Party to Celebrate AHS Principal Rages On

The party to celebrate retiring Arlington High School Principal Charles Skidmore rages on. This time, Arlington community members are selling an integral piece of Skidmore's career to raise funds to : his writings.

“Everyone who has had a child at AHS in the past seven years will remember the insightful, warm and witty 'updates' that each begin with a personal anecdote or observation and blend into letting the community know what's going on at the high school,” said Donna Eidson, who is spearheading the efforts, in an email.

Eidson and her team put in book format a collection of Skidmore's famous emails to school parents. The book, which is more than 50 pages long, will cost $10 and funds will proceed to The Charles Arlington Skidmore Learning Commons, a tribute to the high school's outgoing principal.

Skidmore—whose middle name is in fact "Arlington"—announced in January . The renaming of the school's media center honors the seven-year principal who has captured the respect and affection of so many in the Arlington community.

The media center is going to be renovated and brought up to the 21st century, Eidson said. The core collection of books there needs to be updated, the media center needs some newer research databases and the physical space needs a face lift, she said.

Eidson said a final estimate has not been calculated yet, but she hopes the learning commons will cost about $50,000. So she's starting to raise funds.

To make a donation, visit Arlingtoneducationfoundationma.org, and click on Skidmore Fundraiser. The Arlington Education Foundation is acting as fiscal agent for this fundraising project.

On June 10, Eidson and her team are at the high school. The event begins at 6 p.m.