A second wave of recall petitions has been filed against a group of four Norwood school committee members, setting the stage for potential further upheaval on the board. The latest recall drive targets committee members Rudith Berkowitz, William E. Egan, Joseph M. Pentowski, and Joan H. Cuff for their refusal to restore school budget cuts.
Once Town Clerk Bartley W. Connolly completes the certification of roughly 300 signatures obtained for each petition, the Board of Selectmen will be required by the town charter to schedule a recall election between 25 and 35 days later. However, Connolly noted that selectmen might be permitted under the charter to delay the vote by up to 60 days if another town election coincides with that window—noting the possibility of a forthcoming special election to fill the selectman vacancy left by the recent passing of Selectman Joe Wall.
Dual Recall Efforts Over Budget Dispute
This second filing follows an earlier recall drive targeting the remaining three members of the school committee—Chairman Henry W. Diggs, Richard W. Kief, and John H. Chisholm—whose recall election is already scheduled for September 5. Both recall efforts were spearheaded by town meeting members citing fiscal irresponsibility after the committee rejected a $618,000 reduction to the school budget during the annual town meeting.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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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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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.
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