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 However, that appointment was rescinded just a week later after teachers complained they had not been given an opportunity to apply for the position.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…
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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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New Teachers Association President Richard T. King Focuses on Students and Educational Priorities Over Dollars-September 25, 1977
Newly elected Norwood Teachers Association President Richard T. King outlines a cooperative agenda focused on educational issues, special needs training under Chapter 766, and student scholarship programs.
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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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Public Schools Enrollment Down 341 Students, Though Upcoming Apartment Construction Expected to Boost Numbers-September 16, 1976
Norwood school officials report a drop of 341 students in total enrollment, but anticipate new apartment construction will push numbers back up.
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Louis Buscone Jr. Appointed High School Vice-Principal After Close School Committee Vote-September 9, 1976
Louis Buscone Jr. wins a one-year appointment as Norwood High School vice-principal by a 4-3 school committee vote as the board reviews declining enrollment figures.
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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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