In a reversal of a previous decision, the School Committee has voted to keep 46 elementary school children from the Nor-West Woods apartment complex at the Oldham School, rescinding a July 5 vote that would have transferred them to the Shattuck School.
Superintendent Dr. Philip O. Coakley explained that the committee revoted on the matter roughly a month prior after conferring with the complex owners, who clarified that only apartment units would be rented out by September. “The stability factor was taken into consideration,” Dr. Coakley noted, adding that the pupil-teacher ratio at Oldham will remain consistent with the previous year.
The initial July transfer had sparked immediate protest from Nor-West Woods parents who attended school board meetings to decry the lack of space and facilities at the Shattuck School—Norwood’s oldest operating school at 70 years. While the board initially stood firm—with only member Charles C. Saraca dissenting—parents subsequently retained Norwood attorney John J. Mulvehill, who successfully petitioned the board for reconsideration. Both Dr. Coakley and School Board Chairman John J. Cavanaugh emphasized that the reversal applies exclusively to the upcoming academic year.
Norwood and Walpole Boards Set to Meet on Route 1 Sewer Tie-In
In municipal affairs, a joint meeting between Norwood selectmen and Walpole officials is scheduled for tonight at 8:00 p.m. at Norwood Town Hall to address a proposed sewer tie-in for a planned Walpole shopping center. Consideration of the Route 1 and Union Street connection had been postponed for three consecutive weeks due to the absence of Walpole selectmen.
Selectmen Chairman Walter J. Dempsey confirmed that Walpole’s board has agreed to formally request approval for the agreement drafted by town counsels. The arrangement would allow developers Allen Associates Inc. to construct a sewer line along Route 1 connecting to Norwood’s interceptor. However, intense local opposition is expected: representatives from the Traphole Protection Association along with residents from both Norwood and Walpole plan to present petitions opposing the tie-in, citing fears that runoff from the paved commercial center will cause severe flooding and pollution along Traphole Brook.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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Norwood Junior High School Honor Rolls for the Last Term-This Day In Norwood History-July 21, 1997
Celebrating Academic Excellence at Norwood Junior High The academic landscape at Norwood Junior High School was highlighted by a formal recognition of student achievement, as the administration released the latest honor rolls for Grade 7 and Grade 6. These lists, comprised of students who attained HIGH HONORS and HONORS status, served as a public commendation…
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Norwood High School Revives Latin Classes After Nearly a Decade-September 26, 1994
Norwood High School brings back Latin classes for the first time in nearly a decade, led by young instructor Stephen Olbrys to enthusiastic student enrollment.
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Norwood Elementary Grades Drive Enrollment Increase-September 2, 1993
School System Reaches 3,565 Total Students Norwood public schools have experienced an overall enrollment increase of 136 students compared to the previous academic year, bringing total district enrollment to 3,565 students, according to an announcement made by Assistant Superintendent Roderick Smith during a school committee meeting. Enrollment Breakdown by Grade Level The surge is heavily…
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Summer Education Program Helps Students Stay Sharp-August 12, 1992
Federal Chapter 1 funding revived Norwood’s summer remedial education program at the Cleveland School, combining academics with local field trips for 48 students.
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Prescott Elementary School Parents Urge School Committee to Alleviate Overcrowding-September 12, 1991
Prescott Elementary School parents petition the Norwood School Committee to hire a part-time teacher to alleviate overcrowded kindergarten classes.
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Schools Open with Retained Programs Despite Budget Cuts and Staff Reductions-September 3, 1991
When Norwood students return to classrooms tomorrow for the start of the new academic year, they will encounter a few visible adjustments—including higher cafeteria prices, a smaller teaching staff, and the discontinuation of Latin courses. However, school officials emphasized that despite a roughly $600,000 reduction to the $18 million school budget amid town-wide cutbacks, Norwood…
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Search for Superintendent Stirs Conflict on Committee-July 24, 1991
The Norwood School Committee engaged in a tense debate over expanding the superintendent search committee to include PTA representation and broader community voices.
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Norwood High School to Drop Latin Program Due to Dwindling Enrollment-September 27, 1990
Citing dwindling enrollment and a lack of cost-effectiveness, Norwood High School officials announce that Latin courses will be eliminated from the curriculum after June.
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Joseph Katchpole Succeeds George Usevich as Vice Principal of Norwood High School-August 23, 1990
Health and physical education department head Joseph Katchpole has been named acting vice principal of Norwood High School, succeeding George Usevich in the school administration.
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Norwood to Sue Blue Hills School to Block Budget-July 19, 1990
The town of Norwood was on a collision course with the Blue Hills Regional Technical School in July 1990, as officials prepared to file a lawsuit to block the school’s revised budget for the upcoming academic year. The dispute had been brewing for several weeks, ever since the four district towns – Norwood, Holbrook, Dedham,…
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