Norwood Elementary Grades Drive Enrollment Increase-September 2, 1993

School System Reaches 3,565 Total Students

Norwood public schools have experienced an overall enrollment increase of 136 students compared to the previous academic year, bringing total district enrollment to 3,565 students, according to an announcement made by Assistant Superintendent Roderick Smith during a school committee meeting.

Enrollment Breakdown by Grade Level

The surge is heavily concentrated in the elementary schools, which recorded the largest gains. Smith reported that elementary enrollment reached 1,799 pupils, representing an increase of 99 students over last year. Enrollment across other tiers showed modest growth:

• Junior High Schools: Up 12 students, totaling 796 pupils.
• High School: Up 25 students, totaling 970 pupils.

District officials noted that these increases closely tracked projections made earlier by the school department.

Special Town Meeting Warrant Article and Staffing

To address budgetary and staffing needs, the school committee voted unanimously to place an article on the October 18 special town meeting warrant seeking to transfer $514,000 in state aid and funds secured under the new Education Reform Bill directly to the school department.

In anticipation of these funds, Superintendent Ralph Toran and local school principals have already hired 12 new teachers and rehired 22 professional staff members for the 1993–94 school year. Half of the newly hired teachers (six) were assigned directly to elementary schools to relieve overcrowded classrooms observed during the first week of classes.

However, a proposal by committee member John Ryan to hire a part-time custodian for the Henry O. Peabody wing of Norwood High School was defeated in a 4-2 vote. Ryan argued, “We’ve cut four custodians in the last five years. We can’t keep juggling the few that we have from building to building.” Fellow members Roger Ferris and Margery H. McKenna opposed the addition, expressing hesitation about expanding staff prior to the October 18 town meeting vote.

State Tobacco Tax Grant for K-12 Health Curriculum

In other business, the committee voted unanimously to authorize selectmen to establish an advisory committee comprising parents, teachers, police, and town health agencies to overhaul the district’s K-12 health curriculum.

The curriculum update is funded by a $112,075 grant derived from the Massachusetts tobacco tax. Planned allocations include:

• Designing a staff “wellness” center.
• Establishing drug-free clubs in every elementary school.
• Funding a part-time health teacher and a grant coordinator.

The grant elicited debate among board members. While Assistant Superintendent Smith supported the initiative, Roger Ferris questioned the allocation, suggesting the funds would be better deployed toward hiring additional custodians and classroom teachers. “Do we really need a health center for our teachers?” Ferris asked. “We already have gyms and weights. What do we need this for?”

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