Middle School Sports Fans Protest at City Hall

They came in all ages, sizes and backgrounds... keeping their promise from hours earlier. Dozens of students and parents began lining up at 1:30 pm for a 3:00 pm budget commission meeting at EP City Hall. Under clear skies but with a chilly temperature, middle school athletes and their families held signs and waved to passing motorists on Taunton Avenue. Many cars and trucks tooted horns and waved encouragement to the energetic middle schoolers. Students from Martin and Riverside Middle Schools, along with parents and some city community sports coaches, held quickly made signs extolling the benefits of school athletics. The large crowd was festive in nature and determined to get their message across. “Save our sports, save our sports…” was the unmistakable chant resonating up and down the sidewalks of city hall. Passing motorists seemed to recognize what the youthful protest was all about as they honked horns and gave friendly smiles to the protestors. People entering and leaving city hall passed through the crowds of protestors and did not seem bothered by the scene. In fact one woman leaving city hall with a baby carriage and two children in tow, stopped to offer encouragement. “My children will be in middle school soon and I hope they have the chance to have after school sports and music,” she said.

Most of the effort to protest the loss of middle school sports has been organized by various social media. Emails and on line face book activity urged supporters to attend a meeting on Wednesday February 22nd at the comedy connection on Warren Avenue. That meeting was moved there from an earlier advertised but smaller venue. At the Wednesday night meeting, supporters found out that the city budget commission was meeting the next day at city hall. Overnight face book activity and emails and phone texting organized the large protest which occurred at city hall on Thursday.

Martin Middle School soccer coach, June Coan, has taken to the Facebook social pages to rally and organize supporters of middle school athletics. “Yes, we must find the grants that are out there and fundraise as coaches,” Coan said in her blog. Coan and others have organized meetings of those in the community wishing to help. Coan, however is urging supporters to plan a measured response to the dilemma. “People are already talking about donating money, my petition just skyrocketed ... I am happy to hear people are wanting to help, but please people, let's get organized and find out how to give money and who's controlling it and the specifics before we act on anything,” Coan blogged.

“I am a 1970 grad of EP. I went through the EP school system from K to 12. I am sure that we could get donation, fund raiser, golf tournaments, etc. The middle school baseball team is a feeding program for the HS,” said Face book blogger Larry Willey. Willey also urged caution in the growing volunteer movement - “there is also the matter of liability should a student get injured. There is a lot to consider and many questions to be asked,” Willey added. And there was this face book plea from EPHS Hall of Famer and world gold medalist Kevin Robinson (KRob Foundation), “unfortunately, EP just received some bad news involving middle school sports- if you feel that you would like to make a difference in your city and help out the children that don't get a say in this matter, come to the next K-Rob Foundation meeting. Our mission is to help the children of EP get involved and stay involved in sports- WE NEED TO ALL WORK TOGETHER ON THIS ONE!!!! Spread the word!” asked Robinson.

As the city hall protestors gained momentum, word went through the crowd that the budget commission was meeting in a ‘private’ meeting. Hearing rumors that they would not be allowed to enter the meeting, the protestors raced to the opposite side of the building and standing beneath the second floor window where officials were meeting, they continued to chant and wave signs. At some point the police were called and responded to city hall. officer T.J. Britto responded and told protestors to stay on the sidewalk. “They are doing a good job,” Britto told the Reporter. “As long as they don’t block any streets, I don’t see a problem,” Britto added.

As 3:00 pm approached the large throng of protestors entered city hall and proceeded to the third floor meeting room. The group quietly waited in the hallways as the commission was finishing their closed door meeting. Shortly after 3:00 Mayor Bruce Rogers emerged and was met by the protestors. “You are welcomed to come in, we haven’t started the meeting yet,” Rogers said. Commission chairman Michael O’Keefe left the room briefly and seemed surprised and perplexed by the crowd waiting to attend the budget meeting. The throng quickly filled every seat in the third floor meeting room and stood four and five deep around the perimeter of the room. The five or six regular attendees of the commission meetings were “surprised” to see the crowd. “Why are these people here?” they asked. Only two of the five budget commission members were in attendance - Mayor Rogers and Commission chairman O’Keefe. O’Keefe was asked if he would agree to move the meeting to the council chambers. “No, I don’t think so. This will only be a half hour meeting. They’re (middle school sports) not on my agenda,” he said. A commission staffer was seen on the phone describing the room as “probably over capacity.” In minutes, several police along with the fire chief and fire marshal appeared. Fire officials told O’Keefe that he couldn’t hold the meeting due to overcrowding and would O’Keefe be willing to move the meeting to the council chambers. O’Keefe said that he would not. As the police and fire officials conferred in an adjoining room, the crowd patiently waited. The fire chief re-entered the room and asked O’Keefe to meet with him and police officials briefly. O’Keefe, looking ‘bothered’ told Fire Chief Joseph Klucznik, “I’ll be with you in a minute, I’m having a conversation.” Klucznik didn’t appear amused as he left the room. Shortly after that exchange O’Keefe joined the discussion with police and fire officials. Fire marshal Oscar Elmasian then re-entered the room and addressed the overflow crowd. “I cannot allow this meeting to continue for safety reasons. However, if most of you leave and go to the council chambers, Mr. O’Keefe will meet with you to discuss your concerns. He will discuss the matter but there will be no votes taken,” Elmasian said. It was clear that O’Keefe was “strongly urged” by police and fire officials to meet with the crowd at some point. The large crowd quietly left the room and re-assembled in the council chambers. A few lingered during the budget commission meeting and heard discussion for about half an hour on budget options. This included discussion on the need to consolidate school and city administrations and begin the process of a charter change to change the city fiscal year which is different from every other city and town in Rhode Island. The commission met although only 2 of 5 members were present. Committee staffers told the Reporter that, “you know, we don’t have to follow open government rules. We don’t have to have public meetings or allow people to speak. We’re different,”

Mayor Rogers and Chairman O’Keefe were joined by a third commission member, city manager Peter Graczykowski as they convened an impromptu community meeting for the middle school protestors. Just about every seat was taken and some stood along the chamber’s perimeter. “I heard that you have some questions,” said O’Keefe. “I will stay here and listen until every last one of you speaks. Let’s go,” O’Keefe pledged. And, indeed, he did as the three members of the state budget commission listened to impassioned pleas to keep their middle school sports for almost three hours. The first speaker, John Pangborn set a stern tone. “We live in this city, not you. Does the hiring freeze eliminate our Spring sports? We’re not going away, we will come to every meeting, we won’t sit by idly,” Pangborn said. “This protest was organized from 9:00 last night. Today it’s 200 people, next time we’ll bring 2000. Townies don’t sit by, we’re resilient,” he continued. O’Keefe responded that “all cuts made have a face on it. This isn’t fun.” When a voice yelled out a question from the crowd, an often feisty O’Keefe shouted back, “when it’s your turn, you speak at the mike. You need to support tax hikes if you want everything…” said O’Keefe. Police and fire maintained a presence in the room including the fire chief and marshal and no fewer than 4 police officers.

The mood in the room didn’t improve with the next speaker. “I have taught middle school for 35 years and this decision is terrible,” said Vin Spremuli. Spremuli has also coached and directed little leagues, CYO and coached interscholastic sports for decades. “What are your educational qualifications to make these decisions? Have you worked in a school?” he asked O’Keefe. “Well, I taught at college for 5 years,” O’Keefe answered. “Are you aware of the impact this has on middle school children?” probed Spremuli further. “Yes,” was O’Keefe’s answer. “Aren’t there other plans a good finance person could make that would affect less people?” asked Spremuli. “You tell me," O'keefe asked Spremuli, "since you had 35 years teaching." “I’m a coach not a budget expert. I’m a good teacher, that’s my area,” Spremuli answered. A feisty O’Keefe then shot back, “If you were good at your job you would have a better graduation rate here.” At which point the crowd erupted in a chorus of boos and shouts. “Terrible comment, awful,” yelled a parent. The boos rained down on the chairman as police and fire nervously shuffled in the rear of the room. “Well that’s nice Mr. O’Keefe, but only one problem with your comment - I taught at Ponagansett for those 35 years, not EP,” Spremuli said to a mixture of some laughter and continued boos from the crowd.

For the remainder of the meeting, speaker after speaker extolled the importance of keeping middle school and high school sports. Venus Tavares, a parent, said that “I moved to East Providence because Cranston dropped middle school sports. Now it’s happened here. My kids do well because of school sports. My son’s wrestling coach is like a father figure to him, this is devastating,” Tavares said. “The police will be busy,” said another parent, Joel Monteiro. “With nothing to do after school, this will cost added resources to the city.”

In a poignant moment bringing sustained applause by the crowd, Riverside Middle School student David Sheldon spoke quietly and with emotion. “I have been wrestling since third grade. Coach is like my second father. How sad to me that last year we were honored by the city as ‘EP Heroes’ (for winning another state title) and this year we are in this same room fighting to save our sports.”

A young Donnie Senna explained how sports has made him a good student. “Because of soccer and wrestling I have all A’s. before I didn’t know how to get good grades, now I want to get them.”

When a parent asked why we have so many school superintendents of schools in Rhode Island, O’Keefe agreed. “I am with you. I think we could have an East Bay School Department, for instance. It could be easy to solve our budget problems if we did things like this. But people don’t want to give up the local identity,” continued O’Keefe.

Local coach Jim Russo asked “what will it take to reinstate these sports?” “Help us close the $20 million dollar hole you still have in this city,” was O’Keefe’s sobering response. In the end, several residents thanked O’Keefe for his time and acknowledged that the budget commission had a difficult job. Vin Spremuli approached O’Keefe as the meeting ended and said “I disagree with you but thank you for your time and effort.” “Likewise,” said O’Keefe. “This community should fight passionately for what they want.”