Permanent Building Committee and School Officials Map Out Presentation for $6 Million High School Addition-November 7, 1969

Officials Prepare for Nov. 20 Special Town Meeting Highlighting 43 New Classrooms, Labs, and Proposed Olympic-Sized Pool

Norwood public school administrative officials and Permanent Building Committee members last night mapped out their presentations for the Nov. 20 special town meeting on the warrant article seeking a $6 million senior high school addition. Building committee members who will make presentations to town meeting on the high school addition article are Chairman John J. Egan and Justin C. Barton. Mr. Egan will discuss enrollment, space problems, and explain the educational specifications to town meeting, while Mr. Barton will explain and show proposed facilities with transparencies.

Financing measures for the account are limited to free cash as of Jan. 1 as certified by the state director of accounts. Cost of the proposed addition includes a $355,400 alternate for an olympic-sized swimming pool. According to suggestions from the Boston bond counsel firm of Palmer and Dodge, relayed by Mr. Barton to the building committee, the addition, including construction and equipment, can be financed by a 20-year bond issue; alterations can be financed with 10-year borrowing; and new equipment for the existing school with five-year borrowing under general laws.

The firm’s suggestions to Town Accountant Bartley W. Connelly are: That $5,387,150 be appropriated for construction, equipment, and furnishing of the addition, with $100,000 to be transferred from the stabilization fund and the remaining $5,287,150 to be borrowed by the treasurer, with selectmen approval. That $550,500 be appropriated for remodeling, reconstruction, and repairs, with $56,550 transferred from the excess and deficiency account and $504,000 borrowed under general laws. That $126,880 be appropriated for additional department equipment for the senior high school, with $12,800 transferred from the excess and deficiency account and $114,000 borrowed under general laws. That the building committee be authorized to take the action necessary to carry out the projects authorized by town meeting vote. If the proposal is approved by town meeting, plans would go out for bid in summer 1970, bid acceptance would be in November 1970, construction would start early in 1971, and be completed in 1973 or 1974, according to a proposed job schedule.

High School Principal John F. Monboquette, who will delineate enrollment trends, noted that the 43-year-old facility, which was built in 1957 while doubling capacity, was designed merely as a 10-year measure. Enrollment at the 1,550-pupil school in 1968-69 stood at 1,885. With the removal of the ninth grade to the junior high level, enrollment now is 1,467, which, said Mr. Monboquette, is projected to increase 100 students a year. Estimated enrollment in 1972 is 1,869 students; three years after completion of the addition, enrollment is expected to be 2,100 students. Mr. Monboquette said a “continual feeding process” from St. Catherine’s School of about 120 students yearly at the ninth grade level would account for the 2,100 figure after three years. “In-migration far exceeds any migration in Norwood in the last decade,” he added. The addition will provide 43 new classrooms, five laboratories, and seven seminar rooms with increased core facilities.

In other business last night, the building committee: Received sketches from architect Lester N. Lechter of Dedham for additions to the Winslow and Shattuck Schools. Was notified by a representative of Korslund, Le Normand and Quann Inc., Norwood architectural firm, that the new junior high school would be “punched out” Tuesday. The building committee has requested preparation for an itemized punch list before setting another target opening date for the facility. The opening, originally scheduled for Nov. 15, is now anticipated to be Dec. 15 at Norwood Junior High School North. Bids are due at 3 p.m. that day. Scheduled a special meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday to review bids for carpeting in Junior High space.

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