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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Strikes And Weather Delay North Junior High School Construction-June 17, 1969
Superintendent Warns Of Possible Double-Session Classes If Washington Street Facility Openings Fail A steel strike at the end of last summer halted installation of metal decking for the roof and delayed the roofer. Snow and freezing weather further hampered the project before the roof could be completed at the new school site. Without a roof,…
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School Committee Holds Open Sessions Following Executive Session Debate-September 5, 1968
School Committee Chairman John J. Cavanaugh sparks debate before opening union contract talks to the public, while Superintendent Philip O. Coakley reports improved elementary class ratios.
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Norwood Oasis in Tension Era-June 8, 1968
Henry Diggs, Irma Diggs, Jacqueline Diggs, Judith Diggs, printer, teacher, School Committee, Boy Scouts, Girl Scout Council, Norwood Junior High School, Metco, Norwood Ministerial Ass., Springfield College, Lesley College, physical education teacher, substitute teacher, politics, schools, elections, local history, jun-8, 1968, 1960s
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Is Norwood’s Willett School Crowded Before It Opens?-June 8, 1968
On the eve of its grand opening, a newly constructed neighborhood school faces immediate scrutiny over surging class size projections and miscalculated local birth rates.
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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.
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School Committee To Reconsider Shattuck Move-June 24, 1964
Parents argue that moving the specialized educable youth program away from custom-designed facilities could harm its core educational objectives.
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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.
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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…
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15 Candidates To Face League Of Women Voters-This Day in Norwood History-January 5, 1961
The Voters Service Committee of the League of Women Voters has completed plans for ‘Candidates Night which will be held Monday evening, January 9, at eight o’clock in Memorial Hall. This is an important aspect of league work and because it is a nonpartisan organization it is in this area it is best able to…
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In Memoriam- James Joseph Gormley
JAMES JOSEPH GORMLEY entered the service of the Norwood Public Schools on September 7, 1932. Until death took him from us on April 15, 1960, he devoted his life and energy to the youth of Norwood and to the school work he loved so much. Jim Gormley worked long and well for our community. As…
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