School Committee Eliminates Dress Codes, Welcomes Retroactive Craftsmen Bids, and Applauds Financial Aid Surges
The Norwood School Committee enacted sweeping changes this week, officially eliminating formal dress codes at both junior high school campuses beginning next fall. The decisive policy change was initiated by student councils at Norwood Junior High and Norwood Junior High School North, who petitioned for an end to formal clothing restrictions. This structural shift follows a precedent set two months ago, when the committee removed dress code mandates at Norwood High School at the request of the student council executive board, a measure that received full concurrence from local school administrators.
Alongside cultural policy adjustments, the committee reviewed significant regional enrollment milestones and extensive student funding allocations. School Supt. Philip O. Coakley reported that graduating seniors at Norwood High School secured a record-setting $254,765 in total financial aid, distributed across various scholarships, grants, loans, and on-campus employment opportunities. Dr. Coakley noted that “in a majority of instances, this goes over a four-year period.” He further announced that the town achieved its highest vocational technical footprint to date, with 147 local students accepted to the Blue Hills Regional Technical School for the 1970-71 academic term, stating it was “the largest number we’ve had.”
Labor relations and retroactive town meeting wage adjustments also dominated the board’s docket. The committee received formal correspondence from the Norwood Maintenance Craftsmen union indicating that “they would be glad to accept” a nine percent salary increase. This adjustment matches the retroactive wage hike backdated to Jan. 1 that town meeting voters previously granted to other municipal employee groups during broader contract renewals.
The union’s direct request and avoidance of formal bargaining tables drew sharp-tongued humor from the school board. “They don’t want to bargain with you; they don’t even want to see you,” commented Dr. Coakley. School board member Charles O. Saraca joked, “They’re afraid we might ask them some questions,” prompting member Mrs. Judith Berkowitz to interpose, “Like where have you been and what are you doing.” Historical logs note that the maintenance craftsmen skipped active negotiations with the school committee entirely this year, a stark contrast to frequent 1969 sessions where their primary grievance centered on a clothing allowance. To close out personnel business, Dr. Coakley presented a proposed one-year contract for senior building custodians, adding that the junior custodian labor agreements had not yet been received.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
More School Stories
-
Auditorium Crowd Supports School Budget-This Day In Norwood History-June 8, 1978
A packed hearing at the Aaron Guild School turns into an arena of support for public education as town officials dispute FinCom’s budget metrics.
-
Henry O. Peabody School Graduates 130-This Day In Norwood History-June 18, 1977
Dr. Gerard Saunders Delivers Keynote Address Offering Six Practical Guidelines For Entering Working World “The time has come to prove yourselves,” said Dr. Gerard Saunders, guest speaker at the Awards Day Program of the Henry O. Peabody School yesterday. Addressing the 130 graduating students, Dr. Saunders, a professor of law at Mass. Bay Community College,…
-
School Board Confronts Stalled Teacher Negotiations and Implements Stricter High School Credit Policies-This Day In Norwood History-June 20, 1974
From 1912 chair distributions to honoring a World War II veteran patrolman, the school board settles wide dockets.
-
High School Addition Plan Okayed-This Day In Norwood History-June 20, 1974
Principal Monbouquette details structural upgrades and media center conversions to combat overcrowding.
-
Saraca Criticizes Band Appearance-This Day In Norwood History-June 19, 1974
A dispute erupts over an “eleventh-hour decision” to allow a student band performance for fundraising.
-
School Committee Split Over Closing the Shattuck and Winslow Buildings-This Day In Norwood History-June 19, 1974
Debate intensifies at a Norwood School Committee meeting over redistricting, school closures, and federal grants.
-
Board Agrees on Postponement of School Renovation Article-This Day In Norwood History-June 8, 1971
A multi-million dollar architectural estimate nearly doubles expected costs for the burned-out Junior High South, prompting town leaders to delay action.
-
School Committee Reverses Votes-This Day In Norwood History-June 3, 1971
In 1970, the Norwood School Committee reversed two earlier decisions after strong parent turnout, restoring Shattuck School students to Junior High North and adopting a mid‑year “flip‑flop” double‑session schedule while addressing civic center polling and a hospital parking dispute.
-
Officials Weighing School Repair Cost-This Day In Norwood History-March 6, 1971
Selectmen last night favored start on work to secure walls of the fire-gutted third story of Norwood Junior High School South which are still standing after a section of the rear wall collapsed Thursday. Architect’s Proposal The local architectural firm of Korslund, LeNormand and Quann, Inc., which directed the construction of the temporary roof damaged…
-
Norwood Pupils To Attend Double Sessions After $2M Fire-This Day In Norwood History-January 25, 1971
Blaze at junior high ‘was set’ Seven hundred fifty pupils from Norwood South Junior High School, which was gutted by a $2 million general alarm fire Saturday night, will start double sessions with the pupils at North Junior High later this week. Norwood Fire Chief Irving J. Dobson said yesterday, after a preliminary investigation: “The…
Discover more from Norwood Historical Society
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.