Category Archives: Staples HS

Staples Students’ Walkout Supports Coach, Blasts Administrators

Posted on May 16, 2025 | 48 comments

Chanting “We want Russ back!,” “Fire VJ!” and “I don’t recall!,” over 200 students walked out of class and rallied in front of Staples High School this morning.

They supported Russell Oost-Lievense — the boys soccer head coach whose contract non-renewal was affirmed by the Board of Education on Monday — and opposed those board members, superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice, and Staples principal Stafford Thomas and athletic director VJ Sarullo.

“I don’t recall” referred to Thomas’ answers during testimony on Monday. More than a dozen times he said he did not remember events leading to the decision to not rehire Oost-Lievense, who coached at Staples for nearly a decade and had been a captain there before graduating in 2008.

(Photo/Ryan Allen)

Using megaphones, rising captains Dylan Shackelford and Gabe Hellman addressed the crowd.

Alexis Krenzer, a girls soccer player who is coached by Oost-Lievense on her club team, also spoke.

Calling Oost-Lievense a coach who taught her “the importance of integrity and heart — not just in soccer, but in life,” she said, “We’re not here to cause disruption or disrespect. We’re here to stand up for what’s right. We’re here to support Russell, just as he’s supported every one of his players.

“We’re here because fairness matters. We’re here because those in power should be held to the same standards they ask of us. And we’re here because even though staying quiet might be easier, speaking up is what’s right.”

Alexis Krenzer (Photo/Ryan Allen)

One speaker — referencing Oost-Lievense’s work as a special education teacher, and an opponent of bullying — noted, “Russell had our back. Now it’s time to have his.”

Another said, “This was clearly a biased and flawed process. No one should be treated with disrespect. Accountability starts now.”

Across the street 50 parents, alumni and news media watched the rally. The crowd included BOE member Robert Harrington — the only one to vote against Scarice’s non-renewal recommendation — as well as Representative Town Meeting member Andrew Colabella, attorney Steve Shackelford, and Oost-Lievense’s mother.

Supporters on North Avenue. (Photo/Dan Woog)

The students acknowledged Harrington, with a cheer. They also asked “Where’s the board?”

With police nearby, Thomas watched the proceedings at the entrance to the school.

Staples principal Stafford Thomas. (Photo/Ryan Allen)

The walkout was organized by an ad hoc group called #WreckersforRuss.

On social media, they said:

We’re not just walking out for Russ.
We’re walking out for:
— Every coach and teacher who shows up for us.
— Fairness and transparency in Westport.
— A system that actually listens to its community members.

(Photo/Ryan Allen)

They asked “What really happened to Coach Russ?” Their answers:

It wasn’t about abuse. It wasn’t about harm.

It was about a system that chose silence, blocked witnesses, ignored facts, and punished the wrong person.

We’re sharing this so everyone understands: This wasn’t fair. This wasn’t thorough. This wasn’t right.

Russ stood up for us. Now we stand for him, and every coach and teacher who could be next.

Gabe Hellman (Photo/Ryan Allen)

Organizers also noted the coach’s testimony from Monday, describing his father’s death when Oost-Lievense was a junior at Staples,

He said that some of his father’s last words were: “Look after the ones who look after you.”

“He’s done that,” organizers of the rally said. “But the administration didn’t do the same for him.”

(Photo/Ryan Allen)

(Photo/Dan Woog)

Inside the school, moments before walking out. (Photo/Zach Beebe)

The start of the walkout. (Photo/Ryan Allen)

(Photo/Ryan Allen)

The view from above. (Drone photo/Michael Cammeyer)

(Photo/Ryan Allen)

Returning to class. (Photo/Ryan Allen)

Marion Oost-Lievense. (Photo/Dan Woog)

48 Comments

Posted in Categories, Education, Local politics, Sports, Staples HS

Tagged , , , , ,

Roundup: WDA Fine Arts Festival, SHS Pops Concert, WYWL Grants, WYC Job Bank …

Posted on May 16, 2025 | 5 comments

One of Westport’s signature events — the Fine Arts Festival — returns for its 52nd year on Memorial Day weekend.

On May 24 and 25 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), the national Top 20 show draws 165 fine artists from 19 states to Main Street and Elm Street. As always, there are returning faces. This year, 41 artists are new.

The Westport Downtown Association includes plenty of family activities. They include Elmo and friends, facepainting, crafts, games, dancing and photo ops.

There’s wine and beer for adults, and plenty of food vendors. Lots more information is available here.

Of course, “06880” will add more details, as the Fine Arts Festival nears.

==================================================

Another great tradition — though just a decade old — is the Westport Pops Concert.

This year’s event is June 6. The Staples High School Symphonic Orchestra and Band, Jazz Ensemble, Orphenians, Choralaires and other small group ensembles will perform — and Jim Naughton will host — at the Levitt Pavilion.

Gates open at 6 p.m., with the show starting at 7. Tickets are free, but a suggested donation of $15 helps offset production costs. They’ll be available at Staplesmusic.org beginning 9 a.m. on May 28. They’re first-come, first-served, so be ready. They’re snapped up fast!

This year’s poster was designed by senior Connor Yuan.

=================================================

On Tuesday, the Westport Young Woman’s League awarded $65,000 in grants, to a dozen local non-profits making a difference locally.

They include:

•  Caroline House ($10,000): Provides ESL education and early childhood support to immigrant and refugee women and children in Bridgeport, promoting literacy and life skills for the whole family.

•    Circle of Friends ($10,000): Offers inclusive social experiences, and a sensory-friendly “Quiet Zone” for people with autism and disabilities.

•    Filling in the Blanks ($10,000): Delivers weekend meals to food-insecure children, to close the hunger gap when school is not in session.

•    Liberation Programs ($10,000): Supports childcare for mothers undergoing substance use treatment at the Families in Recovery Program in Norwalk.

•    Westport Farmers’ Market ($5,000): Funds a culinary program where students prepare farm-to-table meals for residents of local homeless shelters.

•    VFW Post 399 ($5,000): Launches a veteran lunch and food donation program to connect veterans — especially disabled and underserved — with critical resources.

•    Levitt Pavilion ($4,000): Sponsor of a free children’s concert series.

•    Staples Tuition Grant ($3,000): Supporting local students’ educational goals.

•    LiveGirl ($2,500): Backing youth leadership and confidence-building programs.

•    Westport Country Playhouse ($2,000): Offering free and discounted tickets to family-friendly performances based on children’s literature.

•    My Team Triumph ($2,000): Covering race registration fees for athletes with disabilities.

•    Positive Directions ($1,500): Promoting local mental health awareness initiatives.

VFW quartermaster Phil Delgado (center) with the $5,000 Westport Young Woman’s League grant from Grants Committee chairi Bronwyn Cousins and president Tainara Cruvinel.

==================================================

Speaking of giving back:

As parrt of the Sunrise Rotary Club’s Epic Day of Service this tomorrow (Saturday, May 17, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.), they’re partnering with Big Y to collect food for Homes with Hope.

This is Big Y’s first time working with Sunrise Rotary — and the cause is great — so they hope for a huge turnout.

Bring non-perishable items — and/or pick up some while you shop.

=================================================

The Westport Youth Commission’s Student Job Bank is relaunched. And it’s better than ever.

The platform helps local businesses and organizations offer part-time, seasonal and intern positions to high school students. They include retail work, business help, non-profit assistance, lifeguards, camp counselors, and many more.

The previous Job Bank was free for students, but businesses had to pay to post jobs.  The Youth Commission donated a percentage of those fees to charity.

When the platform they used went out of business last year, the Commission had to fiind a new solution. Based on student and business feedback, they opened a new platform, without anyone paying. It’s now free.

To be included on the Job Bank,  fill out this form or email westportyouthcommission203@gmail.com. The Job Bank can be found here. 

Questions? Email kgodburn@westportct.gov.

Youth Commission co-chair Jake Shufro (3rd from left) presents Homes with Hope with a check, from previous Job Bank proceeds.

=================================================

May is AAPI Heritage Month. And Westport is celebrating with a wide array of events.

It began with a lunch at the new downtown hot spot, Sushi Jin. AAPI Westport members Vicky Nguyen and Anna Kai about spoke Vicky’s new bookm “Boat Baby,” at the New Canaan Library. Members then enjoyed Japanese treats and sodas while watching Gundam Gquuuuuux at Middle School Anime Night at Toquet Hall.

Still to come:

  • A family hike at Earthplace this Sunday (May 18, 10 a.m.). Reserve a spot here.
  • A conversation with Kevin Nguyen about his new book, “My Documents” (Tuesday, May 20, 7 p.m., Westport Library). It’s been named one of the “Best Books of 2025 (So Far)” by Esquire Magazine.
  • AAPI Restaurant Week (actually, longer) runs through May 31. Participating restaurants are here.

AAPI Westport gives a Special shoutout to the elementary school librarians and PTAs for inviting Christina Soontornvat as their visiting author this year. Students will meet her next week.

==================================================

A little rain did nothing to dampen the spirits of Club203.

Westport’s social club for adults with disabilities celebrated Wednesday, at Earthplace.

DJ Joe kept the smooth vibes playing; Ed’s Fusion provided the pizzas, and MoCA CT helped everyone build birdhouses.

Party time at Earthplace!

=================================================

Sunil Hirani provides today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.

It doesn’t get more classic than this.

(Photo/Sunil Hirani)

==================================================

And finally … on this date in 1888, Nikola Tesla delivered a lecture about how to use alternating currents to transmit electric power over long distances.

(If you are thunderstruck by “06880” — or just appreciate what we do — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

5 Comments

Posted in Arts, Downtown, Entertainment, Library, Staples HS

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Board Of Ed: Staples Smartphone Ban Moves Forward; Coach’s Discussion Continues; Padlock Problem Solved

Posted on May 16, 2025 | 7 comments

There will be a bell-to-bell ban on smartphones next year at Staples High School.

There is no determination yet on when it will begin. It may or may not include seniors. It probably won’t involve Yondr bags.

All those elements — and many more — will be worked out, by an “implementation committee” of administrators, staff, students and parents.

They may be ready by opening day next fall. They may take longer.

What’s most important, said superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice at last night’s Board of Education meeting, is to get it right.

He has championed a “deliberative process” since first introducing the idea of a ban, and waited to see how Wilton High’s process (initiated this year) worked.

Board members — including the two non-voting students, Calum Madigan Souleye Kebe — agreed on the broad outlines of a ban.

Robert Harrington, who disagrees with Scarice on many issues, praised the superintendent for changing Harrington’s mind

“I work in technology,” Harrington said, “and it’s counterintuitive to me to take technology away.

“But I’ve been swayed by (Scarice’s) vision for the culture at Staples. I hope we move with speed to implement it. I don’t think it’s right to ban phones for seniors, and Yondr bags seem to treat students like children. But I favor the superintendent’s recommendation.”

Voices were far louder earlier in the evening, during discussion of the Board of Education’s vote on Monday to affirm Scarice’s non-renewal of boys soccer head coach Russell Oost-Lievense’s contract.

Board of Education members, and their mediator, at Monday’s appeal hearing. (Photo/Dan Woog)

Members Dorie Hordon and Jill Dillon began by explaining their votes, based on their narrow charge to determine whether the superintendent’s decision had been “arbitrary and capricious.”

Hordon called coaching “a privilege, not a right. I understand many people are disappointed. This was a difficult and painful situation. Anyone can reach out to me. I am happy to explain my decision in more detail.”

Olson said, “We followed the policy with the evidence that was presented to us, and the testimony we heard under oath. It was a hard and painful decision, and not made lightly.”

Harrington stressed the importance of all documents and emails — including those that had not been admitted as evidence — being provided to the board. He reiterated his call for the resignation of athletic director VJ Sarullo.

Several members of the public spoke. Steve Shackelford questioned why Sarullo reported a “physical assault” to the Department of Children and Family Services, while testifying under oath that there had not been one.

He added, “This is not going away. This is not a soccer issue. It’s an issue of how all of our coaches and teachers are treated by the administration.

Joan Gillman asked why 8 witnesses — including herself — had not been allowed to testify. “Decisions were made on incomplete evidence. You took away the coach’s right to defend himself,” she told the board. “What were you afraid of?”

There was one surprise during the public comments. Eoghan Scully, whose High Point Road property abuts Staples’ Jinny Parker Field, complained about the sudden locking of a gate through which many students walk to Staples and Bedford Middle School.

Scarice apologized for not answering earlier. He said that, after conversations with the Westport Public School’s risk management personnel, the gates would be locked during the school day.

They will be open, however, at all other times: before and after school, and on weekends.

Jinny Parker Field will be padlocked only during school hours. (Photo/Dave Briggs)

(If you follow school news — or anything else — on “06880,” please click here to support our work. Thanks for helping us do what we do!)

7 Comments

Posted in Education, Local politics, Staples HS, technology

Tagged , , , ,

[OPINION] Westporters Should Care About Bridgeport Ed Cuts

Posted on May 15, 2025 | 16 comments

Matthew Gatto attended Westport schools from kindergarten through Staples High graduation, in 2023.

He worked as a Parks & Recreation Department tennis instructor, and offered private lessons too. That experience sparked his interest in education.

He did his senior internship at Blackham Elementary School in Bridgeport, where his mother volunteers with the Book Buddies literacy program. 

Matthew is a rising junior at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus, in the accelerated master’s program for education. He continues to teach tennis through the Johnny Mac Project — John McEnroe’s non-profit organization, which provides free after-school programs to underserved children. Matthew writes:

As a future educator and recent graduate of the Westport public school system, I’ve experienced firsthand how much students benefit from well-resourced classrooms and fully supported teachers.

Just a few miles away in Bridgeport, students face a different reality. It should concern us all, as Fairfield County residents.

Matthew Gatto, with Blackham students.

My connection to the Bridgeport public school system began as a Staples senior, when I interned at Blackham Elementary School.

There, I had the opportunity to work alongside 4 incredibly dedicated and caring teachers. These educators were deeply invested in their students’ success, both in and outside of the classroom. They worked tirelessly to build a community where each student felt valued and excited to learn.

The students at Blackham solidified my passion for teaching. They welcomed me into their school with warmth and enthusiasm. They were bright, motivated, and eager to learn. But, as with many of their peers in Bridgeport, they face unique challenges that should concern us all.

Last month, the Bridgeport Board of Education voted to eliminate 20 teaching positions, all 15 school librarians, and 5 assistant principals across the district. These cuts come on top of 45 positions already eliminated in December.

One note to Matthew from a grateful student …

Unfortunately, they are just the beginning of a series of concerning reductions.

For the teachers who remain in the district, class sizes will expand, making it much more difficult to provide individualized support for students with diverse needs and learning styles. With fewer resources, these dedicated educators are being asked to do more with less.

Equally concerning, special education programs face major reductions. Cutting back on essential services for students who need it the most is a grave disservice to an already vulnerable population.

… and another.

Also being eliminated is the district’s performing and visual arts programs, including the popular FAME After-school Arts Academy. This decision deprives students of creative outlets that have been proven to support emotional development and academic achievement.

The proposed cuts also include terminating bus transportation for over 2,000 students. This concerning action will hinder many children’s ability to attend school. Many students in Bridgeport, especially those from working families, rely on the bus system to get to school. Removing this will have devastating consequences.

In my opinion, one of the most heartbreaking cuts is the elimination of all 15 school librarians. Blackham librarian Aimee Guerrero has been instrumental in promoting a new generation of lifelong readers.

Aimee has transformed the library into a sanctuary where students have the opportunity to expand their vocabulary and gain critical thinking skills.

I fear that eliminating this position will be a devastating setback for a school where many students are English language learners, and already face significant challenges with reading proficiency.

These cuts are detrimental for a district that already struggles with limited resources. Eliminating staff, programs and transportation only deepens the barriers students already face.

The fight for funding is now in the hands of State Legislators and Governor Ned Lamont. We are in the final stages of negotiating the state budget, with a deadline of June 4.

This is a critical moment to make our voices heard and demand better for Bridgeport’s children. I urge all readers to write to Governor Lamont. Tell him that these cuts are unacceptable. Tell him that every child, regardless of ZIP code, deserves access to a quality education.

Because when one of our neighboring school districts struggles, the strength of our entire community is put at risk.

(Our “06880” Opinion pages are open to all readers. To learn more, email 06880blog@gmail.com.)

16 Comments

Posted in Children, Education, Staples HS

Tagged ,

Christie: Recusal Came From “Personal Connections” To Case

Posted on May 14, 2025 | 23 comments

“06880” asked Kevin Christie why he recused himself from participation in Monday’s hearing regarding the non-renewal of Staples High School boys soccer coach Russell Oost-Lievense’s contract. The Board of Education member says:

I made the difficult decision to recuse myself from this hearing, well before expressing any interest in other local offices, because of my personal connections to the soccer program and case.

Leadership and good governance can often mean making challenging decisions, and I made this decision out of respect for everyone involved. It was not an action I took lightly, and I continue to stand by it.

 

Kevin Christie

23 Comments

Posted in Local politics, Sports, Staples HS

Tagged , ,

[OPINION] Harrington: Staples Athletic Director Must Step Down

Posted on May 14, 2025 | 36 comments

At Monday’s 14-hour Board of Education hearing, members voted 5-1 against overturning superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice’s decision to not renew the contract of boys soccer head coach Russell Oost-Lievense.

Robert Harrington was the only member voting to reinstate the coach, a former Staples captain whose appeal was bolstered by the presence of dozens of players. Harrington writes to “06880”:

1)  The Board of Education failed Westport in the soccer head coach non-renewal hearing. Why did they act like a rubber stamp, and were not concerned with all the withheld evidence and witnesses from our administration?

2) At the tennis coach non-renewal hearing earlier this year, BOE chair Lee Goldstein recused herself. For this soccer hearing, it was first selectman candidate and BOE member Kevin Christie’s turn. Why did Kevin recuse himself, and avoid having to make an important decision? Is that leadership?

3) Staples Principal Thomas Stafford was not in command of any details at the hearing, and represented the Westport Public Schools poorly. Why was he asked to give evidence, yet other valuable witnesses were blocked by Westport Superintendent?

4) I am calling for athletics director VJ Sarullo to immediately step down. When will the drama in the Staples athletics department end?

5) Restoring coaches’ confidence in Westport: What is next for non-renewed soccer coaches?

Robert Harrington

I love being on the Board of Education. But during large parts of a 14-hour testimony on Monday, I felt our community was let down by both our school administration and the actions of the Board of Education.

I am not afraid to vote in a different direction than my fellow board members.

I respect my fellow Board of Education colleagues — but not on this matter. The lack of any questions by the majority of the board toward the administration speaks volumes. Their silence was deafening. The absence of sitting BOE member and nominated Democratic candidate for first selectman Kevin Christie stood out.

I have been a strong supporter of superintendent Scarice on many issues. However,  I was highly disappointed with his decision to block 8+ witnesses from the hearing on Monday. This indicated a clear bias.

There are dozens of emails that board members are being prevented from seeing. What is in them?

There was only a very limited investigation into “the incident” in 2024. The investigation basically only lasted from October 24-29. After this date, no additional information or witnesses were considered.

However, there was no communication or updates to the coaches. The administration was playing the long game, and stretching thing out —  just as they had done with the tennis coach investigation.

I have serious concerns about how this administration conducts investigations. I also saw this in the antisemitic bullying situation with the Goldberg family last year. There seems to be a pattern here. It is my strong view that the very limited investigation into the soccer coaches was an egregious failure of governance and due process.

Furthermore, the performance and lack of clear answers from the three administration witnesses was highly concerning to me. It doesn’t appear that this was concerning to other board members.

An image of “3 stooges” entered my head on my midnight walk home: the superintendent, Staples principal and athletics director. They could barely recall basic facts about the case.

Staples principal Thomas Stafford seemed to recall almost zero details on any of the matters. His testimony was disrespectful to Westport, the players, and certainly the coaches. Was this the best evidence that was on offer for Westport? Are they taking you seriously?

From left: principal Stafford Thomas, athletic director VJ Sarullo and superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice, at Monday’s hearing. 

I truly believe athletic director, VJ Sarullo should lose his job. He is overseeing a sports department that is bungling from one crisis to another. Soaring legal costs. A non-renewal case for a long standing tennis coach that was rightly thrown out, as the paperwork wasn’t correctly done.

A community of sportsmen and women and parents that seems to be turning against him. A tone-deaf approach to abolishing the 60+ year tradition of the Bock “S” award. The list is building. Numerous coaches have reached out to me since the hearing on Monday.

Athletic director VJ Sarullo replaced the traditional block “S” with a generic plaque this year.

Monday’s hearing was an embarrassment to Westport Public Schools and our town. There are more hearings on the way – and probably more legal challenges too.

No wonder our athletic director can longer afford to keep a 60-year+ old Block “S” tradition alive, with all these legal bills building up on his watch.

Let me summarize the lack of evidence and transparency in this hearing from your school district:

The Administration objected to 8 witnesses — including the former athletics director (who was trashed by the Superintendent during the hearing, with zero right to respond). They also did not permit the assistant suprintendent for human resources and coaches in other sports programs at Staples to testify, who could provide insight into training and policies.

The Administration prevented us (and you) from seeing dozens of emails. We will never know what is in them.

When I asked our attorney the weekend before the hearing about this exclusion of evidence, it was suggested I might need to recuse myself, and risk being responsible for a “7-fold increase” in legal costs for BOE.

No one that was a witness to either the 2022 or 2024 incidents was called as a witness by our administration. 

Students who were direct witnesses in 2024 came forward to be interviewed by our administration. This was rejected. 

Many current players supported coach Russell Oost-Lievense at Monday’s hearing. 

The administration admitted that a 2022 coach evaluation was not produced — or they don’t have it. (The notice of non-renewal from our administration did not explicitly refer to an incident in 2022. However, it formed a large part of the administration’s oral testimony)

The Administration would nor or did not make available a report into their own independent investigation of the 2022 situation for the hearing. It never presented the report to the coach back in 2022.

– The Administration would not or did not make available the Department of Children and Family Services report from 2022 that found no wrongdoing by the head coach. 

– The Administration reported a misleading call to DCF about a “physical” interaction between a student and (a different soccer coach) in 2024, and knew this not to be the case. Despite this exaggerated report, DCF declined to investigate and notified the administration the same day.

No coaches’ handbook exists in Westport Public Schools. Fortunately. we were told, “We are working on it.”

To be clear: there was no suggestion that head coach Russell Oost-Lievense was physical towards a child. He was not.

Additionally, there was also no suggestion that the head coach had any verbal integrations or disagreements was a student athlete in 2024. He is accused of not reporting a verbal disagreement between another coach and a student.

Both coaches at the hearing said the other coach and student “hugged it out” and resolved their disagreement shortly afterwards, and both apologized to the their teammates.

Furthermore, whilst suspended on full-pay the head coach attended an end-of- season banquet not hosted by the school, nor at the school, and not a school event. He received multiple invitations from booster clubs, players and parents.

He has also asked for clarity, and ultimately left a message to the athletic director informing him that he would be attending the banquet.

The athletic director did not respond or communicate with the head coach about this. Furthermore, neither the superintendent, Staples principal or athletic director attended the banquet, despite the total lack of clarity within the Boys Soccer program. Maybe it wasn’t important to them?

I am glad and proud that head coach Russell Oost-Lievense attended the end of season banquet.

No one in my family plays soccer, and I have never met any of the Staples soccer coaches who were non-renewed in late 2024, until Monday. I was impressed by the head coach and the bond he has formed with his team.

Most of them sat there for 14 hours on Monday. It was a real community. I was proud as a father, and as a board member.

Head coach Russell Oost-Lievense (standing, 3rd from left), with players during a break in Monday’s hearing.

I heard his impactful testimony about how he stood up against bullying on the team in 2022. He immediately reported a truly serious matter back in 2022 to our administration, and they seemingly did nothing.

The compassion and vulnerability from the coach was plain for all to see. He is clearly there 24/7 for these kids, in a role that probably pays $7,000 per a year. He is a full-time teacher in Darien public schools, and has been employed for many years with no issues from that district.

I would be proud for any of my children to have been taught and/or coached by him.

I am deeply concerned with the way this administration and Board of Education have treated this coach.

I know they made the argument on Monday that the program was better off without him. I disagree. The sad statement from me as a sitting Board of Education member is actually the coach maybe better off without Westport or Westport Public Schools.

I have never been more proud than to stand separately from the board, and the embarrassment of a case that the administration made and I witnessed on Monday.

Head coach Russell Oost-Lievense should be reinstated. Staples athletic director, VJ Sarullo should do the right thing, and immediately step down.

(“06880” Opinion pages are open to all. Email 06880blog@gmail.com for details.)

36 Comments

Posted in Education, Sports, Staples HS

Tagged , , , ,

[OPINION] Staples Students Learn Real Life Lesson About Power

Posted on May 14, 2025 | 19 comments

“06880” founder and executive editor Dan Woog writes:

I told the 50 or so Staples High School students who gathered in Town Hall on Monday morning that they would get a far better education about the real world that day than if they were sitting in class.

I did not know that 14 hours later, that lesson would be how heartless the world can be.

And how little some adults care about them, compared to their own desire for power.

Staples students — boys and girls soccer players, and many others — came early for Monday’s hearing.

Staples boys soccer coach Russell Oost-Lievense’s appeal to the Board of Education, to overturn superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice’s decision to not renew his contract, had all the makings of a TV drama.

There was procedural jousting between attorneys over the admissability of evidence; witness testimony and cross-examination that was at turns riveting and rambling; and a raw, emotional explanation by Oost-Lievense about why — after all he’s been through — he still wanted to lead Staples soccer.

Discussing his work as a special education teacher, his own journey through Westport schools with a learning disability, and his father’s death during his junior year, he described his love for the soccer program, and his desire to give back.

The dozens of athletes in the front rows, there to support him, sat riveted. They’d been sitting for 8 hours already. They’d heard back-and-forth about a verbal argument at a preseason retreat they’d attended.

And they’d heard a discussion about an investigation into it, during which not one of them had been questioned.

They watched as administrators sat smugly on their side of the stage, and Board members sat stone-faced, even during the most powerful testimony.

Staples principal Stafford Thomas, athletic director VJ Sarullo, and superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice.

“I think their minds are made up already,” one player said.

“No, they’re supposed to listen to everything, and be impartial,” a teammate countered.

As the night wore on, and the Board of Education retreated upstairs into executive session, the teenagers remained. They ate pizza. They chatted with Oost-Lievense and freshman coach Chris O’Dell.

They waited for word — after testimony, they and many others in the room believed, that showed Scarice’s decision to be “arbitrary and capricious” — that the coach who loved them, and who they loved back, would return to the program they and he adored.

At 11:15 the verdict came, with stunning finality. Five BOE members voted to uphold Scarice’s non-renewal recommendation. Only Robert Harrington voted against it.

At 11 p.m., dozens of Staples students waited for the Board of Education decision. Many left during the day for a class or two, or sports practice, then returned. All watched the proceedings closely. (Photos/Dan Woog)

The Staples players got a lesson in how the world works, for sure.

The world is not fair. It’s not always what they want. It can be arbitrary and capricious.

And so they — and Oost-Lievense’s many supporters, and other Westporters involved with all sports — wonder what’s next.

Why, for example, would any man or woman want to coach in a school district that does not support its coaches — that, in fact, casts them aside with little regard for their longtime contributions, personal reputations and heartfelt emotions?

Why would any coach not fear that an accusation of bad judgment could lead to non-renewal, without even a suggestion of working together to find a solution?

But why, on the other hand, would some coaches fear any discipline at all, knowing that in some programs, serious lapses of judgment lead to no sanctions whatsoever?

Why would any educator want to work in a district that seems so callous? Oost-Lievense testified that in Darien, where he is a special education teacher, supervisors cared deeply about how he was feeling, throughout his ordeal.

No one in Westport ever asked.

And why, in a district that so often pats itself on the back for its achievements in the classroom and beyond, is there such disregard for the very reason any school exists: the young people in it?

On Monday morning, I thought the many teenagers in the Town Hall auditorium would get a lesson in justice, fairness and compassion.

On Monday night, they got that lesson. They learned that some people care more about power than about those very human bedrock values.

19 Comments

Posted in Education, Local politics, Sports, Staples HS

Tagged , , , ,

Pic Of The Day #2946

Posted on May 13, 2025 | 1 comment

Girls golf, at Staples High School (Photo/Richard Fogel)

1 Comment

Posted in Pic of the Day, Sports, Staples HS

Tagged

Roundup: Sports Panel Is Wednesday, Mrs. London’s, Social Justice …

Posted on May 13, 2025 | 1 comment

Attention, youth sports parents: The “06880” panel on that very topical topic is tomorrow night (Wednesday, 7 p.m., Staples High School cafeteria).

We’ve partnered with Tommy Greenwald — the famed youth adult sports fiction writer, former Staples athlete (and father of 3 athletes) — to present “Fair Play and Foul Behavior: Issues Facing Youth Sports in Today’s World.”

We’ll talk about the achievement/pressure balance, referee abuse, sport specialization, cost, the “academy” syndrome, myths and realities of college recruiting, and more.

I’ll moderate the event, and include time for audience questions. Panelists are:

  • VJ Sarullo, Staples athletic director
  • Dave Smith, father of 4 athletes who writes frequently on youth sports topics
  • Caleb Smith, former Staples quarterback and lacrosse star, now playing football at the University of Connecticut
  • Heather Talbott, PAL girls lacrosse co-president and basketball organizer; former lacrosse player at Lehigh University
  • Mark Pressman, longtime football and softball official
  • And of course Tommy Greenwald himself.

==================================================

Sunday marked the end of Mrs. London’s Westport run.

The popular bakery closed at 7 p.m. It will reopen soon under new ownership: Maman, the New York-based café and bakery chain.

================================================

The Democratic Town Committee inadvertently omitted the name of one candidate, in a press release announcing its Nominating Committee selections for November’s elections.

Bre Injeski has been selected as one of 3 Planning & Zoning Commission nominees. She is a current P&Z alternate, and a municpal and administrative law attorney.

===============================================

One of the main tenets of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Westport and Weston is social justice.

Responding to recent developments on immigrants and their communities, the church’s Immigration and Refugee Committee is hosting an “Accompaniment & Volunteer Information Session.”

Attendees will learn how to support refugee and immigrant communities in Fairfield County.

The event — in partnership with Make The Road CT — is next Monday (6 p.m., UU Westport). Here’s more information, and a registration form.

Questions? Email melanie.wyler@gmail.com, or call 203-856-9490.

==============================================

It’s ladybug season … and the first-ever appearance of this insect in our “Westport … Naturally” feature.

(Photo/Cohl Katz)

================================================

And finally … happy 75th birthday to Stevie Wonder!

We could have picked dozens of great songs. Here are just 3:

(It would be “wonder”-ful if every reader supported “06880.” Or just half! Or a quarter, even. Please click here to show some love for this hyper-local blog. Thank you!)

1 Comment

Posted in Local business, Local politics, Politics, religion, Sports, Staples HS

Tagged , ,

Board Of Ed Stuns Crowd; Votes Against Soccer Coach

Posted on May 13, 2025 | 80 comments

For 12 hours, 150 students and parents sat patiently in Town Hall. Staples High School boys soccer head coach Russell Oost-Lievense was appealing to the Board of Education the decision by superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice to not renew his contract.

At 11:15 p.m. — after 90 more minutes with the board cloistered in executive session — the BOE returned.

The 75 teens and adults still remaining sat in stunned silence, as the board voted 5-1 to affirm Scarice’s decision. Robert Harrington was the lone vote against. Kevin Christie recused himself, for reasons he did not explain.

Town Hall auditorium was filled, waiting for the hearing to begin.

The long day had featured extensive questioning of Scarice, principal Stafford Thomas, athletic direvctor VJ Sarullo, Oost-Lievense and freshman coach Chris O’Dell.

The major issues were a verbal argument — not physical, as erroneously reported — between a player and assistant coach Harry Ocampo at a preseason retreat, and Oost-Lievense’s alleged failure to report it to Sarullo; a subsequent conversation between the player and Ocampo in a golf cart near the players, and Oost-Lievense’s attendance at the post-season banquet.

From left: Staples principal Stafford Thomas, athletic director VJ Sarullo, superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice.

Much of the discussion involved policies, procedures, training — and the lack of them.

Other discussion involved the investigation conducted by Sarullo and Thomas. Despite repeated claims of a “thorough” investigation by school officials between October 25 and December 8, not one student at the retreat was interviewed.

The coach’s attorney, Beatrice Franklin, objected strenuously to the exclusion of testimony and emails by several coaches and others, which she said would point to the lack of clear guidelines on reporting, and other issues at hand.

The mediator — appointed by the board — overruled virtually all of Franklin’s objections. He also refused to allow testimony about actions by coaches in other sports that did not result in discipline, which she said would have shown that Scarice’s action was “arbitrary and capricious” (the threshold for the board to overturn the superintendent’s decision).

Mediator Fred Dorsey (4th from left), with Board of Education members Dorie Hordon, Neil Phillips, Lee Goldstein, Abby Tolan and Jill Dillon.

Sarullo was questioned about why his evaluation of Oost-Lievense changed from “gifted head coach taking the program to new heights” in 2023, to all negative in 2024.

He said it was because of a “negative environment” on the team. That drew surprised looks from the more than 2 dozen returning players at Town Hall supporting their coach, throughout the long day.

Under extensive questioning, principal Thomas repeated often that he could not recall many of the events surrounding the investigation, and related matters.

There was discussion too of a 2022 incident, when Oost-Lievense reacted angrily to bullying incidents on the freshman and junior varsity teams. The coach — a special education teacher at Darien High — emotionally described his reactions to reports of bullying of a special education student, citing his long work in special ed.

That 2022 incident led to a Department of Children and Family Services investigation. No evidence of wrongdoing was found, and Oost-Lievense said a DCFS official apologized to him.

The complaint about this fall’s incident at the retreat also was sent to DCFS. Within a day, they declined to investigate.

Scarice explained that Westport holds its employees to “a higher standard.”

From left: Board of Education member Robert Harrington, attorney Beatrice Franklin, coaches Russell Oost-Lievense and Chris O’Dell.

One of the most emotional moments of the long day came when Franklin asked Oost-Lievense why — after all he’s been through — he still wanted his job back.

“I can never give back what this soccer program, the players and families, have done for me, as a player and coach,” he said, his voice breaking. “This is my alma mater, and I love it more than anything.”

He recounted his experience as a player, when his father was dying, and the soccer team was his safe haven. Among his father’s last words to him: “Look after the ones who look to you.”

The audience rose, in a standing ovation.

During a break in the action, Russell Oost-Lievense (back row, 3rd from left) poses with current and returning Staples soccer players.

In closing statements, board attorney Thomas Mooney said, “this is not a popularity contest. The Board of Education has delegated decisions like this to the superintendent. You must apply that policy. There is no evidence that this was ‘arbitrary and capricious.'”

Franklin countered, “‘Arbitrary and capricious’ does not mean you rubber stamp the administration. Did they make their decision supported by evidence, and a thorough investigation?”

She cited many examples: the lack of an investigation, the pattern of not allowing evidence and witnesses, and more.

“How could Staples be better off without Russ?” she asked. “All I want for my kids is to have a coach like him.”

For 90 minutes — until 11:15 p.m. — Staples players waited for the Board of Education to exit executive session. (Photos/Dan Woog)

When — 90 minutes later — the board rendered their decision, the large crowd (including dozens of boys and girls soccer players, and alumni) who had stayed for 14 hours were stunned.

They wondered how a supposedly neutral “mediator” had ruled against Oost-Lievense dozens of times, before and during the hearing.

They asked how he could have excluded wide swaths of evidence, directly relevant to coaching, training, procedures, and discipline.

They were puzzled that the “arbitrary and capricious” discussion did not include information about the lack of disciplinary action against coaches in other sports, for sometimes more egregious offenses.

“It seemed pretty clear the board had no interest in doing actual justice,” one said. “Russell could have shown a murder weapon and a body. They still would have ruled against him.”

80 Comments

Posted in Education, Local politics, Staples HS

Tagged , , , , ,