Bridgewater Wins Lights from NorthEast Electrical

Thanks to everyone who voted and spread the word - Stoneham was in the hunt but the lights went to Bridgewater.

More details at NorthEast Electrical.

SHS Football Coach Powers Steps Down

Bob Powers, who replaced Al Lanni as head coach of the Spartans football team in 2001, is stepping down. More details from Joe McConnell in the Stoneham Sun.

Let There Be Lights!

Stoneham Pop Warner has entered a sweepstakes to win a Sports Lighting System for Recreation Park.

The way the contest works is this: every 850 votes a town gets, that town will be given 1 ping-pong ball (or ticket - I don't know the particulars) for a random drawing. There is no limit to how many ping-pong balls a town can get - so let's get out the vote!

As of this evening - STONEHAM IS IN THE LEAD! We have almost 1600 votes so far. But the contest is far from over; voting ends on Nov. 30, and the winner will be announced on WEEI sometime after Dec. 8.

Please adhere to the voting rules - only one vote per email address.

Cast your vote for Stoneham Pop Warner here.

For more information and updates, check out www.SaveTheSpartans.com or our Myspace page.

LET'S MAKE THIS HAPPEN FOR STONEHAM POP WARNER!

Save the Arts & Music Benefit Concert

Save the Arts & Music Benefit Concert
THIS SATURDAY AUGUST 18th 4:30PM

As of right now, Stoneham chooses Arts & Music in the the public elementary systems something to drop and use to trim the budget. This Saturday, join us in supporting a very big part of our upbringing in Stoneham.

On Saturday, August 18th, The Save the Arts & Music Benefit Concert 2007 will feature performances by over eight local bands. Each band contains at least one, if not all members that have graduated from Stoneham Public Schools. View this short video on youtube to get a perspective of why the bands will be on stage that night.





This event has been setup to raise money for these programs to remain in the system and continue to be a part of the children's education and experience in Stoneham.

Tickets are being sold online, or at the door the night of the show. $20 ($12 for students)






CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE ONLINE.

Bands will be playing throughout the evening, starting at 5:00PM. We have also invited several artists (SHS Alumni) to display their artwork in the corridors. In addition to non-stop art & music, we have several great raffle items donated by various towns people. To name just a few - red sox tickets, ozzfest tickets, DVD+CD Bundle package, mp3 players, and much more...

Tee Shirts have been designed and will be available for sale at the show. All proceeds benefiting the cause. Visit each bands myspace page to check out their music...

Another Life

The Steve Gutenband

Ekkum

Aeons

The Euphony Project

The Gardner Shakedown

ADayDelayed

JBlake

Check out the article in the Stoneham Independent.


Visit theStoneham Public Schools Foundation website to donate.

Email savestonehamarts@gmail.com if you have any questions, suggestions, or would like to help out.

-Jason Weber (Class of 01) & Joe Price (Class of 02)

More Lessons from Winthrop

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.

Possible Mini-Golf Tournament at Hago Harrington's

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.

Lace 'em Up - Road Race to Save Spartans

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.

A Concert to Save Stoneham Arts and Music

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.

SPSF Calls for Donations, Volunteers

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.

Portland, Maine Says No to Sports Fee

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.

Game On at Stoneham High?

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.'”

Read the full article.

SHS Sports - Past and Future

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.

Stoneham Hopes to Follow Lexington, Winthrop Models

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.

Donations Help Andover Add Wrestling

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.

Saugus and Raynham Struggle

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.

Selectman Greenlight Home Depot

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.

The School Committee Has a Plan

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.'”

Read the full article.

Spartans Respond Online

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.

Advertisements On SHS Ballfields

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.

A Related Story (Kinda)

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?

Fall 2006 SHS Cheerleaders

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."

Benefit Concert In the Works

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)

Please feel free to email savestonehamarts@gmail.com if you have any questions, suggestions, or would like to help out."

Wakefield Football Supports Spartans

The Wakefield Warriors football program checked in on our MySpace page:

"Keep the faith...as Warriors we are all on your side!!! Let us know what we can do...Middlesex Leaguers stick together! Go Spartans!"

Check out the Warrior Football page on MySpace.

The Fundraising Effort Comes Together

From Randy Perillo of Stoneham United:

"I attended a meeting of the Stoneham Public Schools Foundation on June 28. Here are some highlights:

Chris Willard, the founder of SPSF, opened the meeting stating that there are a lot of "what ifs" concerning funding for Stoneham Public Schools. Mr. Willard wanted to focus on what the foundation can do now to make a difference. He also reminded the group of over two dozen people, including Board of Selectman Chairman George Seibold, that the School Committee is open to receiving donations from the foundation to help fund programs.

The group's purpose is fundraising. A quarter-page ad in the June 27, 2007 Stoneham Independent states that the foundation is "forming a committee to raise the funds needed to restore... programs which directly impact Stoneham's children." The foundation is a qualified 501c3 charitable organization. Donations to the foundation are tax deductible.

The foundation decided to pursue three specific methods of fundraising in the immediate future: (1) banner advertising on the athletic fields, a program highly successful in Winthrop where high school sports are funded completely by private donations, (2) a direct mail campaign sending information to all Stoneham residents as well as SHS alum, local businesses, and even residents of other Middlesex League towns, and (3) a "support the Spartans" program in larger retail locations in our town (such as Stop & Shop, Shaw's, or Marshall's). The program will allow shoppers to donate a dollar or more to purchase a "Spartan" to post in the store windows to raise awareness of the need for increased funding.

The crowd offered a range of ideas for future fundraising events: contacting Nancy Kerrigan and other SHS celebrity alumni to be part of the efforts, "Monte Carlo" nights, dinner parties, golf tournaments at Unicorn and Bear Hill courses in Stoneham, a mini-golf tournament at Hago Harrington's, on-line auctions, and concerts or performances at Stoneham Theater to benefit the foundation.

Resident and SHS parent Donna Secondini told the gathering that she worked as a coordinator on the St. Patrick's Parish Center capital committee. The parish raised over $5 million in private donations without holding a single fundraising event. Instead the parish contacted individuals about making a 3-5 year commitment of donations. Ms. Secondini called the events "friend-raisers."

Another member of the group stated that the climate is right for a corporate sponsor to step up to fund SHS sports. With all the media coverage as of late, any business who could fund the $400,000-$600,000 annual SHS sports expense would gain much goodwill in the community and across New England through Boston media coverage. Someone mentioned that it would be a good time to "hit up Home Depot" in lieu of the Board of Selectman's favorable vote on the proposed "Stoneham Crossing" project at 225 Fallon Rd. in Stoneham.

Mr. Willard said the foundation will accept donations directed at specific areas of need in the school system. The School Committee can only accept donations and spend the money if it is in compliance with the donor's wishes. Some of the ideas on the menu of choices include, but are not limited to, sports, art, music, and academics. The School Committee plans to create a subcommittee to work with SPSF.

If you would like to volunteer with SPSF, contact Mr. Willard."

Spartans Multiply on MySpace

A group called Save Stoneham Arts has started a MySpace page to promote a benefit concert with all proceeds going toward the art and music programs in Stoneham's schools. Bands include Another Life, The Gardner Shakedown, Hel Toro and The Steve Gutenband. Dates and details to come.

Check out their MySpace page.

Educational Athletics - A Primer

From the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Stoneham Public Schools Foundation Meeting Tonight at 7 pm

From Randy Perillo of Stoneham United, who will be attending tonight's meeting in the High School cafeteria:

"Last night the school committee said they would accept donations from this official charity...

Generosity doesn't end with the public schools. I also advocate fundraising for the town's fire department, police department, public works department, and public library and hope to have more specific information to help you give to those groups as you see fit."

Join the Stoneham United mailing list by emailing Randy Perillo at perillo@rcn.com.

Outgoing A.D. Lahiff Will Be Missed

From Eric Moskowitz of The Boston Globe:

"Mike Lahiff hadn't even tweaked his resume since he landed the Stoneham High athletic director's job in 1994, returning to the school where he'd started his career as a teacher and coach two decades earlier. But after Stoneham officials announced that a failed property tax increase might force them to cut sports and eliminate his position, Lahiff began looking elsewhere this Spring.

'I just had to do what I felt was right for my family,' said Lahiff, who has two daughters in college, and another daughter and a son in the tuition pipeline. So he interviewed for a job at Middlesex League-rival Watertown, accepting the position in late May."

Read the full article.

"Friday Night Lights Out?"

Dan Shaughnessy, who recently read from his new book at the Stoneham Public Library, writes about the Stoneham situation in today's Boston Globe sports section:

"High school sports connect kids to their school, and parents to the school community. Want to know what your freshman is up to? Go to his Friday afternoon football game against Walpole. You'll find yourself sitting next to the parent of another freshman boy and you'll learn something about your own child that you didn't know."

Read the full article.

Trash Fee Furor vs. Saving our Sports - A Letter from Selectman Frank Vallarelli

"A little over two years ago, when the idea of instituting a trash fee was
first proposed by the Board of Selectman, I was one of the earliest and most vocal opponents to such a tax. Little did I know that two years later I would be sitting in the position of being the swing vote on this very issue.

In contrast to my position two years ago, voting in favor of the trash fee last Tuesday night was an easy decision. As much as I respect the hard work that Selectman Rotondi did on the override election earlier this month, and his position that “the people have spoken”, I believe many peoples’ opinion changed last Wednesday evening following the School Committee’s decision to eliminate High School Sports from next year’s budget. Based on the phone calls I received and the many e-mails I answered this week, most people never believed that the School Committee would actually institute a threat that they had used so many times before.

Yes, “the people had spoken” on an override vote that would have added a $500-$600 permanent increase in their real estate tax base forever, but all that changed last Wednesdaywhen the School Committee presented their proposed list of cuts based on the override’s failure, and their need to cut $1.5 million from the budget. I’m not criticizing our School Committee; they did what they had to do for the overall benefit of every child enrolled in
our school system. Not just for the students who play sports. We all knew sports was going to
be somewhere on their list of cuts. They were faced with a horrible decision and made the only choice that they could.

For this very reason, it is time to eliminate our High School Sports program as a pawn in the annual chess game played by our elected officials. One speaker at Tuesday night’s meeting echoed what several callers said tome after the school committees vote. One caller, a friend and women who was a stellar athlete at Stoneham High in the late 1970’s, and who has no
children in the school system, said “Frank, let’s start raising money right now. They can’t get rid of sports. If they do, we may as well close the schools altogether.”

The only other Massachusetts town to ever eliminate high school sports was Winthrop High. Through the efforts of many concerned parents and taxpayers, they brought back sports that same year and the program continues to run strong today. I agree with those who say that the trash fee is a temporary fix, a band aid to stop the bleeding, and is not a fee that should continue year after year. I have spoken with Town Counsel and discussed potential warrant articles orballot questions that could accomplish the goal of extracting these costs from the school’s budget.

Whether it be privatizing the sports programs, or setting up a perpetual trust to manage the dollars that will fuel this program, the time to start is now. We can no longer sit back and talk about the issue without coming up with a definitive set of goals. Based on the outcry from all our citizens, not just those of school-aged children, I don’t think there will be a shortage of volunteers to carry out this task.

Frank Vallarelli
Stoneham
Board of Selectman"

This letter was sent to The Stoneham Independent.

Visit Vallarelli's website.

Opinion Piece from The Globe

Derrick Z. Jackson from The Boston Globe spoke with Geoff Beckwith, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association:

"'It's unfortunate that we're heading to even greater disparities between wealthier towns where cuts may not hurt as much and working-class families that already have enormous pressure on property taxes,' Beckwith said. 'No one, not even the state, has a handle at this point as to what fees communities charge parents, from band, to drama, to sports. The further we go down this path, the problem gets harder and harder to solve.'"

Read the full article.

TV Coverage

Fox 25 talks to students before the trash fee vote.

Fireworks at Tuesday's meeting from Fox 25.

Joe Malone and Scott Harshbarger on Fox 25.

Teams & Coaches On the Way Back?

From Jesse Kawa of The Stoneham Sun:

"The narrow victory was met with cheers by the overflow crowd hanging on the board's vote.

'I want to thank you very much for stepping up to the plate,' said Marie Christie, a school board member who joined others at the meeting."

Read the full article.

Football Player Wants to Keep Competing for Stoneham High

Got some great photos posted on our MySpace page tonight from a current Stoneham High athlete:

I'm Matt Edginton. I'm a junior at SHS. I'm going to be 17 on September 6th. I play defensive tackle for Stoneham Spartan football. I'm 6'6". This year being my junior year I was going to play varsity, but because of all this stuff going on now, it got taken away from me. I was looking forward to this year and was training a while for it, but now we might not even have it and that is unbearable to think about.

Trash Fee Passes by 3 - 2 Vote, Programs Still in Peril

From Eric Moskowitz of The Boston Globe:

"This town's budget woes, the most vivid recent example of local spending cutbacks, eased a little bit tonight.

With dozens of high school athletes and parents looking on, the Stoneham Board of Selectmen voted 3 - 2 for an unpopular trash fee that could save some of the popular school programs -- high school sports among them -- that are threatened with elimination because of a tight budget."

Read the entie article.

Fundraising Event Ideas - Whaddya Think?

Haven't heard the results from this evening's trash fee vote yet, but regardless of the outcome, arts, music and sports in Stoneham are probably going to need some cash. Between this site and our MySpace page, we are starting to pick up steam - now is the time to use our momentum and voice and do something.

What are some of your ideas for fundraising events that we could have?

A concert on the high school football field? I don't know if we could get a permit for that, but we can find out, and I'm sure there are some bands out there that would like to be involved. And the SHS band, too.

A bunch of sports clinics for kids on Stoneham fields and courts? For like $5 a head I bet a lot of parents and children would come out to learn the finer points of their favorite sport from some current and former SHS players. Who wants to do kickball?

A production at the Stoneham Theater by the SHS drama club, or a professional acting troupe, or both. Maybe they can mix and the older actors can school the youngsters - you tell me.

Three words: Whiffle Ball Tournament.

A walking tour of historical Stoneham sites. Dog day on the Sheepfold. Easter egg hunt-type thing at Rec Park even though its Summer.

A "Paint The Rocks" day for a buck a square foot - there has to be a couple thousand dollars up there.

An outdoor gallery where Stoneham businesses display student artwork in their shop windows. Or maybe a mural somewhere sponsored by a local business.

Live music in the Square day - we can walk around Harvard Square style and pitch a penny into the hat.

Surely you guys have some ideas of your own - let's start throwing them out there and try to put something together.

UPDATE: Some great ideas are starting pour in. If anyone has any expertise in any of these things, or would like to take charge and get the ball rolling on one of them, let us know and we'll do all we can to help.

So far: a car wash, a Spring Carnival type event with rides and face-painting, a golf tournament, the band Bad News wants to get involved with a benefit concert, a road race. Keep 'em coming -

Meeting Thursday at Stoneham High

From Joe, a friend of Save The Spartans:

"There's a meeting set to be held at the SHS cafeteria Thursday, June 29 from 7 -9 pm by the Stoneham Public Schools Foundation (SPSF), where they're hoping to form a committee to 'raise the funds needed to restore athletic programs at the high school and music, art and PE programs at the Elementary and Middle School Levels.'"

Check out the Stoneham Public Schools Foundation website.

The Winthrop Model

The Winthrop High football coach, Tony Fucillo, spoke with The Boston Herald's Dan Ventura about how his town overcame proposed cuts:

"'They need to come together as a community and do as much as they can to restore the activities,' said Fucillo, who retired after leading Winthrop to the Division 2A Super Bowl title in December. 'Why not start up something like Stoneham Pride or Spartan Pride or whatever they want to call it.'"

Read the full article.

Perspective from Providence

John Gillooly writes in today's Providence Journal:

"One note to the people of Stoneham - forget the obviousness of high school sports for the teenagers in your town like better health, improved self-esteem and learning to work as a member of a team. If you want to see your property values plummet, then go ahead and become the only town in Massachusetts that doesn't have any sports programs at its public high school."

Read the full piece (scroll down).

Black Bear Recalls Her Days as a Spartan

From Stacey Sullivan:

"I am a former Spartan, Class of 1995. I played three sports, soccer, basketball and softball and upon graduation accepted a scholarship to play softball at the University of Maine. During middle school and high school years my life belonged to sports and my teammates. I was lucky to have had very talented teammates and even better coaches in each sport I played. Those years could never be replaced for me as I'm sure many former Spartans feel that way.

Now, I am the head softball coach at the University of Maine and spent much of this Spring rooting on the Spartan softball team that went well into the tournament and earned a #10 ranking from the Globe. It brings tears to my eyes to think that those girls, along with every team at SHS, may never take the field or court together again.

Where would I be today if I went to a high school that did not have sports? I certainly would not be a softball coach at the college level, nor would my adolescent memories be filled with bus rides to Lexington, toilet-papering Coach Burnham's yard or football jambories in Melrose."

Check out the Black Bears' softball website.

Boston Herald Reporter "Chuckles" at Save The Spartans

Got this email today out-of-the-blue from Dan Ventura from The Boston Herald:

"Part of the problem in Stoneham is that too many people had their head in the sand over this issue. I get a chuckle when people such as yourself claim you didn't know this was going on until the Globe article. Perhaps if more of you had read the Boston Herald article back on March 14, there would have been a groundswell movement started sooner. The article clearly stated that high schools sports in Stoneham was in deep trouble. The problem didn't start with the Globe article on June 23rd."

Save The Spartans has made it quite clear from the beginning that we were woefully behind on this story - as were many other former Stoneham residents who don't follow the town's politics closely. But does the fact that we were late to this situation mean we have to stifle our impulses to do something to change it? We don't think so - how 'bout you?

Email Dan and let him know what you think at dventura@bostonherald.com

Save The Spartans Across America (and the Continent)

Thanks to the enormous reach of the internet - and specifically MySpace - former Stoneham residents are speaking out against the planned cuts from across the country. People from Florida, Texas, California, Arizona, Illinois, DC and even one far-flung Spartan in South America have checked in.

Thanks to everyone who is forwarding this site to friends and relatives - the more people we get involved the stronger we become and our voice gets that much louder.

WWSWD?

This memorial stands outside the Stoneham High School, right in front of the baseball and soccer fields. Its inscription reads:

"Saul Weiss Memorial Fields - Dedicated to the memory of Saul Weiss, 1949 - 2000. Athlete, Scholar, Businessman, Friend to the Community. He played with determination, intensity, fairness, spirit, and a lifelong respect for hard work, on and off the field."

I never met Mr. Weiss, but it seems that his tenure on Stoneham's ballfields served him well throughout his life. Will Stoneham's current and future students be so fortunate??

Taunton OKs Tax Hike to Restore Schools

From The Boston Globe 6/25/2007:

"Yesterday in Taunton, a working-class community that no one could recall voting in favor of a tax increase, people expressed shock that their city had bucked the statewide trend. By a nearly 2-to-1 margin Saturday, voters approved a plan to borrow $18 million of the $104 million it will cost to build a new middle school and renovate a cramped, crumbling high school, seizing an opportunity to reap $86 million in reimbursements from the state ...

The final tally: 4,247 for, 2,548 against. Homeowners will pay, on average, an additional $72 in annual real estate taxes. Construction of the middle school is expected to begin next spring, followed by the high school renovation."

Read the full article.

Trash Fee Vote On Tuesday

The Stoneham Board of Selectman will meet at Town Hall on Tuesday at 7:30 pm to vote on the trash fee - which could raise approximately $1 million and help save some of the doomed programs.

Save The Spartans On Boston.com

Local media is starting to notice Save The Spartans. While we have their attention, lets let them know what we think about Stoneham's planned cuts. Add to our comments section below any post.

If Funding Increases, What Gets Saved?

From Randy Perillo of Stoneham United:

"I attended the June 20 School Committee meeting.

The committee distributed a list of all reductions in light of the failed Proposition 2 1/2 tax override on June 19. The list also showed the order in which the school committee would restore programs/personnel in the event funding increased.

Restoration in order of priority (approximate dollar amounts)

1. Close Stoneham Middle School (SMS) rear wing (16 classrooms) and transfer 10 sixth grade teachers to Stoneham's four elem. schools.
($170k)

2. Eliminate 3.1 FTE (full-time equivalent) SMS art & music teachers ($137k)

3. Elim. 2.1 FTE elem. art & music teachers ($103k)

4. Elim. Stoneham High School asst. principal ($80k)

5. Elim. SMS media specialist ($45k)

6. Elim. 1.0 FTE SMS PE teacher (6-8 grade students will lose 1/3 yr. PE) ($43k)

7. Elim. 1.1 FTE elem. PE teachers (K-5 students will lose 1/2 yr. of PE) ($63k)

8. Elim. SHS athletic program ($393k)

9. Elim. 4 elem. library aides ($67k)

10. Elim. 2 elem. CLASSROOM teachers (Colonial Park 1st grade, South School 3rd grade - class size average increases to over 27) ($66k)

11. Elim. 1.0 FTE School Nurse ($34k)

12. Elim. 2.0 custodial positions (close schools at 7pm) ($79k)

13. Not fund SMS restoration plan (restoring 4 teachers) ($218k)

The total reductions are approximately $1.5 million.

From this statement SHS sports will only return with a minimum of approximately $1 million.

The Board of Selectmen will meet on Tuesday June 26 at 7:30 pm at Town Hall regarding reinstitution of a trash fee which has raised amounts reported at $860,000 to $1.2 million in past years. It is unlikely that the town will turn over 100% of funds to the School Committee.

It is also possible that the trash fee will be lower in past years as its adoption does not take place until after Town Meeting in October, thus making the trash fee collectible for only 2/3 of the year in 2007-08 and after the beginning of the school year and fall semester sports seasons."

Join the Stoneham United mailing list by contacting Randy Perillo at perillo@rcn.com

Local Foundation Seeks Donations to Restore Stoneham Sports & Arts

From the Stoneham Public Schools Foundation:

"The Stoneham Public Schools Foundation is now accepting donations with the goal of helping to restore some if not all of the eliminated programs. As of this past Wednesday's School Committee meeting this means we will need to raise over $1 million dollars if we want to be successful in restoring most of these programs."

See their website for more details.

100+ In One Day - Save The Spartans Storms MySpace

Students, alums, coaches and concerned citizens today joined the new Save The Spartans MySpace page at a rapid rate, and we expect more when word of Stoneham's planned budget cuts reaches a wider audience. Around Stoneham and around the country, people are determined to find a way to keep sports, art and music in Stoneham's schools.

Visit Save The Spartans on MySpace.

Milwaukee Faced Art Cuts in 2004

When schools are forced to cut art and music programs, the results are grim - and expensive!

"Within two to three years, every school that cut arts showed a decrease in morale and attendance and an increase in vandalism and disruptions, and within three years most of them had to add extensive disciplinary staff to account for the problems that were created by not providing the full range of experiences that human beings need," Rayala said. These staff additions are costing the school more than keeping the arts programs and are hurting testing scores in the process, he said."

"According to a nationwide survey taken in 2003 by the Gallup organization, 95% of Americans believe that music is a key component in a child's well-rounded education. Eighty percent of respondents agreed that music makes the participants smarter; 78% believe that learning a musical instrument helps students perform better in other subjects areas; and 88% believe participation in music helps teach children discipline.

The evidence found by the College Entrance Examination Board showed students in an arts appreciation class scored 63 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on math than students with no arts participation.

Researchers Frances Rauscher of the University of Wisconsin, and Gordon Shaw of the University of California-Irvine, found that music lessons have been shown to improve a child's performance in school. After eight months of lessons, children showed a 46% boost in their spatial IQ, which is crucial for higher brain function learning in complex mathematics, science and engineering.

Arts aren't only very important to a student's education, but they have a positive effect on the economy in Wisconsin. The arts are a job generator and have an economic impact of more than $289 million annually in Wisconsin while costing the state less than $5 million per biennium, according to the Wisconsin Assembly for Local Arts."

Read the full article.

The Money Gap Between High School and Pro Sports

Ron Sen, MD, who competed against neighboring Stoneham athletes while growing up, writes for armchairgm.com:

"We think very little of paying exorbitant prices for star athletes, exclusive seats, memorabilia and team insignia-laden clothing, but won't support our young people.

The benefits of athletic participation for girls are well known, better grades and graduation rates, less osteoporosis and breast cancer, lower substance abuse, fewer teen pregnancies, increased self-esteem and lower depression rates."

Read the full article.

Fox 25 Sorts Through the Wreckage

Watch the Fox 25 news feature with reactions from students, parents and the former athletic director.

Remember the Spartans

Do you have a memory or photo of yourself or a family member as a Stoneham High athlete? How about one from art or music class, or maybe a project you made in school? Add your Stoneham school memories or email them to us at savethespartans@gmail.com and we'll post them on this site.

A California City Gets Creative to Save School Sports

From The Contra Costa Times:

"Alameda Unified School District officials are optimistic about a collaboration with the city that would prevent drastic cuts planned next fall to the sports programs at the city's three public middle schools.

"It's safe to say we're moving forward," said Wood Middle School coach Dave Stebbins, after a meeting with city and school district officials Thursday. "It's looking more positive than negative. There will definitely be something equitable for the whole city."

Read the full article.

Sports & Arts On the Chopping Block in Maine

From the Bangor Daily News:

"By proposing the co-curricular and extracurricular cuts, the state is sending a strong message, and it’s the wrong message, Bangor Superintendent Robert Ervin said Wednesday.

'Participation is directly related to higher performance in the classroom," he said. "In my book, we should be doing more — not less.'"

Read the full article.

From Stoneham High to the Big Leagues: Joe Vitiello

After graduating from Stoneham High in 1988, Joe Vitiello was drafted by the New York Yankees. He eventually signed with the Kansas City Royals, where he hit 8 home runs and drove in 40 runs in 1996. Named to the 2002 International League All-Star team, Joe was inducted into the SHS Hall of Fame in 2005.

I remember him best as a member of the Pirates little league team, blasting home runs over the left field fence at Pomeworth Park and into the tennis courts.
See Joe's career big league stats.

Blue Mass Group's Bleak Assessment of Stoneham's Finances

"We came much closer than we did 3 years ago, only losing by 200 votes rather than 3000, but coming close won't stop the devastating series of cuts that we now face. Our public safety departments are dangerously understaffed, our library faces loss of its certification, the school system is facing major layoffs, increased class sizes, elimination of art and music education, elimination of the school athletic program, the list just goes on."

Read full article.

The True Cost of Cutting High School Sports

Schools in New York and Rhode Island may face the same fate as Stoneham High. The stats scream - "Don't Do It!"

From The Eaxminer.com

"The National Federation of State High School Associations representing 11 million prep players says athletes average a full grade better academically than non-athletes. Ninety-two percent don’t use illegal drugs. A review of 75 Fortune 500 companies showed 95 percent of executives played high school sports."

Read the full article.

A Look Back: The First Group of Inductees into the SHS Hall of Fame

Featuring Kristen Seabury Till, Joe Vitiello, Amy Whelen, "Sonny" Lane and others.

From The Stoneham Independent, Oct. 29, 2003:

"Perhaps the most moving induction of the night belonged to Bob Margarita, who received the night's only standing ovation upon his induction. Margarita was honored for his work as a teacher, coach and equipment manager at Stoneham High from 1964-2002."

Read the full article.

Are We Really Going to Give Stoneham's Future the Boot?

The cuts are already planned, but never say never is our attitude. Example: our Junior year soccer team (1988, the first year SHS offered soccer, coached by a younger Coach Carino) didn't win one single game the whole season. Our Senior year, we started a crisp 0 - 10 and it looked like our winless streak would never end. But after a rousing speech from Coach, and a willing Watertown opponent (I think they had maybe one win at the time), we managed to squeak out a tie that honestly, felt better than any win I experienced in sports. I remember getting joyously tackled by a teammate when the final horn sounded and I thought, this is how Red Auerbach must feel all the time. If that team could pull that off, surely this new team of ours can find a way to keep sports, art and music in Stoneham's schools.

All comments welcome. There has got to be a way to keep these vital programs in the Stoneham schools!

Changes In Stoneham - What Now?

Randy Perillo wonders what the Summer of '07 has in-store for Stoneham.

"We’ll learn the true fate of Stoneham High School athletics during the blazing days of summer. Will we see the familiar sight of student athletes preparing for the fall season or will we see empty green spaces where football, soccer, and field hockey were once played?"

Read the full article.

Sports, Arts & Music to be Cut in Stoneham

From The Boston Globe, June 23, 2007

"Voters here defeated a $3 million override Tuesday, spurring a round of budget cuts that will wipe out the town's entire high school sports program and leave hundreds of student athletes in the lurch. All 54 coaching positions, the athletic director's job, and elementary and middle school arts and music programs were eliminated Wednesday night by the Stoneham School Committee."

"I think a part of me would be gone. You know what I mean?" said Dustin Feldman, 17, a basketball player who will be a senior in the fall. "If you get rid of all sports, what's going to happen to all this," he said, motioning to the athletic complex outside Stoneham High School, where Feldman and 10 friends played pick-up baseball yesterday."

Read the full article.

Things Are (Not Quite This) Tough All Over

Check out Boston.com's extensive coverage of Prop 2^1/2 override campaigns in more than 30 communities in Greater Boston.

From Stoneham to Olympic Silver Medal: Nancy Kerrigan

Stoneham High graduate Nancy Kerrigan (Class of 1987) began her skating career at the age of six, and went on to win multiple figure skating medals, including the Silver at the 1994 Winter Olympics.

Visit Nancy Kerrigan's official website.

Kerrigan inducted into SHS Hall Of Fame.

Former Stoneham Youth Athlete Prepares for Connecticut College

Though she didn't attend Stoneham High, resident Abby Hill grew up playing soccer, hockey and softball in Stoneham's youth sports programs.

"Playing sports definitely helped me in every part of my life,” Hill said. “It made me more confident to develop leadership skills, and the coaching that I had received in high school made me even better. It got me ready for college.”

Read the full article.

Students - Check Out Save The Spartans on MySpace

MySpace is a great way to get the word out quickly to a large number of people, especially those far flung former Stoneham-ites who may not be within hailing distance of a Boston Globe (not to mention an Independent).

Become our friend and help Save The Spartans on our MySpace page.

Long-time athletic director Lahiff leaves for Watertown

From The Stoneham Independent, May 30, 2007:

"It wasn't a decision reached lightly or easily, but after a 13-year run as Athletic Director at Stoneham High School, Mike Lahiff announced last week that he was resigning from his position at SHS and would join up with Middlesex League rival Watertown High as their Athletic Director - effectively replacing the retiring Elaine Paradis."

"This was something I thought a lot about and to be honest things got a little emotional the other day when I looked out at the fields and thought of all the work that I'd done to improve the fields and keep them up," said Lahiff. "I look all around me here at Stoneham High and think of the work that I've done here and the great people I've interacted with, and I thought to myself 'do I really want to leave this?"

Read the full article.

Read The Somerville Journal article.

Stoneham steps to the brink, sports & arts cuts imminent

From The Boston Globe, March 18, 2007:

"Despite the townwide cutbacks, the potential elimination of sports led Selectman George Seibold to ask, "Has it come to this?"

Without an override, "the town will go right down the tubes," he said."

Read the full article.