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
More…
-
School Committee Considers Sweeping Administrative Reorganization Plan-August 24, 1967
School Committee Chairman Francis X. Sheehan Jr. proposed a sweeping administrative reorganization creating an associate superintendent to streamline Norwood school management
-
Schools Prepare for 5th Annual New Teacher Orientation-August 22, 1967
Superintendent Dr. Philip O. Coakley welcomed 58 incoming educators at the fifth annual teacher orientation institute at Prescott School, introducing new faculty across secondary and elementary schools.
-
Norwood Teachers Association Submits $1,000 Pay Increase Proposal-August 18, 1966
The Norwood Teachers Association submitted a $1,000-plus pay raise proposal as the school committee signed its first collective bargaining agreement amid debate led by John J. Cavanaugh and William Egan.
-
Andrew J. Ciarletta Jr. Appointed Principal of Winslow Elementary School-July 27, 1966
The Norwood School Committee appointed Andrew J. Ciarletta Jr. as principal of Winslow Elementary School, succeeding Alan R. Wonson.
-
Superintendent Coakley Tells PTA Council That $4 Million in New School Construction Is Mandatory-September 10, 1965
Dr. Philip O. Coakley tells the PTA Council that $4 million in new school construction—including a new elementary and junior high—is mandatory to handle over-capacity enrollment.
-
Norwood School Committee Reviews Summer School Program and Proposes Token Fees-September 3, 1965
Following the successful completion of Norwood’s first town-sponsored summer school program—which enrolled approximately 330 local students in remedial coursework—the Norwood School Committee is evaluating future administrative structures, including a proposal to institute a nominal student fee. Superintendent Philip O. Coakley presented a comprehensive report detailing the inaugural summer session, noting that progress reports for every…
-
School Wiring Hazard Suspected at Norwood Junior High-September 3, 1965
Expressing deep concern over aging infrastructure, the Norwood School Committee has called for an immediate investigation into potential electrical wiring hazards at the Norwood Junior High School to determine whether emergency repairs are urgently required. The inquiry was initiated after Superintendent of Schools Philip O. Coakley delivered an alarming report on the condition of the…
-
Norwood Tennis Courts Recreation-July 10, 1965
On July 10, 1965, Norwood officials were actively working to resolve the placement of a proposed six-court tennis facility at the Prescott School. Recreation Superintendent Richard Ready noted that while the specific site remained undecided, he and other town officials were in the process of analyzing a location proposed by the Norwood School Committee. ⠀…
-
Norwood Renews Search For High School Principal-June 25, 1964
Officials plan to evaluate past candidates and request recommendations from Boston area colleges while Vice Principal John Mombouquette prepares for interim leadership.
-
Enrollment Hike Forces Split Classes in Norwood Public Schools-September 5, 1963
Norwood public schools experience an enrollment spike of 416 students, prompting split classes at Cleveland and Callahan schools and sparking a debate over elementary cafeteria capacity.
Discover more from Norwood Historical Society
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.