High School Addition Plan Okayed-June 20, 1974

School Committee Grants Tentative Approval for $3.5 Million Expansion and Field House

The school committee voted tentative approval last night for a major high school addition consisting of 15 classrooms and an athletic field house structured large enough to accommodate graduation ceremonies. The modern expansion plan, recommended by School Supt. Philip O. Coakley, received enthusiastic approval from the board with the lone exception of member Joseph M. Pentowski, who abstained. Mr. Pentowski advised that he could not vote on the massive addition without at least an estimate of the final price tag. While High School Principal John F. Monbouquette and other committee members noted that any financial figure would be strictly a guess at this early stage, a project cost of $3.5 million was quietly mentioned. Mr. Pentowski advised preparing alternative plans for eventual presentation to town meeting, but Dr. Coakley suggested “extending our faith and credibility” to the permanent building construction committee, which he termed “one of the best committees the town of Norwood ever had.” Committee Chairman Charles C. Saraca assured members they were “not locked in” since last night’s approval was tentative and subject to further refinement.

Before the blueprint specifications are forwarded to the permanent building construction committee—the town board charged with selecting an architect—the educational criteria will be reviewed by the state School Building Assistance Bureau to determine if they meet current educational standards. Member Judith Berkowitz, who made the motion to approve the specifications, noted that the building committee already possesses funds for preliminary project plans, which have been pending since 1968. Reflecting declining school population trends, the new specifications are designed for a facility to hold 1,275 pupils at 85 percent utilization and 1,500 at 100 percent use. Previous plans were proposed for almost double that capacity, with unofficial cost estimates rising as high as $9 million. Structural overcrowding at the building has been acknowledged by the board, but replacing Junior High School South, which burned three years ago, and reconstructing that fire-damaged facility as the Aaron Guild Elementary School, placed high school needs on the back burner during the past few years. The facility will house ,1763 students next year.

As outlined by Dr. Monbouquette, the facility layout features significant modern improvements connecting existing building areas along present corridor spaces to upgrade existing core facilities. Under the plan, the current girls’ gymnasium could become a needed instructional media center. He proposed nine specialized classrooms for curriculum areas such as art, business, English, home economics, industrial arts, music, physical education, health remedial use, and physical science. The layout calls for at least two additional physical education teaching stations and lists a swimming pool as an option. Six interchangeable classrooms would also be needed for academic areas such as English and social studies. The plan further details additional space for guidance offices, administrative offices, an expanded cafeteria designed to seat 450 students, and expanded space for special education.

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