5 Facts

Swampscott Student's Logo is Right Call for Basketball Referees

Here is one of five things to know about Swampscott today: Swampscott High junior Dan Woolhiser created the winning logo for 400 men and women on Board 130 of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials.

1) Newsbit of the Day: Board 130 of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials (IAABO) conducted a logo contest in partnership with the fine arts department at Swampscott High School. Board 130 is comprised of more than 400 men and women who officiate youth, high school and collegiate basketball throughout the region. There was a need to develop a logo for marketing, advertisement and potential merchandising purposes. Teacher Anita Balliro coordinated student participation at Swampscott High. “The assignment was not an easy one for the group, as it contained many moving parts," she said. Approximately 30 submissions were received by the Board 130 Executive Committee. The winning design, created by junior Dan Woolhiser, …

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Lowell Principal a Unanimous Choice For SHS Job

Search committee liked his experience and interpersonal skills.

  Swampscott High's new principal, Edward J. Rozmiarek, was the clear choice of the principal search committee, the superintendent said yesterday. "It was unanimous, there was no question," Superintendent Lynne Celli said. Rozmiarek has a wide range of experience including instructor, assistant principal and principal as well as a legal background.  He has introduced innovative and academically challenging programs at Lowell High, the superintendent said. In addition, building administrators, teachers, students, parents and community members liked the way the candidate connected with them, the superintendent said. Rozmiarek is currently headmaster of Lowell High School, where he has served since 2010.  He signed his contract with …

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Swampscott High Has New Principal

The superintendent announced the name of the principal this afternoon.

  Swampscott High's new principal is Edward J. Rozmiarek, currently headmaster of Lowell High School, where he has served since 2010.  He will begin in Swampscott July 1, Swampscott Superintendent Lynne Celli announced in a news release.  The superintendent was assisted in the selection process by a team of Swampscott High School teachers, Central Office Administrators, building administrators, parents, members of the community, and Swampscott High School students. “The Search Committee and I spent many hours reviewing applicants for the position,” the superintendent said.  “The pool of candidates was strong, and to me that shows the positive reputation that our district has in educational circles across the state.  I want to publically …

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Judo Gold Medalist Talks Abuse and Recovery

Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison of Marblehead spoke to Swampscott High students at an all-school assembly on Tuesday.

Kayla Harrison grabbed the attention of 700 Swampscott High kids Tuesday and threw it where her story led, places empty and full. The US Olympian from Marblehead even threw one of the kids — sturdy football player and wrestler Maleek Newsome — to the auditorium floor in a demonstration showing skills that made her the first American ever to gold medal in judo. For all the entertainment her visit generated and the buzz that stirred over the gold medal she passed around to students, her talk was on abuse, with stops at silence, action and recovery.   Sex Abuse By Coach Can't Stop Kayla Kayla, in sneakers and jeans rolled at the bottom, standing below the auditorium stage, didn't talk much about the circumstances surrounding the abuse. She …

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Letter to the Editor: Vote O'Connor For Organization and People Skills

Resident Maureen Caron says Amy O'Connor works diligently and communicates well.

I do believe we need a new set of eyes and ears on the School Committee and Amy O’Connor is a perfect candidate.  I have had the pleasure of working with Amy for several years now as she volunteered to work with the PTO and as the Director of After School Programs at Stanley School.  I have gotten to know her very well.  In her role as After School Program Director at Stanley, Amy worked diligently to keep the lines of communication open with students, parents, and the Stanley School Office.  Her spreadsheets were the best I have had to work with in the 12 years I have worked at Stanley School, all of which were well organized and accurate.  She is intelligent, her knowledge of technology is excellent, and she has very strong organization …

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Updated: Town Administrator Says Chapter 70 Funding Hopes Dim

The Legislature does not seem to support the governor's proposed $700,000 increase for Swampscott. Rep. Lori Ehrlich says it remains to be seen what the final budget will provide for education.

  What was once promising news for education funding in Swampscott — Chapter 70 dollars — now looks far less promising. On Wednesday night Town Administrator Tom Younger told selectmen the House and Senate do not appear to support funding the town at 17.5 percent of foundation funding — the minimum amount needed to educate students in a town. Gov. Deval Patrick had proposed a $700,000 increase for Swampscott in his proposed Fiscal Year 2014 budget, thereby bringing the town to the foundation level. But the House and Senate look as if the best they would do for Swampscott is a $190,000 increase, leaving the town about $500,000 short of the $700,000 threshhold, he said. And the town may receive less than the $190,000 increase; maybe no …

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Alcohol Use Disqualifies Two Big Blue Hockey Players

The players will not be able to compete in the state championship game vs. Westfield at the TD Garden on Sunday.

  Big Blue will go to the Garden ice without two hockey players on Sunday after they admitted to drinking alcohol, a violation of Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association rules. Swampscott earned the right to play in the 3:30 p.m. state championship game against Westfield by virtue of their dramatic run through the tournament including wins against Marblehead, Bedford and Medway. Two of the team's players who were at a Swampscott High School dance on Friday night admitted to drinking alcohol, Superintendent Lynne Celli said this morning. The students' parents were called to the school and picked up their children, the superintendent said. The superintendent said the incident is disheartening. "I'm distraught," she said." I'm …

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Principal Millington a Finalist for Marblehead High Post

Swampscott High Principal Layne Millington is a finalist for principal jobs at two nearby high schools.

  Swampscott High School Principal Layne Millington is one of three finalists for principal positions at both Peabody Veterans Memorial High School and Marblehead High School. Marblehead Superintendent Greg Maass is expected to announce the new principal on Monday, said Louise Genualdo, director of human resources for Marblehead schools. The other two finalists are Deb Heaton, Marblehead High's interim principal, and Edward Rozmiarek, Lowell High headmaster. The Marblehead principal search started in January when a screening committee recommended eight applicants to an interview committee. The interview committee conducted interviews and narrowed the field to four finalists. One of them subsequently accepted a position elsewhere. The …

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Larger Classes and Teacher Cuts Loom if Governor's Budget Fails

Schools would have to cut more than $1 million in projected spending.

  Under a worst case scenario in the coming school year, Swampscott would have to increase elementary class sizes and cut the librarian positions at the high school and middle school. It would require other cuts, as well, including two special education positions and two task management positions at the high school. In total, the district would have to reduce spending by $1,012,399 to operate with a level-funded budget — the same amount of money as this year: $24,305,000. Superintendent Lynne Celli told the School Committee earlier this month that town funding for the district in 2013-14 was at the same level as this year's funding. The superintendent, principals, the business manager, and others consulted on the budget, arriving at cuts …

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Derek

1:45 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Excellent point(s) Chris! "Mismanagement" is the buzzword for this town and a good deal of it starts with the school system itself. I wasn't born and raised here so I have the fortunate perspective of living in other communities and seeing it done better than here. It's going to be an interesting year!   more ›