Crowd Revved Up Over Possible Elimination of SHS Auto Shop

Although the main topic of conversation for the Stoneham School Committee on Thursday night was supposed to be a public hearing on the upcoming year’s budget, one could be forgiven if it seemed like the topic was the potential elimination of ’s automotive program.

About 30 students, parents and other residents crowded into the Stoneham High Library to make their case heard on why the automotive program should not be among the possible cuts needed to make up the school district’s nearly $1 million budget shortfall for the fiscal 2012.

A steady stream of testimony ranged into a variety of reasons why the program should be saved.

Some cited the cost savings from the repairs made by the automotive program on district vehicles at cost that would require additional labor charges as well as the cost savings for saving on tuition fees to regional vocational centers for students who might be interested in the class at the High School.

Another negative against sending automotive students to vocational centers cited by some of the testifiers was the act of physical violence against students they claimed occurred in the vocational centers as opposed to the camaraderie built between the students at Stoneham High.

However, the primary theme among those hoping to save the program came from impassioned current, former, and even hopeful future students of the program.

Dana Meritt, an experienced Stoneham mechanic currently planning to open an auto repair center on Main Street, the program is not just an elective, but a way for students to gain a career and a broader outlook on life.

“The unique thing here is that while automotive (shop) is not only an elective, but a trade that can produce not only a well rounded student, but someone that can fix their own vehicles,” Meritt said. “The one key that you have to look at is whether this program is going to offer an opportunity for certain children and young adults to give themselves a better life because all (of a) sudden you realize he’s a natural.”

One of those “naturals” was Steve Sheldon, a 2008 Stoneham High graduate currently working in the automotive field who said that he wouldn't have graduated from high school without the program.

“As friends of mine and family can tell you, coming to school wasn’t a very big thing for me, I didn't enjoy coming to school and sitting in classes. However, I did come to school and made sure I was here for auto (shop),” Sheldon said. “I turned around and made auto into my career.

"If you take it away, you’re taking away from a lot of the kids (like me) that enjoy learning about cars and working on cars.”

The stream of supporters culminated with ninth grade class president Vincent Lee, who had been watching the meeting on television.

Claiming that the School Committee members were “falling asleep” during the testimony, Lee felt indignant towards the thought that the program could be cut, noting that some of his classmates he had talked who did poorly in core subjects but felt pride at their achievements in automotive may drop out of school completely if the program were to be eliminated.

As for the budgetary difficulties cited by the board, Lee believed it was poor excuse for the potential elimination of the program, given his belief that enrollment in the program would more than double in the next year from the students he had talked to.

“When I got to this school all I ever heard was that we’re getting budget cuts,” said Lee, who hopes to attend Harvard University upon graduation. “It’s the same thing over and over. How can you keep cutting a cake into thinner and thinner slices until there’s nothing left for everyone to share? You’re just going to keep cutting until no one has anything left? It’s unfair.”

The total cost of the auto program is roughly $55,000, and it was just one of the proposed cuts including the elimination of 7.2 teaching positions, closing the elementary school Italian program and making reductions to the physical education and other fine arts electives depending on enrollment figures.

Budget deliberations are expected to happen at the School Committee's next session on April 28.

Town Meeting is slated for May 2.