The Board of Education spent half an hour discussing Staples High School’s Block “S” honors last week.
In the end, they made vague promises to to search for a solution to resolve the 70-year-old tradition of providing handsome metal awards to 2 members of each varsity team.
The other day, board member Robert Harrington posted an “Opinion” piece on “06880,” explaining his concerns over the handling of the controversy.
Traditional Block “S” …
But it turns out a solution had been offered weeks earlier.
Chris O’Dell — owner of a local design/build firm, former Block “S” winner for baseball, and 20-year Staples soccer coach — told athletic director VJ Sarullo that he is willing to procure manufacturing, pay for and deliver Block “S”s, for all 40 boys and girls varsity teams.
O’Dell cares deeply about Staples, and the Block “S.”
A 1995 graduate who lettered in soccer, basketball, baseball and track; a soccer (state champion) and baseball captain, he built 2 soccer kickboard sheds, and the baseball trophy case.
His firm, the O’Dell Group, employs 3 Staples grads as project managers. He has hired dozens of Staples interns over the years.
… and the plaque that replaced it.
One of the reasons offered for the discontinuation of the awards was cost. The other was sourcing. O’Dell is ready to handle both.
He contacted Sarullo in March, as soon as he read on “06880” that the Block “S” tradition was in jeopardy.
Sarullo said he would be in touch soon.
“Over a dozen people have already reached out to me, offering to contribute,” O’Dell says. “I’ll get to work on it as soon as I am given the go ahead.
“There is no reason we should not be taken up on our offer to help keep this tradition alive. There would be no cost, and no headache to the school or administrators.”
Problem solved? Stay tuned.
*Full disclosure: I coached Chris O’Dell, then hired him and worked closely with him for 2 decades while I was Staples soccer head coach.
Very generous of them and wild that this was offered months ago and its come to this. Other neighboring towns in the FCIACs have such great facilities and support for athletics. The Block S is such a prestigious award that is kept forever. Thank you Harrington, O’Dell and Woog for staying on this. I read some stupid comments that its junk that gets lost or thrown out. A community leader like O’Dell, clearly is the example to the contrary. At some point in the future this town will realize the successful lives built through the 40 or so athletic programs at Staples. We need an Athletic Association that gets these facilities and programs continuing to thrive in the decades ahead.
I appreciate Chris and Dan for staying on this subject, as it is a valued tradition and part of the long standing identity of Staples and Westport scholastically for our talented athletes.
Most importantly, Mr. Harrington for standing up for this long tradition and having the courage to make this a discussion/topic at BOE meetings. A transplant to Westport, Robert understands the traditions and wants to preserve while improve.
Greatly appreciate it.
love this!!
imagine caring about the quality of air and weather. How ignorant
Imagine a world without shady chiropractors, dishonest lawyers or clean grout.
Hats off to those of you who pushed back and to O’Dell for offering a solution. Sounds like the AD dropped the ball, but you never know what else is going on. Is there no Staples High School athletics booster club that could potentially fund this? I seem to recall they were pretty active back when I was at Staples with fundraising and providing additional support like this.
No more “Staples Booster Club.” Each team has its own now.
Totally agree – and a big thanks to Dan Woog, Robert Harrington, and Chris O’Dell for their work and offered solution to continue this award. And know for sure that this award doesn’t get lost or thrown out – it’s the only truly valued relic from my past that has survived the decades of spring cleaning! If the “decision makers” don’t make a decision I thought why not see if former Block S-ers would be willing to pass/send their awards (with an updated recipient plate in place of the original) on to a current recipient from the same respective sport. It would be a pretty cool thing and the original award recipient could put a small plate on the back side noting “from former Block S recipient Jane/John Doe, Sport, Year.”
Chris O’Dell… the legend!
So often it is the broader community – or person/s within it – that have common sense and generous solutions to some of our challenges. If we are able to do this and not have to use $9,000 a year from school funds to support this 70+ year tradition then great.
If this doesn’t come together we should keep looking for alternative solutions – and ultimately not be afraid to find the incremental $9000 annual costs from the overall school budget to fund this.
I still hope we can tell all current recipients at Staples that they will be retroactively presented with the proper Block “S” in short order.
Robert Harrington, i dont know you but have now seen you on a couple live meetings and read some of your opinions, and want to say thank you, for bringing incredible common sense, care, compassion and thought to your time spent, helping guide this town. Our community and our country need more people like you. Many thanks.
I’m actively working on finding a differeng forge to make the awards.
I assume, Dan, you reached out to Mr Sarullo and his response was what? Just your bog-standard journalism follow up question. That you did not include such a statement doesn’t mean you didn’t make it.
Also, me thinks there should be ONE booster club coordinating committee to speak on behalf of the other 40 to the Powers That Be (Scarice on down) — who appear to be regularly dropping the ball(s) on everything. Does the current SH principal actually have any influence on people who supposedly report to him? Really, where is the public accountability by anyone?
Just a thought by a former band member.