“Middle School” Configuration Proposed to Address School Overcrowding-November 4, 1965

School Committee Considers Innovative Grade Reorganization and High School Expansion

During a session of the Norwood School Committee last night, committeeman William Egan introduced a proposal to adopt a “middle school” class pattern for the town’s educational system. Following his proposal last week to construct a new $4.5 million, 2,000-pupil senior high school to counter surging population growth, Egan suggested utilizing the existing junior high school as a centralized middle school exclusively housing all sixth-grade students.

Under Egan’s proposed framework, seventh and eighth grades would relocate to the proposed senior high school building, creating a four-year senior high facility, while the current junior high would transition into the middle school. Egan argued that grouping all sixth graders together would alleviate overcrowding in elementary schools and eliminate the immediate necessity of constructing an additional elementary building.

Committee Debate & Leadership Perspectives

Superintendent and Committee Reactions

Superintendent Philip O. Coakley: Opposed the middle school concept, stating he saw no advantage to the model and would instead prefer building an additional elementary unit while utilizing both present junior and senior high facilities as two intermediate units. However, Coakley expressed favorable views toward a larger senior high school.
Mrs. Mary Bemman: Criticized Egan’s middle school theory, warning that the close interpersonal relationships sought for elementary students could suffer, and expressed disappointment that the plan was aired without prior committee consensus.
Francis X. Sheehan & Joseph Curran: Supported reviewing all housing possibilities beforehand so the committee is fully prepared to address questions on the town meeting floor.

School Needs Study & Site Selections

Study Group: Headed by **Walter Gotovich**, the committee was empowered by town meeting to analyze all foreseeable school needs and report findings by year’s end.
Playground Sites: Chairman **Henry Diggs** was authorized to confer with Town Counsel regarding the status of land behind **Father MacAleer’s Playground** and the **Wilson Street Playground**, considered prime locations for upcoming school construction (with Wilson Street slated for the elementary unit).

No Immediate Action Taken as Broader Study Continues

The School Committee took no formal action on Egan’s middle school or senior high expansion proposals last night, preferring to let the school needs study group complete its comprehensive evaluation.

Meanwhile, community events highlighted in local reports included an upcoming Norwood Camera Club regional color slide exhibition at Norwood High School headed by club president Charles Lennon (with judges Peggy Jordan, Thomas J. Lowe, and Marion M. Rich), and the launch of the local Arthritis Foundation campaign led by area chairman Herbert L. Newman.

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

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