School Committee Recommends Endean Site for New Junior High, Sparking Town Meeting Debate
The School Committee’s pursuit of a new site for a junior high school culminated last night in an offer from Walpole landowner Charles S. Bird to sell 9.2 acres in the Endean area for $9,500 an acre, bringing the total land cost to $85,500.
The Endean Site Proposal
The committee unanimously voted to recommend the Endean acreage—located near the Norwood-Walpole boundary just behind the Little League ballpark—to the permanent building construction committee. Board member William F. Egan enthused over the location, noting the town already owns 39 adjacent acres of playground land.
“It’s the most gorgeous, the most beautiful site, way back of the Little League ballpark,” Egan said, adding that the $9,500 per-acre price tag is exceptionally reasonable compared to residential house lots costing between $15,000 and $20,000 in town.
However, the proposal drew immediate skepticism and sharp questioning from town meeting members in the audience. Critics demanded to know why the committee was abandoning the April Town Meeting mandate, which had voted to restore, update, and expand the fire-damaged Norwood Junior High School South despite a lack of state aid. Others questioned how architectural cost estimates for reconstructing Junior High South had escalated from an initial $3.5 million to a preliminary $6.7 million projection before architects eventually firmed up figures between $4.2 and $5.6 million.
Town meeting member Edmund G. Linehan warned the committee to prepare for a difficult defense at the upcoming special town meeting, stating, “No matter what you sell there, you’re going to have a real tough job… and it gets tougher every day.” Other members, including Charles C. Saraca and Herbert Wiggin, urged officials to provide clear comparisons regarding student busing costs to the outlying Endean area versus a centrally located site.
Financial Shortfalls and Special Town Meeting Request
Adding to the school department’s immediate challenges, the committee voted to ask selectmen to postpone a scheduled meeting regarding a request for a special town meeting. The board needs approximately $188,600—either through appropriations or reserve transfers—to cover school operating expenses through December 31, following annual town meeting cuts of $126,558 from the department’s 1971 nonsalary budget request in June.
Airport Apron and United Fund Launch
In other municipal actions:
- Airport Financing: Selectmen authorized the town treasurer to borrow $29,600 to construct a new aircraft parking apron at Norwood Airport, following a 3-2 vote in January. Chairman John F. Lydon also secured unanimous support for motions requesting an airport commission report on potential municipal revenue sources, such as parking and landing fees, and a review of runway expansion plans.
- United Fund Drive: The Norwood United Fund campaign kicks off tomorrow with a mail solicitation aiming for a $51,000 community goal to support local health and welfare agencies, including the American Red Cross, Family Service of Dedham, Home Health Association, and the Norwood Visiting Nurses Association.
- Open-Campus Programs: The school committee granted administrators permission to explore an offer from the Rev. Clifford Anderson of the Evangelical Baptist Church to provide voluntary religious study, debate, and science discussion programs for senior high students during free periods under the new modified open-campus plan.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
More…
-
School Committee Reviews Standardized Test Results-September 18, 1975
Norwood School Committee reviews standardized test results, prompting officials to push for a return to basics in math and language skills across all grade levels.
-
Norwood Faces Fiscal Crunch Under Chapter 766 Special Education Mandates-August 28, 1975
School officials report that Norwood’s special education program faces a funding shortfall under state Chapter 766 mandates, prompting legal review and contract awards.
-
Norwood School Committee Approves Balch School Remedial Class and Eight-Period High School Day-July 31, 1975
The Norwood School Committee approved a pilot transitional first grade and modified kindergarten at Balch School to address kindergarten screening results and language needs.
-
School Committee Approves Shortened High School Day Format-July 16, 1975
The school committee of Norwood last night all but formally approved a switch to a shorter, eight-period day for the high school. The decision was made in response to a request from absent member Richard Joseph, who asked that the board defer its official vote on the plan until its next regular meeting in two…
-
Willett School Overcrowding And Parent Protests-September 5, 1974
Angry parents confront the Norwood School Committee over severe overcrowding at the Willett School, while officials address elementary enrollment spikes and pedestrian safety.
-
Youth Enriched at Summer School-August 13, 1974
Directing over 600 local students, Norwood’s public summer school program completed its 30-day session, highlighting strong popularity for enrichment classes in arts and trades alongside vital remedial and special education tutoring.
-
Norwood School Committee Votes to Relocate School Administration Offices-August 1, 1974
The Norwood School Committee voted 5-2 to relocate central school administration offices to the Winslow School, pending cost estimates from Superintendent Philip O. Coakley.
-
Uncertainty Looms Over Norwood Junior High South Opening Date-July 12, 1974
After three years of double sessions following a 1971 fire, Norwood officials faced the possibility of further delays for the new Junior High South.
-
Unfinished Junior High To Open On Schedule-July 8, 1974
Discover the construction history of the $4.5 million Junior High South project in 1974, detailing the challenges faced during the transition from the old Washington Street school.
-
School Board Rejects ‘Floating Principal’ Proposal-July 03, 1974
The Norwood School Committee held a contentious session on the evening of July 2, 1974, where, following two weeks of deliberation and a lengthy 90-minute executive session, the board voted 5-1 to reject a proposal to create a new administrative position titled “floating principal.“ The concept, initially championed by Committee Member Joseph M. Pentowski, was…
Discover more from Norwood Historical Society
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.