School Board Recall Urged-July 8, 1978

Tensions surrounding the management of the Norwood school budget reached a boiling point this week as a town meeting member initiated a formal effort to recall three members of the Norwood School Committee. On July 08, 1978, John Hayes, a District Two representative, announced that he would begin distributing petitions on Monday aimed at removing committee members Henry Diggs, Richard Kief, and John Chisholm from office. The recall drive follows a turbulent period of fiscal dispute between the school administration and town authorities. Mr. Hayes stated that his decision to proceed was solidified after the committee failed to immediately accept a $107,776 budget reduction during a meeting on July 05, 1978, choosing instead to table the matter for further administrative review.

“I had my mind made up that if there was a no vote this week, I’d go with the petition,” Mr. Hayes remarked. The call for a recall comes in the wake of the annual town meeting held last month, where voters slashed $618,795 from the proposed $11.3 million school budget, following recommendations from the Finance Commission. The budget conflict has extended into the legal sphere, with 36 taxpayers—backed by the Massachusetts Teachers Association—filing a lawsuit in Norfolk Superior Court this week seeking to restore the cut funds. Mr. Hayes identified the school committee’s decision not to officially support or oppose this taxpayer lawsuit as another key factor driving his campaign. When asked why the recall targeted only three members rather than the entire seven-person board, Hayes noted that he believed a more limited target would be more palatable to the voters, adding, “Besides, I think a couple of them have seen the light.”

The recall effort has already garnered support from other local figures. Mr. Hayes confirmed that town meeting members Walter Grady and Thomas DiFrancia are assisting in the drive. Furthermore, Mr. DiFrancia, Dr. William Pudsey, and former nine-year school committee veteran Charles Saraca have signaled their intent to stand as candidates should the recall election proceed. Mr. Saraca confirmed his willingness to return to the board if the effort succeeds. According to Town Clerk Bartley Connolly, the process requires the collection of 200 signatures of registered voters for each office holder subject to recall. Upon the validation of these signatures, the Board of Selectmen would be required to schedule an election within 25 to 35 days.

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