Norwood School Committee hears Coakley Middle School progress, approves surplus and staffing changes and authorizes contract talks with Chartwells

NORWOOD — The Norwood School Committee on April 9 received a construction and transition update for the new Coakley Middle School, approved the declaration of surplus for materials to be removed from the old middle school, approved new job descriptions and administrative staffing changes, and authorized district staff to enter negotiations with Chartwells for food-service management. Members also reviewed a state integrated monitoring report on special education and civil-rights compliance, discussed proposed changes to student transportation registration fees, and approved several DESE grant awards.

Committee members were told the Coakley Middle School project is on schedule for substantial completion on June 6, with furniture deliveries starting May 19 and a moving window planned for the days immediately after the end of the school year. Vertex representatives showed photographs of interior finishes and systems testing now underway and outlined timelines for final inspections, teacher orientation and public tours.

Why this matters: the schedule affects the district’s moving plan, student transition activities and special-education and classroom assignments for next year. Several formal actions taken at the meeting — a vote on surplus property, approval of job descriptions and authorization to begin contract negotiations — are procedural steps the district needed to clear as it prepares to occupy the new building.

Construction and transition schedule Vertex project staff presented recent drone and interior photos and said exterior and most interior finishes are nearly complete. “Most of the facade is complete. I’d say it’s, like, 99% complete in this photo,” Vertex representative Anissa Ellis said as she walked committee members through images of the media center, classrooms, gym and commons. Vertex staff said furniture deliveries would begin May 19 and the project team is targeting a substantial-completion date of June 6; final occupancy and student visits are expected in August once the town’s inspectional services and the fire department complete sign-offs. The district will use a temporary permit to allow staff access to the building for summer preparation but will not move students in until final occupancy is granted.

Transition activities the district described include: - An open house for families of incoming fifth- and sixth-graders on May 8 (6 p.m.) that will focus on Q&A and guidance support rather than tours. - A set of “step-up” style visits in August for fifth- and sixth-grade orientations and separate sessions for returning seventh- and eighth-graders to familiarize them with the new building and schedules. - A “Mustang mentors” program using current students to help incoming students with tours and questions. District staff also described a staged packing and moving plan: teachers have been given crates to begin purging and packing; movers are contracted to perform the bulk move in the four days after schools close;…