The Norwood School Department has received formal approval to relocate its central administrative offices to the former Winslow School, which has been vacant since closing the previous year. The school committee voted unanimously in favor of the move, which Superintendent Dr. Philip O. Coakley estimates could take place as early as December.
To prepare the 68-year-old schoolhouse for its new administrative function, the committee voted to gather detailed cost estimates for necessary building improvements. Dr. Coakley noted that required upgrades—including new heating and ventilation systems, vandalism alarms, and interior alterations—can be accommodated within the current school department budget.
Property Transfer and Past Debates
Under the relocation plan, the existing school administration building on Walpole Street will be turned over to the general town government. This mirrors the transition of the former Shattuck School, which also closed in 1974 and was subsequently repurposed to house municipal offices, including headquarters for the federal Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) program.
Mindful of past controversies, school committee member Richard W. Kief urged the board to formally affirm its intention regarding the future status of the building. “I don’t want to see a fiasco like we had with the Shattuck,” Kief remarked. The closure of Winslow School had been the focal point of heated debate at a special town meeting the prior year, when a coalition led by school committee member Joseph M. Pentowski unsuccessfully fought to retain the facility for vocational education. The school committee is scheduled to meet with the Board of Selectmen soon to finalize the transition plans.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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