School Board Trims Pay Request-July 18, 1974

The revised total now stands at $598,370, which will be sought at tonight’s special town meeting.

The School Board warned that no school department employees will receive negotiated wage increases until September if tonight’s special town meeting fails to produce a quorum. However, the raises will be retroactive to July 1, according to School Supt. Philip O. Coakley.

Only one hour of last night’s more than five-hour negotiating session at the Oldham School was held in open session as the committee met with teachers, nurses, and administrators. The board shaved $19,478 from the amount to be sought at tonight’s town meeting, citing the elimination of one principal’s position due to the phasing out of the Shattuck Winslow Schools.

The Shattuck Winslow Schools have been phased out for educational purposes, and with the majority of their students entering the new Aaron Guild School this fall, one administrative post has been cut. The board elected Robert C. Fox as the new principal of the Callahan School, whose principal, Richard Talanian, was chosen as principal of the new Guild.

The committee also removed $478 from the custodial salaries account last night, explaining the change as a correction due to “an inequity.” Since future requests may be made, member Rudith M. Berkowitz suggested a return to a future town meeting should the salary provision prove insufficient.

The School Board will hold another negotiating session with the principals on August 14, according to Chairman Charles C. Saraca. The board will also seek raises for firefighters at tonight’s special town meeting.

A special town meeting on June 26 was aborted for lack of a quorum: only four members would have made the crucial difference to bring the number to the needed 103. Part of last night’s downward revision of the figure came about when committee member Joseph M. Pentowski moved to delete $20,000 from the administrative salaries account assignment of Michael Sansone.

The committee also discussed the newly-mandated provision that women may receive disability pay for reasons of pregnancy and childbirth. Both sides affirmed the provision that such remuneration should not extend longer than the eight-week maternity leave guaranteed by law.

The nurses, who are also represented by the Norwood Teachers Association (NTA), signed their 1974-75 contract last night, granting a seven per cent pay hike. Much of NTA negotiator Peterson indicated the administrators may take Walter ad-the closed-door session near the conclusion of the meeting was held at the request of Mr. Fox and Mr. Pace, who quickly assumed the current business manager Thomas H. McDonald is resigning.

The board cut his 6.5 per cent raise amount, with his salary figure of $12,430 for next year now becoming part of the $16,000 allowance in the budget. The teachers have reached contract agreement with the school board but have only ratified the salary portion, calling for increases averaging slightly more than 6.5 per cent.

Mr. Peterson said the pact will be probably ratified in September. The School Board will hold another negotiating session with the principals on August 14, according to Chairman Charles C. Saraca.

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