Tantasqua Regional High School - Tantasquan Yearbook (Sturbridge, MA)

Page 8 text:

Top row: Michael Mantak, Lloyd Goodu, Roger Bennett, Frank Nierodzinski, Arthur Earls. Bottom row: Ralph Hall, Irene Wright, Philip Palamountain, Frances Ginn, and Richard Goddard. School Comméittce It is especially for those on the School Committee above, those named on the opposite page, and to Walter E. Scott, our superintendent and principal, that we dedicate this book, and then to those unnamed others who have helped to build the idea of a regional school, and then to build it, we wish to express our thanks.

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VD le, C. To the FOUNDERS of this SCHOOL... When the news that a regional school, Tantasqua, was being planned, many people doubted that it could be done. Your courage in the face of these doubts, and your foresight to see beyond custom and tradition, made it possible for us to attend this school. For this we give you our everlasting thanks and gratitude.

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There have made history — “The members of the Planning Boards who were appointed by the Selectmen in each of the five towns: Brimfield: Denzil Bagster-Collins, Robert Bruce, Henry Lach; Brookfield: Richard Goddard, James LeRoy, Philip Palamountain; Holland: Lewis Howlett, Mrs. Dorothy Ordway, Reed Rich; Sturbridge: Frank Haynes, Harold Murphy, Harry Rosenblum; Wales: Mrs. Carrie Baker, Holly- well Dreyer, Frank Nierodzinski. This group organized as follows: Chairman, Denzil Bagster-Collins; Vice Chairman, Frank Haynes; Recording Secretary, Mrs. Dorothy Ordway; Corresponding Secretary, Harold Murphy. Later Mr. George Adams repl aced Mr. Bagster-Collins on this planning board. “It was their duty to study the advisability of joining forces to build a Re- gional High School and to make recommendations to their respective towns. The first joint meeting of the Planning Boards was held June 12, 1950. For about a year and a half these Planning Boards met and considered thoroughly the operation of schools under a Regional School District; the organization re- quired to operate and control the schools; tentative details relative to construc- tion and the maintenance of the buildings; preliminary plans for a curriculum; methods of dividing among the towns the construction costs and the operating costs. “These Boards held informational meetings in their own towns, and finally presented their report for consideration at a special meeting at each town on January 14, 1952. “The towns having approved the recommendation for a Regional School by a total vote of more than five to one, the Tantasqua Regional District School Committee was established. This Committee has been in existence since January 1952, and the following individuals have served: Brimfield: Roger Bennett, 1952 to November 1954, Ralph Hall, Mrs. Irene Wright, from November 1954; Brookfield: Richard Goddard, Philip R. Palamountain; Holland: Reed Rich, 1952 to February 1953, George Canning, February 1953 to March 1954, Arthur Earls, from March 1954; Sturbridge: Lloyd Goddu, 1952 to November 1953, Mrs. Francis Ginn, from November 1953, Harold Murphy, 1952 to September 1954, Michael Mantak, from September 1954; Wales: Frank Nierodzinski. “The committee was organized as follows: Philip R. Palamountain, Chaitr- man; Roger Bennett, Vice Chairman (after November 1954, Richard A. God- dard), Harold Murphy, Secretary-Treasurer (after September 1954, Richard E. Held).” From a statement issued to the press by Philip Palamountain, Chairman of the School Committee.