Members of the Norwood School Committee stated last night that the high school band’s recent performance on behalf of State Senator John M. Quinlan, R-Norwood, at the Republican party’s state convention on June 1 was undertaken completely without their official approval.
Committee Chairman Charles C. Saraca reacted with immediate anger when told of the event, noting it was never listed on the official band calendar that had been formally approved by the board at the beginning of the school year. An observer at last night’s meeting, Thomas DiFrancia, revealed that the band was paid a $1,000 fee for the appearance. He added that the money was intended to help the musical unit fund its planned trip to the Orange Bowl in Miami Beach next winter.
School Superintendent Dr. Philip O. Coakley admitted that he had personally given music director Paul Alberta permission to take the band to the convention. “I took the responsibility. He called me and asked and I made the decision,” Dr. Coakley stated. Chairman Saraca bluntly informed the superintendent, “You made a wrong decision,” charging that the students’ participation on behalf of Senator Quinlan constituted political activity. Dr. Coakley countered that the group was simply paid “an honorarium” to perform at the convention, which was held at Boston University’s Walter Brown Arena, to help defray the approximately $250 per-member cost of the six-day bus trip.
The high school’s planned Orange Bowl trip has already generated significant local controversy. Some parents have heavily criticized the steep $50,000 cost of sending the 200-member group to Florida, openly questioning the heavily commercial nature of the New Year’s Day spectacle. At a special open meeting regarding the trip held Monday night at the high school, Mr. Alberta defended the profound social and musical value of the endeavor, while announcing an ambitious fundraising effort to be undertaken by band members and parents. Although Chairman Saraca initially considered calling Mr. Alberta before the board immediately, he later stated he would place the matter on the committee’s official agenda for next week, when members will formally decide if disciplinary or corrective action should be taken.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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