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By Barbara Taormina
At their last meeting, the City Council unanimously approved a motion presented by Ward 3 Councillor Anthony Cogliandro that the Early Childhood Playground at the Lincoln School be dedicated in memory of Chris Chavarria.
They have since learned that the proposed memorial was turned down by Superintendent Diane Kelly because approving a memorial was not within the council’s purview. And councillors were not happy with that decision.
This week, Cogliandro presented a motion requesting the city and school administration provide the council with a comprehensive report detailing the jurisdictional responsibilities over school property, including areas and matters under the control of the city, areas under the control of the school department and any other departments or entities that hold jurisdiction over school property.
What Kelly wants to include in the report is a copy of the city’s 20-year-old policy, informed by state law, that gives the School Committee exclusive authority over memorials and school names.
Kelly said she’s just enforcing the policy on behalf of the School Committee, during a brief telephone interview with The Advocate.
Cogliandro explained his motion was borne out of frustration for having the memorial for Chavarria denied.
“It was turned down by the Superintendent saying we didn’t have the purview to vote this in. What was worse was an email went out saying don’t make any memorials, don’t talk about it,” he said. Cogliandro added he was beside himself that there was no effort for school department and the city to collaborate on a memorial for Chavarria.
“When a young man battles leukemia, and still has a great attitude, gives everything he has and still lights up a room, he deserves to be recognized,” said Cogliandro. “I’m not sure why the Superintendent turned it down other than it wasn’t within our purview. My heart goes out to Chris’ family because this would have been awesome.”
Cogliandro said his new motion was for any future instances of memorials on school property and he vowed, “I’m not going to let this go, that young man is going to get something.”
Kelly said the School Department held a ceremony and tree planting honoring Chavarria several years ago at Rumney Marsh Academy where Chavarria was a student.
Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna shared a piece of history to help the council understand the superintendent’s decision. She reminded fellow councillors that a few years ago, a Revere High student was killed on Revere Beach. His friends came to the council and asked for a memorial mural to be installed at the basketball court at Lincoln School. The mural was also denied. McKenna couldn’t recall if Kelly came to the council to explain but she remembered Kelly’s reasoning.
“She just didn’t want to make the schools memorials, and the proposed mural died in the water,” said McKenna who added she supported Cogliandro’s motion for a report.
Kelly said overwhelming schools with memorial benches and plaques could, in time, make them feel like graveyards that could trigger emotional reactions, especially in young children.
“There are a lot of pieces to this,” she said.
Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto didn’t hide his frustration with the decision to turn down the proposed memorial for Chavarria. “I am not pleased with the response from the superintendent,” said Zambuto. “It seems that the city council is only good to be bullied into funding a high school. I’ve had it with the tactics of the superintendent. It’s a disgrace to turn down this memorial. I’m very angry about this. It’s a disgrace to turn this down and pull this jurisdiction stuff when we just funded a half-a-billion-dollar high school.”
Cogliandro ended the discussion with a point directed at the school administration. “If they are worried about memorials, the name of the school is Abraham Lincoln.”
Editor’s note: In an answer from Supt. Kelly’s office to The Advocate regarding the naming rights, a reply was sent via email from the Supt’s. office a reply from Paul Cappizzi, the City Solicitor. Below is his reply:
“The issue is whether a municipal council has the authority to name property under control of the public school district. Upon reviewing M.G.L., as well as a 2006 letter addressing the City Council on a similar issue, the answer is no.
The Revere School Committee is the governing board of the Revere Public School system. The school committee “shall have control of all school buildings and grounds connected therewith and shall make all reasonable rules and regulations, consistent with law, for the management of the public schools of the city . . . .” M.G.L. c. 43, § 33.
Accordingly, the school committee is vested with exclusive power to maintain, run, and oversee the schools, and provide for the education of the City’s youth. It, therefore, follows that the school committee would also be empowered with the task of naming a school park. You’ll note that the October 8th School Committee Meeting was marked by debate over the allocation of $40,000 for a playground at the Beachmont School. If such a playground is installed, the very same entity tasked with allocating its funds would be tasked with naming it (if something other than Beachmont Early Childhood playground).
This interpretation is outlined in the School Committee’s Policy Manual, Section F, File FF – Naming New Facilities:
“It is the sole responsibility of the Revere School Committee to name public school buildings, parts of buildings, and all areas located on school grounds. When buildings are renovated or newly constructed, the School Committee´s “Committee of the Whole” will form an ad-hoc committee for the purpose of recommending names. The Committee may also choose to initiate this procedure at any other time they deem appropriate.
Guidelines for naming a school building after a person include the following:
- The person must have made a significant contribution to the Revere Public Schools
- The person for whom a building may be named shall have been deceased for ten (10) years so that their contribution to the school community will have stood the test of time.
Parts of buildings, such as a gymnasium, library, learning commons, field house, cafeteria, or auditorium, etc., may be named for an individual who has made a substantial and significant contribution to the Revere Public Schools.
Plaques shall be similar in wording and size (not to exceed 14 by 18 inches, including portraits). The cost of erecting such plaques shall be borne by the Revere School Committee.
Naming rights shall be reviewed on a periodic basis, and may be renewed or discontinued as approved by the Revere School Committee.
Any and all building naming decisions shall be voted at the Revere School Committee´s organizational meeting.”
Conversely, the Revere City Council is vested with the authority to “dedicate” public streets or ways per § 12.12.010 of the Revised Revere Ordinances.
