Norwood Voters Approve Tax Increase To Build New Coakley Middle School-This Day In Norwood History-April 10, 2022

Norwood residents delivered a decisive vote, choosing to raise local taxes in order to fund a long‑awaited new middle school. The ballot question passed by a wide margin — 2,365 to 831 — clearing the final hurdle required under Proposition 2½ for the town to take on additional debt.

The vote followed a Special Town Meeting on March 2, where representatives had already endorsed the project. With both approvals secured, the $150 million plan to replace the aging Coakley Middle School could officially move forward.

Town officials estimated Norwood’s share of the project at $105 million, with the state covering the remainder. For the average home assessed at $553,000, the decision meant an annual property‑tax increase of roughly $390 until the debt is paid.

Leaders emphasized that the investment would shape the town’s educational future. General Manager Tony Mazzucco, School Superintendent David Thomson, and the Middle School Building Committee issued a joint statement thanking residents for their support. They described the new building — expected to open in 2025 for about 1,070 students in grades 5–8 — as a modern, accessible learning environment designed to serve generations of Norwood families.

The vote reflected a community willing to shoulder a financial burden in order to strengthen its schools, its neighborhoods, and its long‑term civic infrastructure. ​

Source: The Boston Globe, April 10, 2022