Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 11/3/2022
LONGMEADOW – The Longmeadow School Committee met on Oct. 24 to continue a discussion begun at its previous meeting regarding whether to accept a statue for installation on the Longmeadow High School campus.
The statue depicts the silhouette of a female runner against a background of trees and rugged terrain. School Committee member Gianna Allentuck had voiced concerns over the statue’s representation of “one kind of runner” rather than depicting various body shapes and hair types.
Meanwhile, the question was raised as to whether the statue was intended to depict Katarina Boskovic, the Longmeadow High School student and cross-country runner who died in a car accident in May, and whether that might be “triggering” for family, friends and classmates.
Superintendent M. Martin O’Shea said girls cross country varsity head coach Christine Kervian and assistant coach Marianne Smith suggested an inscription be added to the base of the statue declaring a commitment to cross country and track athletes. He said that, while the statue was inspired by Boskovic, the statue is meant to be an “uplifting” symbol to all track athletes.
“Kervian said that when a runner sees another runner, they are inspired, no matter what the look of that person. She added that the statue is “reflective of Kat’s spirit.”
Smith told the committee that she had spoken with Boskovic’s mother, who was “in agreement” about the statue’s installation. She also said the coaches had polled the cross country team for their opinions. She said the student-athletes had agreed that the statue is “beautiful.” Further, Smith said the team had celebrated Boskovic’s birthday in September and there would be a run in her honor on Nov. 25. “I don’t think that this, per se, would necessarily be triggering,” Smith said.
Allentuck thanked the coaches for helping to procure the statue and listening to the committee’s concerns. School Committee Vice Chair Mary Keane suggested that the unveiling should include all runners on both the male and female high school teams, as well as incoming athletes.
The statue was accepted and once finished, will be installed in front of the cross country record board next to the concession stand.
Safety
O’Shea informed the committee that the district had been working with the Longmeadow Police and Fire departments on school safety plans. District staff and faculty, and emergency services leadership will be resuming tabletop exercises in which hypothetical situations are run. The exercises were paused during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. O’Shea said the scenario drills are “really effective.”
The superintendent reported that Fire Chief John Dearborn has briefed the District Safety Team on preparations for student-athlete emergencies. School Committee member Jaime Hensch pointed out that a chain of command is essential in an emergency, and it is important that everyone knows who is in charge. O’Shea told him the tabletop exercises help with that by “stripping away” all the bureaucracy.
Finally, O’Shea said fire drills are being conducted with unexpected situations included, such as an evacuation route that has been cut off. These “multi-hazard” evacuations have use in active shooter situations, as well, he said.