The School Committee narrowed its search for a new superintendent of schools last night, selecting three finalists from a pool of six semifinalists.
Following a round of balloting where each of the seven committee members voted for three candidates, James R. Savage, 53—principal of Junior High School North for 13 years—placed second with six votes.
(Photo: 1983 TIOT)
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Joining Savage as finalists are William J. Birmingham, 47, assistant superintendent of Arlington schools, who placed first with seven votes, and Nora M. Walker, 52, a school administrator from Warwick, Rhode Island, who received four votes.
Eliminated from contention were Armand A. Fusco, a consultant and former Hadley superintendent (three votes); Edmond P. Donlon, superintendent of the North Middlesex Regional school (one vote); and Vernon R. Wyland, superintendent of schools in Cazenovia, New York, who received no votes after failing to appear for scheduled interviews. Committee members supporting Savage—dubbed “the local boy” by Chairman Joseph M. Pentowski—argued that his extensive local track record as a teacher, department head, and principal outweighed his lack of a doctorate degree and central administrative experience. Committee member Roger M. Pelletier emphasized, “He’s got firsthand experience with the children in the school system… Being well-known in the town and having a good rapport with the committee is important.” Charles C. Saraca echoed the sentiment, while Richard W. Kief cast the lone dissenting vote against Savage, stating he preferred candidates holding doctorates and central office experience.
Top-ranked finalist Birmingham earned praise from Pentowski as a “strong leader” with a clear objective-driven mindset, while Kief commended his collaborative reputation and front-line experience. Walker was similarly lauded by Saraca and Pentowski as a tireless worker with a strong ability to build consensus—a crucial trait as the board looks for a leader capable of guiding a major high school rehabilitation project through town meeting. The committee scheduled second-round interviews and site visits for the upcoming week, with Walker interviewed at 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Willett School, Birmingham meeting the committee at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, and Savage interviewed at 9:00 p.m. Tuesday, ahead of a final appointment scheduled for a week away.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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Extra $10,000 Approved for High School Renovation-August 7, 1986
Amid project delays tied to Anchor Construction Corp., the Norwood Finance Commission voted 3-1 to approve an extra $10,000 for KL&Q Architects to oversee the completion of the $5 million high school renovation.
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150 Norwood High Students Walk Out and March to Protest $5 Million Renovation Delays-October 31, 1985
Protesting ongoing delays in a $5 million renovation project that has kept them displaced at Junior High North, 150 Norwood High students staged a walkout and marched to the high school.
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Norwood High SAT Scores Surge as Principal John Piccirilli Commends Student Gains-October 30, 1985
Driven by a 12-point surge in verbal scores and math averages exceeding state and national benchmarks, Norwood High Principal John Piccirilli celebrated strong college board gains.
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School Opening Delayed for High School Students-August 27, 1985
Norwood high school classes are delayed to September 9 as students temporarily relocate to Junior High North during a $5 million renovation project.
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High School Students to Relocate to Vacant Junior High School North-August 21, 1985
Citing extensive construction delays by Anchor Construction Co., Norwood school officials voted to move nearly 950 high school students to Junior High School North for the start of the school year.
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Norwood School Officials Weigh Alternatives as Renovation Delays Threaten High School Opening-August 8, 1985
Norwood school officials discussed seven alternatives for opening day if $5 million high school renovations are not finished, while firmly rejecting double sessions.
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Norwood Rejects Rockland Offer of Part Payment-July 16, 1985
The summer of 1985 was a time of great economic uncertainty in Massachusetts, with the state facing significant budget deficits and high unemployment rates. However, amidst this backdrop of fiscal woes, the town of Norwood found itself embroiled in a dispute with its neighboring municipality, Rockland, over tuition fees for vocational school students. The issue…
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Norwood High School Implements Total Smoking Ban-July 3, 1985
In July 1985, the Norwood School Committee unanimously approved a total smoking ban at Norwood High School to begin in September, prioritizing the health of its students.
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Recess is a Popular Subject Among Crop of First Graders-September 6, 1984
First-grader Amy Frigulietti sat at her desk yesterday, reaching inside to rearrange her freshly sharpened pencils, pens, and a notebook featuring a picture of Michael Jackson on the cover. Like many of her peers across Norwood, 6-year-old Amy was eager for the new term in teacher Sandy Barner‘s class at Prescott Elementary School, though she…
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Norwood Kindergarten Bus Routes Announced for Fall Term-September 9, 1983
School officials have officially released the comprehensive morning and afternoon bus route schedules for Norwood kindergarten students, with classes set to begin on Monday. Schedule and School-Specific Route Details The morning kindergarten session commences at 8:40 a.m. (with first pickups beginning at 8:20 a.m. and dismissal at 11:15 a.m.), while the afternoon session begins at…
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