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
-
Norwood High Announces Final‑Semester Honor Roll-This Day In Norwood History-May 27, 1968
Principal John F. Monbouquette has officially released the final-semester academic honor roll for Norwood High School. From dedicated seniors getting ready for graduation to standout freshmen setting the bar high, look back at the long list of hometown students recognized for their elite scholastic achievements.
-
Lincoln D. Lynch, former Principal and Superintendent, Dead at 66-This Day In Norwood History-January 28, 1967
NORWOOD — Lincoln D. Lynch, superintendent of schools here for 24 years, died Saturday in Massachusetts General Hospital. Mr. Lynch, 66, had lived on Old Chatham rd., Dennis, since retirement in 1960. He was born in Weymouth and educated at Boston College, Boston University, Harvard and Columbia. He was named assistant principal of Norwood High…
-
Harvard Prize Book, History Award, Photography Award Given by Principal Monbouquette-This Day in Norwood History-June 23, 1965
This Day in Norwood History-June 23, 1965-Harvard Prize Book, History Award, Photography Award Given by Principal Monbouquette
-
St Catherine’s Saints Capture Division Hockey Crown-This Day In Norwood History-February 3, 1965
St. Catherine’s CYO hockey team pulled the division title out of the hat Saturday at EC’s McHugh Forum. With the goalie out of the net, Art Conley tipped in a long shot by Jim Dooley to give Norwood a 2-2 tie with St. Mary’s of Hull, which clinched for St. Catherine’s the Southern Division crown.…
-
Local Firm Designing Additions To Balch & Cleveland Schools-This Day In Norwood History-August 5, 1964
This Day In Norwood History-August 5, 1964-Local Firm Designing Both School Additions
-
Rocks Shatter Windows At New Oldham School, Damage Heavy-This Day in Norwood History-July 2, 1964
This Day in Norwood History-July 2, 1964-Rocks Shatter Windows At New Oldham School, Damage Heavy
-
School Committee To Reconsider Shattuck Move-This Day In Norwood History-June 24, 1964
Parents argue that moving the specialized educable youth program away from custom-designed facilities could harm its core educational objectives.
-
Tiny Tots Graduate-This Day in Norwood History-June 3, 1964
These Tiny Tots graduated from the Tiny Tot Nursery School in June of 1964. Click to see their names!
-
Honor Students Advised To Develop Talents Fully-This Day in Norwood History-June 3, 1964
June 3, 1964 was the date of the 9th annual Honors Dinner for Norwood High School honor students, held at the Lord Fox restaurant in Foxboro.
-
Board Rejects Naming HS Wing For Kennedy-This Day in Norwood History-January 23, 1964
The Norwood School Committee at their meeting last Wednesday night, in rejecting the proposal of the Board of Selectmen to honor the late President John F. Kennedy by naming the new wing of the Senior High for him, was in complete accord that it was not “a fitting monument to his memory.” Francis Sheehan did…
Discover more from Norwood Historical Society
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.