Pento Road students to remain in schools
Published on September 1st, 1999
STONEHAM, MA - Jonathan Fraser and three other children from Pento Road in Woburn will be allowed to graduate from Stoneham High with their friends.
The school committee made the decision after listening to neighbors, friends and Jonathan at the Aug. 26 meeting.
"I didn't do anything wrong, did I? So, can you please help me," Jonathan Fraser asked the School Committee Thursday night.
Fraser, a rising seventh-grader at the Stoneham Middle School, is one of four Stoneham students who live on Pento Road, just over the border in Woburn. The school department sent out letters this summer telling parents of Pento road students that the children would have to attend Woburn schools in the fall.
"He is very upset," said Elsie Fraser, Jonathan's mom, in an earlier interview. "He wants to stay with his friends."
According to current school officials, a previous verbal agreement between former superintendents in Stoneham and Woburn had allowed — in fact, instructed — Pento Road parents to send their children to the nearby Robin Hood Elementary School on Magnolia Terrace in Stoneham.
In 1999 Stoneham Superintendent Joseph Connelly identified the out-of-town students in the system. The children were in violation of school policy and, thus, asked to leave. Policy 9-17 of the school department requires students to be residents.
Attorney Charles Houghton represented Jonathan for no fee, as a friend. Houghton's son and Jonathan went through the Robin Hood School together.
Houghton presented a letter to the committee from Jonathan's principal at the Stoneham Middle School reminding Jonathan of his fall schedule.
"I know this is an issue of money, but Jonathan is already figured in for this year...and money isn't everything," Houghton said.
He asked the board "What would you do if he were your child?"
Parents of Jonathan's classmates were present to support the young man.
"I think the emotional damage to the kids would outweigh the costs," said Armando DeAngelis of Barbara Road.
Before making the decision in Jonathan's favor, the School Committee explained its previous position.
"The superintendent must follow school committee policy," Chairwoman Jeanne Craigie said.
"The old superintendent violated policy and did not tell us," School Committee member Stephen Gucciardi said.
Craigie and Gucciardi spoke of putting the children first. Both said some taxpayers would criticize the decision. But both felt they had done the right thing to resolve a past mistake.
"Jonathan, you are a persuasive speaker," Gucciardi added.
The vote of the School Committee to let the Pento Road kids finish in Stoneham was unanimous.
Only these four out-of-town students will be allowed to remain until they graduate. From now on Pento Road children will attend the Woburn schools.
When asked if he was glad to get back to school, Jonathan smiled and said, "Well, I'm glad I'm going to be back with my friends."
Elsie Fraser wanted to express her gratitude to all the parents who called or came out to support Jonathan and to the school committee members who voted to let him stay.
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