A closed-session administrative proposal by Superintendent Dr. Philip O. Coakley to merge the administrative operations of the Shattuck and Winslow elementary schools under a single principal came to light Wednesday night during a contentious public meeting of the Norwood School Committee.
The existence of the merger plan was revealed when portions of the minutes from an August 1 executive session were read aloud in open session at the insistence of Committee Chairman Francis X. Sheehan Jr. The reading occurred after committeeman John J. Cavanaugh—who had presided over the August 1 meeting in Sheehan’s absence—submitted several pages of proposed amendments to the official record, maintaining that the minutes needed greater detail given lingering questions regarding the legality of actions taken that night.
According to the records, the August 1 meeting initially involved transferring the Winslow School principal to a vacancy at the Callahan School and subsequently filling the resulting Winslow opening. However, that appointment was rescinded just a week later after teachers complained they had not been given an opportunity to apply for the position. Ultimately, the broader merger plan was abandoned in favor of maintaining separate principals for both schools, and the committee is currently reviewing applications for the Winslow post. Following cross-questioning among members regarding the appropriateness of debating closed-session actions in public, the committee deferred action on Cavanaugh’s proposed amendments.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
More…
-
Andrew J. Ciarletta Jr. Appointed Principal of Winslow Elementary School-July 27, 1966
The Norwood School Committee appointed Andrew J. Ciarletta Jr. as principal of Winslow Elementary School, succeeding Alan R. Wonson.
-
Superintendent Coakley Tells PTA Council That $4 Million in New School Construction Is Mandatory-September 10, 1965
Dr. Philip O. Coakley tells the PTA Council that $4 million in new school construction—including a new elementary and junior high—is mandatory to handle over-capacity enrollment.
-
Norwood School Committee Reviews Summer School Program and Proposes Token Fees-September 3, 1965
Following the successful completion of Norwood’s first town-sponsored summer school program—which enrolled approximately 330 local students in remedial coursework—the Norwood School Committee is evaluating future administrative structures, including a proposal to institute a nominal student fee. Superintendent Philip O. Coakley presented a comprehensive report detailing the inaugural summer session, noting that progress reports for every…
-
School Wiring Hazard Suspected at Norwood Junior High-September 3, 1965
Expressing deep concern over aging infrastructure, the Norwood School Committee has called for an immediate investigation into potential electrical wiring hazards at the Norwood Junior High School to determine whether emergency repairs are urgently required. The inquiry was initiated after Superintendent of Schools Philip O. Coakley delivered an alarming report on the condition of the…
-
Norwood Tennis Courts Recreation-July 10, 1965
On July 10, 1965, Norwood officials were actively working to resolve the placement of a proposed six-court tennis facility at the Prescott School. Recreation Superintendent Richard Ready noted that while the specific site remained undecided, he and other town officials were in the process of analyzing a location proposed by the Norwood School Committee. ⠀…
-
Norwood Renews Search For High School Principal-June 25, 1964
Officials plan to evaluate past candidates and request recommendations from Boston area colleges while Vice Principal John Mombouquette prepares for interim leadership.
-
Enrollment Hike Forces Split Classes in Norwood Public Schools-September 5, 1963
Norwood public schools experience an enrollment spike of 416 students, prompting split classes at Cleveland and Callahan schools and sparking a debate over elementary cafeteria capacity.
-
Eleventh-Hour Decision on Oldham School Registration-September 3, 1963
NORWOOD — An eleventh-hour session of the Oldham School Building Committee is being held tonight to make the decisive call on whether the newly constructed school will officially open its doors for student registration tomorrow morning. Final Scramble and Boiler Inspections Workmen labored through the weekend, including a full day on Saturday, trying to wrap…
-
Oldham School Opening Set for Wednesday, New Teacher Appointments-August 30, 1963
As Norwood prepares for the new academic year, the School Committee has announced plans to open the newly constructed John P. Oldham Elementary School next Wednesday, contingent upon final safety inspections of its heating and ventilating systems. While municipal electric light department crews rushed to finish electrical work and boilers were fired for the first…
-
Bios of New Norwood Public School Teachers-August 29, 1963
As the Norwood public school system prepares for the upcoming academic year, officials announced the appointment of 56 new teachers. Biographical profiles for the first 28 incoming educators highlight their educational backgrounds and assignments: High School Appointments Elementary, Junior High, and Special Services Appointments Discover more from Norwood Historical Society Subscribe to get the latest…
Discover more from Norwood Historical Society
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.