The Norwood School Committee voted 4 to 2 last night to abandon plans for the reconstruction of the fire-damaged Norwood Junior High School South and instead pursue the duplication of Junior High North on a new site yet to be selected. The pivotal decision came after reviewing architectural estimates and wrestling with strict state land requirements and funding hurdles.
The committee decided to reexplore all previously discussed site possibilities for a new junior high school, including the Endean area and Hennessey Field, a town-owned location originally reserved for an elementary school. Opposing the move to abandon the refurbishment of the burned-out school were committee members Charles C. Saraca and John J. Cavanaugh, while board member Henry W. Diggs was absent. John J. Cavanaugh objected to the timing of the motion, terming the committee’s action hasty until all possible sites had been thoroughly checked, while Charles C. Saraca stated he preferred to restore and add to Junior High South unless the cost was roughly the same as a new school.
Architectural estimates for the various proposals—prepared by the Boston firm Shepley, Bulfinch, Richardson and Abbott alongside the Norwood firm Korslund, LeNormand and Quann—ranged significantly. Restoring the present facility was estimated to cost between $4.2 and $5.6 million, though it faced a lack of state aid due to the small size of the Washington Street location. Conversely, duplicating Junior High North was estimated at $5.7 million, while constructing a new school at Hennessey Field ranged from $6.9 to $8.2 million depending on modifications to handle a large amount of ledge. Superintendent of Schools Philip O. Coakley and committee members Rudith Berkowitz, William F. Egan, and Francis K. Sheehan Jr. ultimately argued that rebuilding the old school for the same cost as a modern facility was financially unwise, leading to the vote in favor of new construction.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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Unfinished Junior High To Open On Schedule-July 8, 1974
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Work Under Way At Junior High North-May 29, 1970
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Norwood Kills Funds For School Addition-June 26, 1969
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Strikes And Weather Delay North Junior High School Construction-June 17, 1969
Superintendent Warns Of Possible Double-Session Classes If Washington Street Facility Openings Fail A steel strike at the end of last summer halted installation of metal decking for the roof and delayed the roofer. Snow and freezing weather further hampered the project before the roof could be completed at the new school site. Without a roof,…
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