The School Committee conducted formal interviews last night with two prospective candidates for the vacant business manager position while becoming embroiled in a stormy debate regarding student transportation contracts and administrative authority.
The committee interviewed Ralph E. Brooks, business manager for Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, and John D. Sheehan, assistant business administrator in Weymouth, who are vying to succeed Lawrence S. Canter following his resignation.
Busing Controversy and Yellow Cab Dispute
In addition to administrative interviews, the session flared into heated debate over student busing. On a motion by member Richard Joseph, the committee agreed to meet with Yellow Cab President Richard Armour and Town Counsel Justin Barton, stipulating that Armour must appear strictly as a “private taxpayer” rather than a corporate representative, given that Yellow Cab has an active lawsuit pending against the committee over bidding procedures.
Tensions escalated as members Charles Siraca and Joseph Pentowski sharply rebuked Superintendent of Schools Louis J. Taris for reassigning special student bus routes previously held by Yellow Cab to Kiessling School Transportation of Dedham without convening a special school committee meeting. Superintendent Taris authorized the transfer after Yellow Cab indicated it could not fulfill contractual routes without a fee adjustment to offset soaring gasoline prices. Committee Chairman Ruth Berkowitz and member Richard Joseph defended Superintendent Taris’s administrative emergency actions, keeping division within the board on display.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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Opening Salvos Fired in School Budget Battle-June 15, 1978
A $126,000 budget variance, classroom ratio disputes, and proposals to redistribute students stir debate at Norwood Town Meeting.
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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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School Committee and FinCom Clash Over School Bus Budget and Business Manager Practices-August 26, 1976
Tempers flared as the Norwood Finance Commission and School Committee locked horns over a bus transportation budget and criticism aimed at Business Manager Lawrence S. Canter.
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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 School Clerk Wins National Redbook Beauty Ideas Contest-This Day In Norwood History-July 23, 1975
Gwynne Jamieson, serving as secretary to the Norwood School Committee and school clerk, achieved national recognition by winning Redbook magazine’s competitive “Great Beauty Ideas” contest. Outshining roughly 30,000 entries submitted from across the country, her innovative submission earned her a $1,000 cash prize and an exclusive, all-expenses-paid weekend trip to New York City. The August…
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School Board Trims Pay Request-July 18, 1974
The School Board in Norwood has trimmed $19,478 from their pay request for school department employees. The revised total now stands at $598,370, which will be sought at tonight’s special town meeting. The School Board warned that no school department employees will receive negotiated wage increases until September if tonight’s special town meeting fails to…
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School Board Rejects ‘Floating Principal’ Proposal-July 03, 1974
The Norwood School Committee held a contentious session on the evening of July 2, 1974, where, following two weeks of deliberation and a lengthy 90-minute executive session, the board voted 5-1 to reject a proposal to create a new administrative position titled “floating principal.“ The concept, initially championed by Committee Member Joseph M. Pentowski, was…
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School Drop-In Centers Possible In Fall-June 24, 1974
Citing summer custodial constraints and a lack of air conditioning, town officials vote to survey local youths during the summer to prepare for a fall launch.
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School Committee Split Over Closing the Shattuck and Winslow Buildings-June 19, 1974
Debate intensifies at a Norwood School Committee meeting over redistricting, school closures, and federal grants.
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Delayed Computer Billing Receipts Spark Optimistic Tax Forecasts-June 18, 1974
Selectmen and assessors leverage delayed electric receipts and cherry sheet funds to keep tax rates at 39.
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