Relocation Occurs Amid New Graduation Requirements and Housing Crisis
On July 24, 1980, the school administration relocated into new headquarters at the George F. Willett School.
School administrators officially moved out of their former offices at the old Winslow School into a split-level ranch-style building tucked away in a residential area near the Westwood town line and Highland Cemetery land. During the Norwood School Committee‘s first meeting held in the new offices, routine business quickly intersected with administrative debate.
Committee member Joseph M. Pentowski renewed his objections to smoking in the meeting room, citing a 1972 policy restricting smoking to designated areas when school is not in session. Despite Committee Chairman William F. Pudsey bringing a large “no smoking” sign into the smoke-filled room, Joseph M. Pentowski vowed to consult the fire chief and school physician regarding health concerns.
Additionally, the committee interviewed three finalists for the business manager position carrying a salary range of $20,000 to $30,000: Frank Colvario, district coordinator for fiscal affairs in Boston Public Schools; Stephen R. Hemman, a Norwood school teacher; and David A. King, chief fiscal officer for Waltham Public Schools.
In academic policy shifts, the school committee unanimously approved rigorous new graduation requirements designed to double the coursework students must pass to receive a diploma. Students will now be required to earn 80 credits for graduation—with 20 credits earned specifically during their senior year—while students in grades 7 through 12 must secure 20 credits instead of 17 to advance to the next grade. High School Principal John Piccirilli explained, “We are now saying that not only do the students have to take specified major courses, such as English, math and science, but they must pass them to graduate.” Assistant Superintendent James Donovan added, “One of the important aspects of what we are trying to do is make students more diligent in their studies by giving them incentive to study harder.“
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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