Opening Salvos Fired in School Budget Battle-June 15, 1978

Town Meeting Confronts Declining Enrollment, Superintendent Search Deadlines, and Funding Cuts

Town meeting’s consideration of the FinCom’s recommendation of $895,272 for administrative salaries versus the $976,000 requested by the school committee brought the school budget battle to the floor. School Committee Chairman Henry W. Diggs, addressing town meeting, said his board is evaluating the declining school population and would not close a school until that study is complete. In making the cuts, the FinCom reduced the $40,000 proposed salary for the incoming superintendent to the present superintendent’s salary of $35,918; eliminated $25,596 for one principal’s position; cut two secretarial positions; and reduced from $9,428 to $8,799 the proposed pay for the present superintendent for a three-month interim period after the new superintendent takes over. However, the specifics of the amendment were not discussed as Diggs turned the floor over to the administration for a lengthy presentation by the seven elementary principals on how the school buildings are being utilized.

In a heated discussion, town meeting member Thomas DiFrancia accused the school department of “playing with numbers” on the pupil-teacher ratio, which the administration has said averages 23-1. “That does not take into account administrative or Chapter 766 personnel, which the state does include in its suggested ratio of 25-1,” DiFrancia said. When it was brought out that with administrative personnel some classrooms would have a ratio of 19-1, Emilie Moses of District 6 said, “If we had that ratio when I was in school, I’d have a Ph.D. after my name.” Referring to the FinCom’s proposal to cut the teaching staff, school committeeman Richard W. Kief said the teachers had already been assured of a contract for next year and if the positions were cut, the town would still have to pay those salaries. “By law, we are bound to those agreements,” he said.

Robert Capasso of District 4 proposed taking the pupils in the Willett School and distributing them throughout the other six elementary schools, which he said would add two to three pupils to each classroom in town. Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Schools Umberto V. Napoleone conceded he “did not think the quality of the educational program would suffer from such an increase as long as the classes stayed at that level.” Robert Wohler of District 3 proposed transporting the 43 pupils who are presently bused to the Willett to other schools and moving the remaining 200 into the nearby Cleveland School. “That would entail busing only those students who are presently bused anyway, and I do not think it makes much difference once they are on a bus where they go,” he said. FinCom Chairman William F. Collins said there are presently 905 open seats in the seven elementary schools, based on the recommended capacities contained in a 1970 Arthur D. Little consultant’s report on the schools.

Although three school committee members have urged the board to assure town meeting that a school would be closed or shared in 1979, Diggs said last night the committee was undertaking a study of the declining enrollment and would not promise anything until there was more information. “They were evaluating the problem in 1977. Unless town meeting does the evaluating, they will be here for four or five more years,” said FinCom Member E. Peter Bamber. Superintendent Philip O. Coakley, who is retiring Oct. 1 after 18 years in the position, appealed to town meeting for “your help in this crucial time for the Norwood public schools.” Commending the town for doing a “tremendous job in housing students,” he urged members not to let that investment in school buildings “go down the drain.” Responding to the applause that greeted his address, one town meeting member spoke out, “I am glad to see the teachers came out tonight.” Moderator William Plasko, acknowledging the testimonial planned tonight for long-time Norwood car dealer Carl Johnson, recommended reconvening Monday although one member suggested continuing again on Friday and through the weekend. Members did agree to convene Monday and to continue every successive night until the warrant is completed.

Prior to the school budget debate, the $44,800 sewer budget was amended to $128,300 to allow construction of a pumping station in the Meadow Brook area. Approved with little discussion was $153,000 for the board of health; $10,000 for care of trees; $7,840 for drains; $186,800 for the town dump; and $4,400 for rubbish removal. Also approved was $714,277 for public works; $100,000 for garage maintenance; and $468,200 for the highways.

It now appears unlikely that the school committee will meet its July 1 deadline for hiring a new superintendent. Chairman Henry W. Diggs said last night, following an executive session of his board to discuss “personalities” before last night’s town meeting, that the list of 90 applicants for the school superintendency has been cut to 13, but declined to make the names public. Diggs said some of the 13 had requested their names not be publicized and the committee was respecting those requests. He did not say how many of the 13 requested anonymity. The committee met in closed session with the two educational consultants who are aiding in the search for a replacement for retiring Supt. Philip O. Coakley. School committee members deny the committee has participated in the selection of candidates to this point although Diggs did say candidates were discussed last night. The consultants had previously narrowed the list down to 20 candidates. He said of the 13 being considered, five or six are from Norwood.

When the consultants were hired a few months ago, the committee agreed to make the list public once the consultants had narrowed the candidates down to 10 or 12 names for the committee’s consideration. Saying he had no direction from the committee on making the names public, Diggs said, “I will give you the list as soon as possible.” He admitted it now appears unlikely the new superintendent will be selected by the July 1 deadline established. League of Women Voters President Margery McKenna urged Diggs to make the list public, saying, “If a major portion of the list is open the public will have a better feeling about the procedure.” Diggs also said there had been no discussion within the committee to hold a public meeting to solicit public opinion about the kind of superintendent the town should have. Such a meeting had been proposed by the consultants and appeared to have the support of the committee at that time.

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