Norwood’s, school committee discussed arrangements for use of school buildings for the town recreation program with Recreation Director John E. Williams at its last Monday’s meeting.
Mr. Williams by letter had asked the committee for the use of both the Senior and Junior High School gymnasiums on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons for the town recreation basketball program for boys and girls.
Superintendent Lincoln D. Lynch reported to the committee that after consulting with Mr. Corcoran, Mr. Dixon, and Miss Gifford of the Junior High and Mr. Thompson, Mr. Murray and Miss Kiley of the Senior High, it appeared that allowing the three afternoons a week use of the gyms would completely destroy the school activities program based on present schedules.
Schedules showed that at present 14 or more teams of boys basketball operate until 5 p.m. daily; 19 teams of girls volleyball operate until 5 p.m. on Mondays thru Thursdays; and 19 teams of girls tennis operate to 5 p.m. on Mondays thru Thursdays. Soon girls basketball will open at the Junior High when 13 teams will operate to 5 p.m. on Mondays thru Thursdays, in place of the volleyball and tennis teams. In addition, the Junior High gym is used for rehearsals of dramatic performances, when sports activities are postponed for the rehearsals.
Schedule at the Senior High showed that an intramural basketball league for girls has been announced with games planned from 1:30 to A p.m. on Monday thru Thursdays each week. The intramural basketball for boys will open on November 27th and will operate from 1:30 to 6 p.m. each Monday thru Friday throughout .the winter In view of this school program, the school committee told Mr. Williams that he could have the use of the Junior High girls gym on Fridays, as well as of the Senior High boys and girls gyms all day Fridays. Gyms will be available for the town program also on Saturday mornings and during vacation periods unless use interferes with vacation cleaning and repair activities.
The committee also agreed to use the Senior High gym by the town program on November 22nd for a football rally dance to give the High School team a send-off before its big Thanksgiving Day game with Dedham.
Mr. Williams also asked the committee about use of shop facilities and sewing machines, etc. at the Junior High School for the town program. The school committee agreed to this use when it did not conflict with evening school activities. Evening school nights are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.
The school committee asked Superintendent Lynch about the evening school program and adult courses at the Peabody School. Asked if Peabody School courses could not be given in the evening, the Superintendent said that while there were some who wished the evening hour, there were others on the waiting list for afternoon courses.
He reported on the progress being made toward establishing sewing and dressmaking courses in the Evening School at the Junior High with instructors salaries to be paid from George-Dean funds, federal monies. The school committee gave authority for establishing this course.
Other school committee action included acceptance of the Rotary Club’s offer of flight scholarships to High School boys. Scholarship recipients will be chosen on the basis of a competitive examination, taken only when parents permission has been given. The award will be tuition for flight training and will be made at the end of the second marking period so that flight training may be had before graduation. Performance in aeronautics classes will also be a basis for decision.
The committee was informed that approval had been given the cabinet-making course, part of the new boy’s vocational school. George-Dean funds will also support this course, already established at the school.
The committee approved also school participation in a Bundle Day for collecting clothing for children of war-torn Europe.
Request for Reorganization of the rifle team at the High School was presented the committee and authorization was given to proceed with it and money, was made available for an instructor’s salary.
The committee was also told that George Willett had inquired if the school committee were interested in acquiring land opposite the senior High School for school purposes. The committee said it was not interested under present circumstances.
The Superintendent presented for committee consideration a work and hours schedule for school custodians. The schedule, to go into effect in January, has the approval of the school custodians association with the exception of the fact that the Association requests a 35 hour week in the summer months.
The school committee settled for a 40-hour workweek during July and August.
(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)