support him… I wonder if God could satisfy some of them. I don’t know what they voted on.”

Background on Superintendent Taris

Taris, 46, previously served as school superintendent in Presque Isle, Maine, and was originally hired during Diggs’ tenure in 1978—just weeks before Diggs was recalled from office—succeeding retiring Superintendent Philip O. Coakley from a pool of approximately 90 applicants.

While Saraca and McKenna initially cited concerns regarding Taris’ leadership qualities during the June vote, Saraca noted that Taris has grown into the role. Saraca also added that Diggs would likely prove to be a formidable candidate if he enters the upcoming race, noting, “He’s always been a good vote-getter.”

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