Norwood School Officials Weigh Alternatives as Renovation Delays Threaten High School Opening-August 8, 1985

Superintendent James Savage and School Committee Chairman Richard Kief Outline Seven Contingency Plans—Including Delayed Start and Partial Building Use—While Rejecting Double Sessions

NORWOOD — School officials announced last night that there are no immediate plans to implement double sessions should ongoing renovations at Norwood High School remain unfinished by the opening day of classes. Superintendent James Savage dispelled growing rumors that the administration had already decided to double-house high school students alongside pupils at Norwood Junior High, emphasizing that such a move would serve strictly as a last resort. “The administration would look very unfavorably at using double sessions,” Savage stated during the committee meeting. School Committee Chairman Richard Kief echoed the sentiment, asking, “Why upset two schools?” and adding, “I would never vote for double sessions.”

With the project completion date for the $5 million renovation still uncertain, Superintendent Savage presented seven alternative housing strategies developed during brainstorming sessions by a combined group of administrators and teachers. The school committee had requested the contingency plans the previous month amid growing concern that construction was falling behind schedule. Savage stressed that the administration’s primary goal remains entering the high school building as planned, detailing three operational methods for the facility: delaying the start of the school year by two or three weeks to grant the contractor additional time; utilizing only a portion of the building while running a restricted program; or utilizing completed sections supplemented by portable classrooms.

Additional alternatives included utilizing a mix of the high school and the vacant Junior High School North, or relocating the Henry O. Peabody Vocational School—which is physically attached to the high school—to Junior High North. Another proposal involved moving the entire high school population directly to Junior High North, while two remaining options entailed running double sessions at Norwood Junior High that would leave the high school building entirely vacant. Committee members Timothy McDonough, Richard Joseph, and Margery McKenna joined leadership in opposing double sessions, noting they had not been utilized in town since the early 1970s, when a fire destroyed the former Aaron Guild School and forced its combination with Junior High North.

No final decisions were reached during the session. Chairman Kief noted that the committee has until August 20 to make a determination while preserving the minimum required preparation window. However, a definitive timeline from the permanent building committee overseeing the project is expected in about a week. Kief explained that the building committee must verify the complete removal of asbestos and confirm the timely delivery of crucial equipment and materials before providing a reliable completion date. Furthermore, Superintendent Savage pointed out that accommodating the specialized vocational programs of the Peabody School presents a distinct challenge due to heavy machinery and specialized equipment that cannot easily be relocated. (Original Reporting by Paul Karon for The Patriot Ledger).

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