School Committee Split Over Closing the Shattuck and Winslow Buildings-June 19, 1974

Future Use Of Two Schools Unresolved

The contentious question of the future use of the Shattuck School and Winslow School, both destined to be phased out for the September opening of the Aaron Guild Elementary School remaining unresolved last night as the school committee found itself evenly divided on whether to officially vote to retain them. Both schools serve multiple generations of Norwood children, and the board has been studying proposals made by the administration for their future use for the past five months. Most unhappy with last night’s stalemate on official action was committee man Joseph F. Berkowitz, who accused his colleagues for what he termed “a lack of leadership.”

His motion to “keep the Shattuck for educational purposes” was declared lost on a tie vote, opposed by Chairman Charles C. Savacca, Judith M. Berkowitz and Patricia O. Prindiville. Mrs. Berkowitz objected to the phrase “educational use” as an official vote for intended use, that also defeating Mr. Berkowitz‘s motion to include a proposal to retain the Winslow School as well, the body voting against her own amendment, which was lost on a 3-2 vote. She reasoned making a decision too soon would mean being too hasty. “We’ve never voted to release the schools,” Mrs. Berkowitz said. “The buildings are ours.” She favored waiting another week to allow School Supt. Philip O. Coakley time to develop more detailed proposals on uses for the two buildings.

Mrs. Prindiville also insisted, “We must establish a need before we say we are going to keep the buildings,” she said, that to vote to retain them, then figure out their uses, would be “back-ended.” Mr. Berkowitz had stressed the need for space for home-bound special education classes, to expand kindergarten programs. He said a decision by the board last night would have allowed professional staff time to develop preliminary plans over the summer. Although the committee did not formally vote to keep the two buildings, members did unanimously approve the request of Town Manager John P. Moylan to locate offices of the Norwood-based federal anti-poverty program board at one of the schools. The federally funded employment program will probably be housed at the Winslow School, board members agreed. Mr. Moylan had requested 1,000 square feet to be used for administrative of the programs and counseling of trainees. Under the 1973 Comprehensive Employment and Training Act, the town became the sponsor of the program, fully funded by the federal government for such programs as the Neighborhood Youth Corps, Public Service Employment and other training programs.

The town will be the central agency of a 15-town consortium, and regular Supt. Philip O. Coakley stated, adding some $300,000 in federal funds was expected to initiate the program here. Mr. Moylan also expressed willingness to pay the school department for use of the space. Mr. Moylan‘s letter to Dr. Coakley said fees for other services, “via rental agreements” were agreed upon last night. Committee consensus held that the use of space at the Winslow would still leave ample rooms to implement administration proposals, if approved these proposals would see the spaces used for administrative offices and headquarters for business services, the audio-visual department, custodial department and possibly a data processing center. It would also be used by professional staff in the developing and assistance for curriculum.

Under the administration’s proposal the Shattuck as an evaluation and center would house a clinic for the evaluation and assistance to learning difficulties. It would accommodate physical therapy rooms as needed under Chapter 766, provide a setting for departmental head meetings, and rooms for parents and outside professionals. The administration proposal also includes using the facility as the center for a bilingual education program and as headquarters for the division of pupil personnel services. Angered by the committee’s decision to postpone action on the two schools for another week, Mr. Berkowitz accused members of “pussyfooting around” and told them “maybe we have to go to another agency for leadership.” In other action, the committee was dismayed to hear from Asst. Supt. James R. Donovan that an ongoing carpenters’ strike, if it is prolonged, could jeopardize the completion schedule of Junior High South. The planned September opening of the school would see three years of junior high school double sessions in Norwood.

Mr. Donovan explained the project’s carpenters are not affected by the strike, but ceiling and floor installers, members of the striking union, have stopped work. Announced their vote selecting Richard Tolman, principal of the Aaron Guild School, taken in executive session two weeks ago. Mr. Tolman is the current principal of the Callahan School. Member Richard Joseph moved to appoint Mr. Tolman, joining him in an affirmative vote were Mrs. Berkowitz, Mrs. Prindiville and William F. Shattuck, principal Robert C. Fox, Henry W. Diggs, Mr. Berkowitz abstained. Head Chairman Savacca suggest an auction of items from the Winslow and Shattuck schools, which have not been earmarked for use in the Aaron Guild. Dr. Coakley will check the legality of the proposal and see how much merchandise is left over, he said. Joined a report from Dr. Coakley on the cost of transportation sought by parents of 20 Oldham School fifth-graders who wish to attend the Callahan School next year instead of the Oldham, their new school according to the recent elementary redistricting plan.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger