Superintendent of Schools Louis J. Taris is pushing to rein in the surging volume of outside organizations utilizing school facilities during evening and weekend hours, citing mounting financial burdens on the school department.
Dr. Taris informed the school committee that dozens of local organizations currently utilize school buildings after hours, frequently without paying any rental fees. Because these groups—primarily charitable or non-profit entities such as the Boy Scouts—are granted free access, the school department is forced to absorb all utility and custodial overtime expenses. Furthermore, Taris noted that even when rental fees are collected from fee-paying organizations, the revenue is deposited directly into the town’s general reserve account rather than offsetting the operational costs incurred by the schools.
Proposed Policy Adjustments and Committee Response
Taris is currently conducting a comprehensive cost analysis of after-hours facility usage. He indicated he may soon recommend expanding the roster of groups required to pay rent and substantially increasing existing rental fees. Pending the completion of his study, Taris formally asked the school committee to implement an immediate moratorium prohibiting any new outside groups from gaining facility access. While emphasizing that he has no desire to shut out legitimate community and civic organizations, Taris stressed that the school department can no longer afford to “swallow the costs.” He also advocated for restructuring fee collection into a dedicated “revolving account,” which would directly cover custodial overtime expenses rather than flowing into the town reserve fund.
The school committee declined to enact an immediate ban on new groups until Superintendent Taris completes his formal financial assessment. Committee member Rudith Berkowitz voiced opposition to a blanket freeze, arguing that it would be inequitable to permit established organizations to continue using the facilities while arbitrarily locking out new applicants.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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Proposal Would Combine High School and Henry O. Peabody School Facilities-October 4, 1973
The School Committee reviews a preliminary proposal to combine Norwood High School and Henry O. Peabody School facilities for a new career development and vocational program.
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Public Schools Face Delays and Possible State Action on Mandatory Hot Lunch Program-August 31, 1973
Parents of elementary school students in Norwood will need to continue packing brown-bag lunches for the start of the academic year. School Superintendent Philip O. Coakley announced that the town will fail to meet the state-mandated September deadline for implementing a universal public school hot lunch program, exposing the municipality to potential legal action by…
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Norwood High School Refines Open Campus Program in Second Year of Operation-October 2, 1972
Entering its second year, Norwood High School’s open campus system sees tighter corridor rules, sophomore restrictions, and expanded academic seminars while undergoing state-mandated evaluation.
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Andy Scafati Recalls 40 Seasons in Athletics Ahead of Norwood Retirement-September 7, 1972
Longtime Norwood High School athletic director Andy Scafati reflects on 40 years in sports and the remarkable expansion of the town’s athletic programs as he prepares to step down.
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School Board Reverses Vote, Keeps NorWest Woods Pupils at Oldham-August 29, 1972
In a reversal of a previous decision, the School Committee has voted to keep 46 elementary school children from the Nor-West Woods apartment complex at the Oldham School, rescinding a July 5 vote that would have transferred them to the Shattuck School. Superintendent Dr. Philip O. Coakley explained that the committee revoted on the matter…
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Norwood Sets $38 Tax Rate on Court-Ordered 100% Property Valuation for 1972-August 16, 1972
Announcing a 1972 tax rate of $38 per $1,000 under a court-ordered 100 percent property valuation, Assessor Chairman James J. Drummey concluded a major reassessment by Cole, Layer and Trumble.
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Norwood Jr. High Offered Land At $9,500 An Acre-September 30, 1971
The Norwood School Committee recommends the Endean area in Walpole as the site for a new junior high school, facing sharp questioning from town meeting members over rising costs and site shifts.
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Norwood High School Launches Innovative Open Campus Plan for Fall Term-September 8, 1971
Norwood High School opens the fall term by launching an innovative open campus and extended-day program designed by Principal John F. Monbouquette to foster student responsibility.
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Junior High Alternate Estimates Sought-June 25, 1971
A sharp debate divides Town Manager Walter Blasenak and finance officials over mounting unappropriated architectural fees for Boston design firms.
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Schools Face Heating Oil Shortage for Upcoming Winter, While Band Camp and Library Art Programs Make Headlines-August 6, 1970
Superintendent Dr. Philip O. Coakley informed the Norwood School Committee that no companies submitted bids to supply 110,000 gallons of No. 5 heating oil for town schools due to quotas, shortages, and environmental regulations.
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