Voters Approve New Norwood High School-This Day In Norwood History-April 12, 2009

Norwood High School Project Faces Delay Despite Overwhelming Voter Support

On April 12, 2009, Norwood found itself at a dramatic crossroads — one defined by overwhelming civic unity on the one hand, and a sudden, unexpected construction setback on the other.

Just days earlier, Norwood residents had delivered one of the most decisive votes in the town’s modern history. More than 80 percent of voters approved a tax increase to fund a new Norwood High School, a $68 million project that promised to replace the aging 1920s building with the state’s first Model School — a modern, efficient design intended to save millions in construction costs statewide. The vote followed a similarly strong endorsement at Town Meeting, creating a wave of optimism that swept through the community.

Selectmen chairman Mike Lyons called the result nothing short of astonishing. After years of planning, public meetings, and grassroots organizing, the town had spoken with unmistakable clarity: Norwood was ready to invest in its future.

But even as the celebratory mood lingered, a new challenge emerged.

A Project in Limbo

Construction was scheduled to begin on April 21, part of an aggressive two‑year timeline that would allow the new school to open in 2011. But the project suddenly stalled when four separate bid protests were filed with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office. The low bidder, Agostini Construction — known for building the acclaimed Whitman‑Hanson Regional High School — faced challenges from competing firms questioning aspects of its proposal.

The stakes were high:

• If Agostini’s bid was upheld, the state would reimburse $37 million.
• If the project shifted to the next bidder, the total cost would rise by more than $2 million, increasing the burden on both the town and the state.

Town officials, eager to break ground, could do nothing but wait. “You can make assumptions all day long,” Lyons said at the time, “but we respect the office of the attorney general.” The AG’s ruling would determine whether the project could move forward — or whether delays would ripple through the entire construction schedule.

A Community Ready to Build

Despite the uncertainty, the town’s enthusiasm remained strong. Principal George Usevich, a 1959 graduate who had spent more than half a century at Norwood High, arrived at work the morning after the vote wearing a hard hat — a symbolic gesture that captured the community’s excitement.

The new school was designed not only as an educational facility but as a community resource, with spaces for public meetings, performances, and civic events. Its construction represented both a practical investment and a statement of confidence in Norwood’s future.

Looking Ahead

As April 12 unfolded, Norwood stood united in purpose but caught in a moment of suspense. The voters had spoken loudly. The plans were drawn. The site was ready. All that remained was a ruling that would determine when — not whether — the town’s long‑awaited new high school would finally rise.

Text and images may have been edited, colorized, or digitally restored with the assistance of AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot or Google Gemini. All content is reviewed for accuracy and historical integrity before publication by the Norwood Historical Society

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