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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Taxpayers Sue to Restore School Budget-July 6, 1978
Seeking to prevent a mid-summer school closure, 36 Norwood taxpayers filed a lawsuit in 1978 to restore $600,000 in education funding.
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Town Requests Bids for Audio-Activated Alarm System Trial at George F. Willett School-August 31, 1977
Seeking proactive solutions to combat recurring vandalism, the town manager’s office has officially requested bids for furnishing and installing an advanced audio-activated alarm system at the George F. Willett School on Westover Parkway. Trial Security System Specifications According to municipal procurement notices, sealed bids will be publicly opened at 11:00 a.m. on September 14 in…
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Public Schools Announce 1977-78 Opening Schedules and Projected Enrollment of 5,842 Students-August 31, 1977
Superintendent of Schools Philip O. Coakley has officially announced that all Norwood public schools-covering grades 1 through 12, alongside special education classes-will open for the 1977–78 academic year on Wednesday, September 7. Registration is open daily in each school building from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ahead of opening day, with classrooms prepped for an…
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State Cites Nine Deficient Areas in Norwood Special Ed-August 16, 1977
A state Department of Education audit of Norwood’s Chapter 766 special education program cited nine minor compliance issues while praising overall staff commitment and progress.
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Norwood Zeroes In On School Vandals-August 3, 1977
A newly formed blue‑ribbon security committee convened to confront a surge of costly vandalism at Norwood’s public schools. Members reviewed structural, technological, and community‑based deterrents while assigning formal research duties for a comprehensive townwide response.
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Norwood School Committee Seeks Field Trip Funds and Awards Bus Transportation Contracts-July 29, 1976
Facing budget cuts that eliminated student field trips, the Norwood School Committee voted to appeal to the Finance Commission and special town meeting for restoration funds.
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Norwood Board Rejects Blue Hills Collaborative-July 29, 1976
The summer of 1976 was a time of great change and uncertainty for the town of Norwood, Massachusetts. As the nation celebrated its bicentennial, local residents were grappling with issues of education, finance, and community involvement. One such issue that dominated the headlines in July 1976 was the proposed Blue Hills Collaborative, a vocational school…
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Norwood Faces Fiscal Crunch Under Chapter 766 Special Education Mandates-August 28, 1975
School officials report that Norwood’s special education program faces a funding shortfall under state Chapter 766 mandates, prompting legal review and contract awards.
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Norwood School Committee Approves Balch School Remedial Class and Eight-Period High School Day-July 31, 1975
The Norwood School Committee approved a pilot transitional first grade and modified kindergarten at Balch School to address kindergarten screening results and language needs.
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School Committee Approves Shortened High School Day Format-July 16, 1975
The school committee of Norwood last night all but formally approved a switch to a shorter, eight-period day for the high school. The decision was made in response to a request from absent member Richard Joseph, who asked that the board defer its official vote on the plan until its next regular meeting in two…
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