In a world grappling with conflicts in Ukraine and the Mideast, a nation divided over nearly everything, and a town facing crucial decisions on capital expenditures and Saugatuck redevelopment, Staples High School’s Block “S” is not the biggest concern.
Except — when it stands for something bigger, like respect for tradition — it is.
For 70 years, the Block “S” has been the highest award a Staples athlete can earn. Made of metal, mounted on a wooden base, it is handsome, strong, classy.
Lili Tucker’s Block “S” shows a few dings and scars — similar to what an athlete goes through during a sports season.
Each varsity sport gets 2 Block “S”s. The coaching staff awards them at the end of the season. Most teams give one to the Most Valuable Athlete. The other is for Most Improved, Outstanding Service, or some other admirable quality.
Character, integrity, commitment, passion — they all count for a Block “S.”
Athletes cherish their award. Long after they’ve gotten rid of other mementoes — trophies, medals, certificates — they hold on to their Block “S.”
That’s not just me talking. Stories about the Block “S” filled social media the past few days.
The reason: This year, Staples did away with the Block “S.”
Well, not really. Coaches still give them out. But instead of the handsome, strong, classy award, they hand athletes a generic, flimsy, $12.95 plaque that simply says “Block ‘S.”
Without even space for the honoree’s name.
I received an honorary Block “S” when I stepped down as head coach of the boys soccer program. It is one of the most cherished awards I have ever received.
To use a sports analogy: This was an unforced error.
The change was made this fall by Staples athletic director VJ Sarullo — about to embark in his second year in the role — for budgetary reasons.
That’s reasonable. Two Block “S”s, times 40 varsity teams, adds up.
But … the change was made without consultation with coaches, athletes, or anyone else.
It was done without exploring other options, like asking booster clubs, supportive businesses, or anyone else to contribute.
Or finding a supplier who charged less.
All of this would have been limited to complaints, disappointment and hand-wringing on social media. (To read some of the 100+ comments on Facebook’s Westport Front Porch page — including passionate responses from previous awardees, and those who never won it but wish they did — click here.)
Yet at last night’s Board of Education meeting, the topic exploded into public view.
After announcing the appointment of Dr. Anna Mahon to replace retiring assistant superintent for teaching and learning Dr. Anthony Buono, and then accepting gifts to pay for non-budgeted coaches for spring sports, the board was ready to move on to the next agenda item.
However, member Robert Harrington spoke up. Acknowledging the social media firestorm, he asked the board to discuss the topic.
No one seconded his motion.
Member Kevin Christie said that while he loved tradition and athletics, he trusts the suprintendent and staff ot make decisions. “I’m concerned about micro-managing,” he said.
Harrington and chair Lee Goldstein then engaged in an acrimonious back-and-forth.
“This is an embarrassment to 70 years of tradition,” Harrington said.
“We’re in the middle of a $150 million budget,” Goldstein replied, before moving on.
In 2019, Greens Farms Elementary School teacher Stacy Fowle was named Westport’s Teacher of the Year. Proud of her Westport roots, she sent this photo to “06880.” It shows her posing as a Staples soccer player with her Block S.”
Harrington soon took to Westport Front Porch. He wrote:
“I gave the superintendent and full board advance notice that I was going to simply ask for the goard to vote to discuss this at the BOE tonight. I didn’t even get to propose a solution or a recommendation. I simply wanted to have a discussion in front of attendees and members of our community.
“Jill (Dillon) and Dorie (Hordon) were out sick/traveling. The 4 remaining members wouldn’t even second the motion to simply discuss this issue in public.
“They argued it wasn’t in our purview. They didn’t want to micromanage the administration. The chair said she had to think of the whole community, not just the recipients of a ‘trophy.’ The Block ‘S’ award is more than just a trophy for the 70 years of students who received it.
“Three of my kids did. I am embarrassed as a dad and a Board of Ed member that current and future students won’t enjoy the same honor in the way that past student athletes did.
“We can and should do better than ask our community for a better answer. To not even have a simple discussion of this in public at a Board of Education meeting is an embarrassment.”
Athletic director Sarullo has promised to investigate other options.
The ball is now in his court.
(Two years ago, ESPN anchor Dave Lloyd — a 1979 Staples graduate — gave a shoutout to the Wrecker wrestling team. The crowning moment comes at the end, when he proudly shows his Block “S,” from over 45 years ago. Watch the video below.)
Never played a sport in my life, don’t watch sports and think they play too great a role in both public and private education…HOWEVER, I would gladly contribute now to an “S reward fund” or have given before this thoughtless, insulting and totally avoidable decision was made by a director in place for TWO YEARS, who obviously does not give a damn about tradition, emotion or pride….shame on him!
I am a lifelong resident of Westport, but never went to the public schools. However, I go to Church with recipients and their families; am friends with several coaches of various sports, play golf with some, and go to town charity events with others. Traditions should be respected.There is enough generosity in this town to keep this tradition. I was a Waterwrat for many years, many years ago, and still feel a connection to those swimmers. The real award should be reinstated.
Loved the Tribute to the Wreckers at the end!
Too bad. I guess with a 100 million dollar elementary school pending and a generation in which everybody gets a trophy, Staples either couldn’t afford it or didn’t want to upset the parents who raged about their child not receiving it? Perhaps a historical list of recipients might be in order? Bravo Zulu
Thanks Dan for highlighting this. It’s been wonderful to see many of the previous recipients take to social media to show with pride their Block-S Awards.
Two of my daughters were awarded the Block-S award during my current time on the Board of Education. My son received one before I joined the board. It feels totally wrong to have my family benefit while I am a sitting member of the BOE and then not fight to keep the Block-S Award alive for current and future Staples athletes.
My fight is NOT with some of my Board of Education partners. I do strongly think that a simple discussion in public, at our meeting last night would have been a good thing. That didn’t happen.
Tom Scarice is a fantastic Superintendent. His whole team gets so much right and I cheer that when he does. Mistakes do happen. When they do we should rectify them. Respectfully I think this was a mistake. I am not attacking him or his team, just an outcome. I am confident he will do the right thing here and reinstate the Block-S Award Trophy for all current and future students. I would also like to ensure that students from the past 2 seasons that were not been given the same honor as prior students – receive the Block-S trophy retroactively. This one is so easy.
Go Staples !
Tradition and the pursuit of excellence have both become culturally and politically incorrect, across almost the entire political spectrum. We are not better off for this attitude and it may only get worse if things don’t change. False promises of “fairness” are worthless; talent, hard work, and achievement should be honored and encourages on the playing fields, in the classrooms, and at work.
Maybe a gofundme or similar platform could be created to cover the costs?
Maybe they can try to source a smaller less expensive version of the same kind of trophy, if it’s only about the cost.
You make sense. I wrestled at SHS but never made it to a “Block S.” It was always my impression that the Booster Club was the underwriter of the award. If the BOE wants to contribute towards it, they are free to do so. It will be so much more meaningful that the money was contributed out of love and admiration for the recipients as opposed to simply being an expense item on the town’s financial ledger.
With respect I think the BOE is capable of doing both. I think the BOE should always be focussed on how our students programs are funded and our students are respected and honored. This should never have come to the BOE as credible alternatives such as the excellent ones that you suggest should have been previously examined.
It baffles me that we cannot find a way to cover the costs of a long running tradition that means so much to kids who have worked extremely hard in their athleticism, displaying leadership and setting an example.
It is not micro managing, but setting and protecting the standard of one of the 1,000 things that make Westport what it is.
It sets Staples from all the other schools in accolade and honor.
Thanks, Dan, Robert, and Co.
My Westport Front Porch FB post ignited this spark. I have read and re-read my post and the accompanying email I sent to VJ, Tom, and Stafford, with a copy to Westporters associated with the award, whether as recipients or not.
Before posting, I did try to contact those same people multiple times by phone. However, I understand how busy they are during the times I tried, and our work schedules are a bit out of sync.
My goal was and still is not to name and shame; my goal is to preserve something truly special.
David Lloyd was my captain in 1979, and the hair stood up on my arms when he pulled out his Block S. Before he produced that iconic video five years ago, I thought he was just randomly asking me a question: “Hey Terry, is the Block S still a big deal?” “OMG, yes, it is still the biggest.”
I regret if my tone came across as a personal attack, and I recognize that the people I have worked with for the past eight years were caught off guard. You see, our Banquet is on Sunday, and we have the nameplates engraved already. I was desperately trying to accelerate the reversal of a bad decision that was made with good intentions.
Let’s all be careful (including me) not to let negative discourse tarnish the shine of the Block S. I encourage you to read all the posts. It is inspiring. The support is overwhelming, and the loudest voices are not the actual past winners; it’s those who admire them.
My final thoughts (at least for now!):
1). Even though the award is not clearly defined, everyone knows exactly what it means. When I think back over my 45 years since not winning one myself, I can’t think of a case where the coach got it wrong. When the recipient is announced, my reaction is always, “Yup.”
2). When the world learns that you won a Block S, they will expect more of you.
The Block S is just a trophy. But so is an Oscar or a Tony or an Emmy. It is a mini-Nobel Prize or an Olympic Gold Medal.
Because it signifies so much, it deserves to be represented by a trophy with substance.
I did not win one. I served as co-captain alongside two of the best wrestlers I ever knew and they both took the awards home deservingly as did the captains from previous years (there was no Block S for the Math Team).
But, more importantly, it wasn’t the Block S that made my friends’ accomplishments over 4 years of wrestling great, it was everything else they did that made them so deserving of the Block S and the history that it represents.
Does the town need to have a public conversation about the decision to eliminate a trophy? Maybe not.
But maybe someone should just recognize that a decision was made in haste and it was the wrong decision and restore what was wrongfully cut from the budget.
As a recipient of the Block S for swimming, it still sits on my shelf decades later. And alumni who get together and reminisce- still talk about them. The Block S is one of the nicest traditions that helps define the Staples Athletic experience across teams and years. It is difficult to understand why something that carries tradition, and unites Staples graduates across many eras would be eliminated in a well funded district. Perhaps in budget review, an Athletic Director just saw a seemingly expensive line item and was trying to be fiscally responsible. Like the scholar athlete dinner, the high honors recognition, the baccalaureate, the Candlelight, and so many many other things that make Westport Schools experience special – maintaining these traditions helps define the Westport student experience. I hope the AD and the leadership revisit this decision and become creative in finding funding in the budget.
Tradition Matters especially when it’s about recognizing what we all want to see from our children and humanity! Go Wreckers
I recently cleaned out my basement storage. 99% of my trophies from childhood were finally thrown away… then I came across my three Block S awards. Never in a million years would those be discarded like a “regular trophy”. They signify so much more than a trophy. The Block S award is an amazing tradition that Staples has for its sports. With the amount of resources, creativity and effort our town consistently exudes, I find it impossible to believe this is not a solvable problem. 40 varsity teams, means 80 trophies. Dan’s article states the new version is $13. Even if the cost was $25 (it likely isn’t), that’s $2k per year.
How much can 80 of these awards possibly cost? I mean we are talking a 150 million dollar budget here folks…
I absolutely understand and respect the grand tradition of the “Block S” for those who have received it, for the athletics department at Staples, the coaches, the players and the community. What an awesome tradition!
I can understand the disappointment of the students this year who received plaques instead of the metal 3D Block S.
My comment here is not addressing the Block S, though I support bringing back the traditional trophy 100 percent!
I am here to comment on the conduct of a Board of Education member, Robert Harrington.
That was absolutely PATHETIC last night, Robert.
Hey but you accomplished your ultimate goal, didn’t you: grandstanding to elicit the support of the passionate people who are advocating for the reinstatement of the traditional Block S award and framing the issue as partisan – you, a republican, support it, the Democrats only support DEI and hate the Block S.
Great job, Robert, you’re a real hero.
I watched the stream of the B.O.E. Meeting.
Interesting how when the two male members of the board spoke you did not interrupt them.
But as soon as the the Chairperson of the Board began to speak you immediately interrupted her.
Curious.
You clearly want to be the hero for the Block S Award supporters. So, why would you not want to give them advance notice that the conversation will be on the agenda, so that they can make their case in person during a Board meeting?
Did you want the attention only for yourself?
That’s what it appears to me you were trying to do.
Also, do you even consider the Student Representative(s) sitting to your right?
Is that the kind of conduct you want to model for them?
You acted like a petulant child, who doesn’t get their way and then gets up and takes their bat and ball and goes home. Only in your case, it wasn’t a ball and bat, it was your daughter’s Block S award.
What a surprise that you would try and make it about sexism. Did you criticize the chair when they ended the meeting last year when members of the public where using their voices and providing feedback and the meeting was abruptly ended?
I will be asking for it to be on the next agenda which should deal with your notice commentary which is fair. Would you support it being on the next agenda?
I shouldn’t have walked out – 100% happy to admit that.
With regards to the Block-S itself. It’s pretty simple. A mistake was made. Correct it and reinstate the Block-S for students.
Do you support that? Would love to know if you supported that? It’s a pretty straight forward question.
I would absolutely support it being on the agenda for the next meeting.
Appreciate you replying and ‘owning’ walking out.
And you’re right, it is a simple thing. Whether through:
– private donations,
– the formation of a “Block S Alumni” group which could raise funds for the traditional trophies,
– having the award recipients pay for it themselves if they want the 3D version,
– or having the Athletic Department go back to paying for it,
I one hundred percent support the Block S going back to the original tradition. As I stated in my original reply.
Finally, unfortunately, you made it about sexism, Robert.
Great that we agree about it being on the next BOE agenda and going back to the original tradition of the Block S Award. All great suggestions and I truly wish this had been done before we started making this change for student athletes. That we agree on this is all that really matters.
I wouldn’t dare to call you racist, homophobic or even sexist back (OF COURSE you are NONE of those things. 100% I don’t think that you are). I just think it’s unhelpful to say that I am sexist as I had a contentious interaction with fellow board member. I am pretty sure Chairwoman Goldstein can handle herself as she has done when there have been numerous interactions with myself and other board members (both male and female) over the years.
Your comments to Robert Harrington are truly appalling. I hope you read them through again and really think about what you have said. You absolutely owe an apology. Those of us who are passionate about restoring the proper Block S award do not appreciate where you have taken this.
I’ll build on Jordan’s sentiment (or glory-days humble brag : ) ) by adding that I too lost my fciac and state championship trophies, but I do have my block S.
In all seriousness, my 10-year-old daughter proudly displays my wife’s on her bookcase, and I am personally supportive of continuing the tradition and being involved in a solution.
I have a simple solution. My team and I are willing to procure manufacturing, pay for and deliver Block S’s for every team. I will let VJ know.
And this is why coaches like you who grew up in town get it!!! Keep me updated Chris!
I worked harder than ever to improve my performance in track but never thought I would receive a “Block S” award from Ginny Parker- 1975. It is still proudly displayed in my home.
As a 3 team , Field Hockey, Basketball, Track and Field 1972 -1975, it was always a thrill to hear who received the Block S award on awards night. Receiving mine from Ginny Parker for Track and Field 1975, was a highlight of my high school years. It instilled a desire to do and be the best I could be. Recipients knew that it was hard work, dedication and being a part of the team that won us the award, not the “everyone” is a winner mentality today. Please continue the tradition as something that every student athlete should strive for!
Maybe if the BOE didn’t spend a ridiculous amount of money on lawyers trying to remove best in class coaches for absolutely no good reason they could find money for these awards. This would be funny if it was only a joke.
Wow, I am a member of the class of ’79, and I received six Block S awards during my time at Staples. While they were not quite a Nobel or Oscar, I believed that being a recipient was quite an honor and I still remember how good it felt to get them. Hard to imagine that these represent a significant expense in what has to be a fairly substantial athletic budget. If maintaining them within the budget is untenable, I suspect there are many residents and alums who could be persuaded to donate to preserve this worthy tradition.
With a salary of $175,000, the Director could have bought the damn things himself; having done so, he would be a hero and would, for sure, have received unsolicited, public reimbursement
in far larger amount than the cost of the trophies.
If I were a coach, teacher, BOE member or administrator in Westport I’d be more worried about the kids who didn’t get a super neat real titanium block S. I’m kind of surprised that the thought hasn’t occurred to anybody, particularly in “Sustainable Westport” that it might make sense to recycle the award to the next year’s recipients thus freeing up lots of aircraft grade metallurgy to support the war in Ukraine. You could have kind of a “laying on of hands” ceremony where the prior year’s recipients get to pass down their awards to the succeeding class. It would be so much more meaningful than what’s going on now.
I must have missed the email or text from the administration asking my opinion to discontinue the Block S. This spring is my 17th season coaching the Girls’ Golf team. There are a few of us who coach and were athletes at Staples. We should have been consulted. For the record, I was awarded a Block S in basketball junior year.
Todd Freemon / Tcfreemonwestport,
I’m glad that you support this tradition. However, I wish you hadn’t turned the focus of this thread into an op-ed piece about Robert. I recall the nice story that Dan ran about your passion and the good work you do. This is a characteristic you share with Robert Harrington. You are both passionate about others.
Sometimes, that passion can be misread. This is what you have done here. You ask if Robert is trying to draw attention to himself, call him PATHETIC in shouty caps, and worst of all, refer to him as sexist. You mention the student sitting next to him… who do you think reads this? That’s where you crossed the line and did exactly what you are accusing him of… You drew the attention away from the spirit of Dan’s post and focused it on your feelings about Robert. You owe him and this thread an apology and a retraction. Bells cannot be unrung, and calling someone a sexist is well across the line.
I have known Robert since his son, whom we referred to as “King George” on the mats, started in our great sport, and I promise you that Robert’s selfless fingerprints are all over the team’s success. I also want to point out that he specifically highlighted his daughter’s Block S and what it means to her and their family. I can’t believe that you would use this forum to plant the untrue specter that someone is a sexist.
The thing about passionate people like you and Robert is that you can’t pick and choose which parts of them you want… you get them all.
I recall that one of your passions is aviation. When I get on a flight, Robert is the guy I want to see sitting in the emergency row!
Fromone passionate guy to a couple of others… Thanks for supporting this important mission. We’ll get it right.
It’s a shame to see the Block S reduced to that. I won two for swimming in 1979 and 80. Sadly, it doesn’t surprise me. My experience has been that Staples hasn’t seen value in recognizing the best of the best. They don’t have a sports hall of fame recognizing athletes across all sports. In swimming, they have a record board that recognizes athletes who compete in meters rather than yards – which is the metric used by every other team in the state as well as every team before the pool was built. Virtually every record recorded in yards occurred in the late 70s and early 80s and they have been erased. It’s disappointing.
I know I am late weighing in. And I am the least athletic graduate ever of Westport Public Schools. But c’mon, the Block S is a tradition, one that a certain former brief Connecticut resident might describe as “cherished.” I’m around Westport a lot even though I live in Bridgeport. I know the beating heart of the 20th Century Westport that raised me is still alive. But if you keep building ticky-tacky farmer-style white McMansions with black window trim and do away with longstanding traditions like the Block S, you’ll be killing the legacy of the 20th Century Westport that made the town everything that longtime Westporters cherish and newcomers want to experience. I think I can claim 75 years and three generations of connection to Westport. Block S is part of that. Do I sound like a crotchety old fart? Maybe so. But I’m right!
Hey Dan I’d personally like to thank you for opening this up more. Like I stated on Facebook, the Block “S” Award is something that could survive if folks really believed in its deep and true value to the Staples community. I mean Westport and Staples High School is one of the wealthiest schools/communities in the country and the narrow mindedness on this is astonishing and embarrassing, not for anyone else, but the ones who are in charge of letting or their attention at letting this Tradition go. Shame on you for disregarding this Award as just a budgetary issue. Shame on you for not acknowledging a decent opportunity to have a civil and honest conversation about this. Why is that really??? Maybe listen to ideas outside the box or just stop complaining about all your millions of dollars that you need to spend…give me a break. You got $84 million bucks for a facelift on our beloved school, but are willing to ditch legacy, memories, and passions? Weak I’d say…. Maybe the boosters will find a way to keep this Honor of Staples Athletes alive? I hope the board decides to have real clear eyed view of this and keep the Block “S” intact and into the future.