School Committee Chairman John J. Cavanaugh temporarily handed the gavel to committeeman Thomas A. Couch during a turbulent meeting last night to second a motion to move into executive session, sparking a sharp debate over public transparency and governing board protocols.
Following initial friction regarding items slated for the closed-door agenda, the committee reversed course and voted unanimously to conduct scheduled bargaining appointments with representatives of the Norwood Teachers Association (NTA) and the Norwood Public Schools Custodians Association in open session. Under state law, public governing bodies are mandated to hold open meetings unless specific statutory exemptions apply, such as protecting individual reputations, financial interests, or public security. Superintendent of Schools Philip O. Coakley noted that the closed session was initially intended to review personnel matters.
Charles Sweeney, chairman of the NTA salary committee, met briefly with the school committee to discuss non-salary contract provisions—including teaching hours, class sizes, and non-teaching duties. However, because the association’s negotiating committee is not yet fully formed, formal action was deferred. Meanwhile, Arthur Henry, chairman of the Norwood School Custodians Association, reported that his union is seeking a formal legal interpretation of an ambiguous management clause before resuming negotiations.
Elementary Class Sizes Ease With Willett School Opening
On a positive administrative note, Superintendent Coakley informed the committee that the opening of the new Willett School has successfully relieved elementary-level crowding across the district. Current pupil-teacher ratios stand at:
- Balch: 26.3 to 1
- Callahan: 24.6 to 1
- Cleveland: 24.2 to 1
- Oldham: 21.7 to 1
- Prescott: 24.3 to 1
- Shattuck: 23.5 to 1
- Willett: 22.7 to 1
- Winslow: 22.5 to 1
Superintendent Coakley added that the anticipated opening of the new North Junior High School next year will further relieve spatial pressures at both the existing junior high and the senior high school, allowing the latter to return to a traditional three-year configuration.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
More…
-
School Committee Appoints Michael Gallahue and George Usevich to Key School Posts-August 26, 1971
Michael Gallahue and George Usevich were appointed to key administrative roles at Norwood High School for the 1971-72 school year.
-
Norwood Junior High School Building Committee Reviews Five Replacement Plans-July 27, 1971
The Norwood building committee reviewed five alternate architectural plans for a new junior high school while exploring federal disaster aid.
-
Meeting Ignores School Pleas, Cuts Budget By $126,558-June 15, 1971
A fierce debate over encumbered funds and municipal parity dominates a marathon Norwood Town Meeting session over the town budget.
-
Board Agrees on Postponement of School Renovation Article-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-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.
-
Norwood Pupils To Attend Double Sessions After $2M Fire-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…
-
Edward H. “Butch” Thompson, Former Norwood Town Official and Veteran, Dies at 74-September 4, 1970
Edward H. “Butch” Thompson, a lifelong Norwood resident, decorated World War I veteran, and prominent municipal figure who dedicated decades of service to local civic boards, passed away yesterday at Norwood Hospital at the age of 74. Residing at 9 Gardner Road, Mr. Thompson left a lasting mark on the community through his extensive involvement…
-
Bells Are Ringin’-July 3, 1970
The Norwood School Committee overhauled its student transportation system and faced an $8,000 wave of structural school vandalism in July 1970
-
School Board Stops Metco And Book Lists-June 18, 1970
A tie vote defeats a local high school Metco expansion while the school committee votes to completely abolish student reading lists
-
Boards Press for Expanded Community Use of School Gymnasiums-August 14, 1969
Citing taxpayer ownership and a lack of indoor recreational space, Norwood selectmen and Charles C. Saraca urged the school committee to open school gyms to the public.
Discover more from Norwood Historical Society
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.