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.