From Julian Benbow in The Boston Globe:
"The budget crunch. The endless meetings. The threat to cut all sports at the high school.
Athletes in their varsity jackets pleading with town officials. The parents standing beside them. The coaches standing beside them.
What Stoneham High School is now facing - struggling to find money to fund its athletic program - Winthrop High faced just three short years ago."
Read the full article.
From Randy Perillo of Stoneham United:
"SPSF would like to host a miniature golf tournament at Hago Harrington's with a tentative date of September 22 set for the event. The hope is to sell $40 tickets for "foursomes" to compete in the event which would raise a modest amount of revenue, but would generate a lot of fun and community spirit for Stoneham's younger generation. Prizes and raffles could be part of the fun and games for the mini-golfers."
Full disclosure: Hago Harrington's was the site of my first date back in fifth grade, and I used to have a certain mastery over the 16th hole (take the right, looping lane instead of the flat one on the left). I also recently played the course on Main Street in Hyannis, and it is almost exactly the same as Hago Harrington's.
I'm ready for this.
From Randy Perillo of Stoneham United.
"The Al Duff 5K road race on Stoneham Town Day is, sadly, no more. The Al Duff committee decided to retire the race after last year's event. SPSF is attempting to create a newly sanctioned race that would hopefully attract runners from around the area, especially Middlesex League athletes who wish to support Stoneham's athletic programs."
Volunteer with the race at SPSF.
Email perillo@rcn.com to sign up for the Stoneham United mailings.
From Randy Perillo of Stoneham United:
"SHS alums Jason Webber ('01) and Joe Price ('02) plan to stage a "rock" concert that will be open to other musical ensembles as well. The event should be held at SHS on August 18th. Expect tickets to cost $25 - 30 with proceeds to benefit the fine arts program in Stoneham. Webber and Price estimate that about a dozen local bands will perform free of charge.
Such an event would require police and fire protection, school committee approval, and SHS approval. There will be no sale of alcohol and the concert should be open to all ages. The cafeteria, however, could be open for vending that would also increase revenues generated by the event. SPSF hopes some vendors will provide food and beverages as a donation in exchange for exposure in the concert program and the cafeteria.
I suggested that Stoneham Public Television record the concert. A replay of the event at a later time, along with information on how to donate to the cause, would hopefully generate more donations after the live event."
Check out Save Stoneham Arts' MySpace page.
Email perillo@rcn.com to sign up for the Stoneham United mailings.
From Randy Perillo of Stoneham United in the Stoneham Sun:
"Right now people can do one of two things," said Chris Willard, Stoneham Public Schools Foundation president. "They can either volunteer their time, or, if they find it in their hearts, they can make a financial donation ... not only do donors get a tax deduction, but we all benefit from the support for athletics, music and art, and academics," Willard continued. "Donors can target where they want their gift to go, whatever it may be for each individual."
Read the full article.
Donate/Volunteer with SPSF.
From Rachel Lenzi and David Hench of The Portland Press Herald:
"The Portland School Department will cut spending for all high school sports programs by about 10 percent and eliminate 12 assistant coaching positions to stay within next year's school budget rather than charge a student activity fee or eliminate programs."
Read the full article.
From Nancy Donahue in The Stoneham Independent:
"School Committee member Cheryl Walsh cautioned the board and audience that the trash fee is expected to yield significant funds for the school for this year only, as voted by the Board of Selectmen.
'The point must be made, (these programs and positions) are only being brought back because of a band aid approach...and that we're going to be in this exact same position next year, and I say that because we're going to continue on this same path until the structural problems in this town are fixed.
'We will all be sitting here next year with the exact same cuts,” she continued, “unless this town embraces the fact that we have no industry, we don't have a large commercial base, we don't have malls, we don't have things to support the town, so the town has to support the town.'”
Maureen Mullen in The Boston Globe:
"The school has a rich athletic history, one that includes numerous state champions, including (Jen) Izzicupo's girls' indoor track team this winter and the boys' soccer state championship teams in 2004 and 2005, notable athletes such as professional baseball players Joe Vitiello and Pete Fisher, along with Joe Mclaughlin,, who played six seasons in the National Football League."
Read the full article.
From Eric Moskowitz in The Boston Globe:
"The threatened cuts in Stoneham have drawn widespread attention in the town, on talk radio, and around Greater Boston. Students, parents, and alumni hope to channel recent interest and passion into donations for a local education foundation. Similar efforts have been successful in Winthrop, which raised $750,000 in private donations for sports and activities in three years, and Lexington, where a private group has written more than $2 million in enrichment grants since 1991."
Read the full article.
Dan Tuohy writes in The Boston Globe:
"The Andover School Committee voted unanimously last week to add wrestling as a high school junior varsity sport. Committee member Anthony James said it was an easy decision given community support and the nearly $25,000 raised privately for the program.
'We have been fortunate in the past few years to sort of buck the trend,' James said. 'The town and its citizens have been very generous.'"
Read the full article.
From Boston.com's Override Central:
"The North Shore town of Saugus has patched together a budget by limiting hours of its library and other town owned centers."
Read the full article.
"Raynham voters, on Saturday, approved a $874,000 override that will allow the town to fully fund its $12.5 million share of the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District's $55.7 million budget."
Read the full article.
From Jesse Kawa in The Stoneham Sun:
"A one-time payment of $250,000 to the town for public safety, and more than $400,000 in annual taxes, making Home Depot the town’s second largest taxable property, behind only Redstone Plaza, at full build out were among those highlighted. The creation of 100 to 150 new jobs, averaging about $13 an hour, was also noted."
Read the full article.
From Melissa Russell in The Stoneham Sun:
"The School Committee voted on June 27 to restore most of the $1 million in budget cuts made a week earlier in light of the failed $3 million Proposition 2 1/2 override. However, because the $800,000 promised to the schools from the trash fee still falls short of what’s necessary, the committee also approved a plan to lobby the selectmen for a greater share in order to fully restore the sports programs as well as other faculty positions.
Members are also counting on a savings of $130,000 through faculty attrition and resignations, a possible increase in Chapter 70 funding from the state, and some staff reorganization.
'I don’t want to spend money we don’t have,' said School Committee member Marie Christie. 'I’ll take a chance with the selectmen.'”
From Joe McConnell of The Stoneham Sun:
"Being in the news and on the web might not be so bad for Stoneham schools, because it has created a proactive interest among former and present alumni that was dormant for decades, and unfortunately only a crisis like this one could bring out the best in people to maintain the traditions that have been routinely passed down through the generations."
Read the complete article.
One potential stream of revenue that the Stoneham School Committee and Selectman are considering is placing more advertisements on athletic fields, courts and scoreboards. There is also a possibility that a company could swoop in and sponsor all of them (Gillette Field at Stoneham High, anyone)?
Personally, I'm not opposed to these ideas. I cringe as much as anyone when I hear "Minute Maid Field" and "Petco Park," but if Nike or Coca-Cola or Round's Hardware could pony up the capital to keep sports going at SHS long term, I think the accompanying advertisements would be a small sacrifice.
Saw something very disturbing this morning in Stoneham behind the Middle School:
Not only does this basketball hoop lean back at a dramatic angle, the rim has got to be 14 feet off the ground (regulation is 10'). I don't think Dominique Wilkins in his prime could have dunked on this hoop.
Why doesn't Stoneham care about the quality of their childrens' jump shots?
Thanks to Rachel for sending us this photo.
"Bottom row (L to R) Captain Kelly McDermott, Kaitlyn Fitch, Jessica Pham Ngo. Top row (L to R): Rachel Photopoulos, Captain Jen Grossi, and Captain Kelly Brown. We are all the senior cheerleaders of the Fall 2006 season."
From the Save Stoneham Arts MySpace page.
"Save the Arts is an event that will happen in the summer of 2007 to raise money to help the arts and music programs in the schools of Stoneham Massachusetts.
This concert is an idea that stemmed from a petty lunch break conversation about how tragic the situation in Stoneham is. We all had the opportunity to go through the Arts and Music programs when we were in Middle School and High School. And if it wasn't for those crucial years our very existence would be different as we know it. So the idea came up to put on a rock show fund raiser to hopefully help the situation.
There is really a big opportunity to make the kids some money here, so check it out. We are trying to get the show at the Stoneham Theatre, hopefully in the beginning of August. We will be charging for tickets to get into the show, and we will be holding raffles, silent auctions, and all kinds of other good stuff. The Stoneham Theatre has a capacity of 350-375 people so there is a big opportunity to make some money for a good cause.
Details have yet to become confirmed, but as of now the night will include performances by the following bands: Another Life, The Gardner Shakedown, Hel Toro, The Steve Gutenband, Bad News, and more!
We have a decent event team assembled, but any help or donations of items for the raffle from businesses and such would be extremely appreciated. We will most likely need catering, and decorating as well, so any leads in and around Stoneham for possible donations of food or decorations are also being accepted.
Every cent of the proceeds from this event will go immediately through the Stoneham Public Schools Foundation, who we have already coordinated with. And more importantly it will be implemented to Saving the Arts and Music programs in Stoneham Public Schools which are in dire need of some funding to stay alive.
For anyone who wants to give a donation but cannot attend or participate in the show, please express your interest, and myself or a member of our team will contact you with more details.
This event will happen no matter what.
As soon as details have come to light they will be posted in bulletins, so please keep your eyes open.
In the meantime, check out the bands that will be playing.
Lets make this happen. For the kids.
-Jason Weber (Class of 01) & Joe Price (Class of 02)
