Community Corner

Letter to the Editor: Resident Responds to Firing of Track Coach

Steven Fitzsimmons, Jr. expresses his reaction to the recent firing or Westwood High School track coach Tom Davis.

Editor's Note: The following was submitted as a letter to the editor by Steven Fitzsimmons, Jr., a Westwood resident, in response to the , former head coach of the Westwood High School boys' track team.

Superintendent Antonucci, administration officials, and all others it may concern:

In a recent announcement on the Westwood Public Schools website, Superintendent Antonucci writes, "While I cannot discuss the specifics of a confidential personnel matter . . ." This is a personnel matter that affects many students, parents, and employees of the Westwood Public School System.

Find out what's happening in Westwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This "personnel matter" as you put it, deals with a public employee that is paid for by state and town taxes. Therefore, it is not a "confidential matter," rather the opposite. The public has the right to know the specifics, because it is ultimately the public (students, parents, and staff) that is affected by this "personnel matter". Also, may I point out the fact that you not only serve the public and are employed by the public, but so do the individuals involved in this "personnel matter". Given this, please tell me, Superintendent Antonucci, why would this matter be confidential? Should the public not know the specifics of this "personnel matter" involving public servants? Surely in this case you would deny this request, citing Wakefield Teachers Association v. Wakefield School Committee, 431 Mass. 792 (2000). It seems, though, that this case is different. The matter in question has resulted in the firing of a public employee, and it is the public's right to know specifics.

In this statement, you also write, "It is my responsibility to ensure that our employees implement programs in a way that is consistent with the overall mission of the Westwood Public Schools." Is a physical altercation between a Westwood student-athlete and the Athletic Director "consistent with the overall mission of the Westwood Public Schools"? In a statement made three years ago, you yourself stated that a staff member reacted angrily to a remark by a high school student and momentarily made physical contact with the student. With a confrontational history behind him and a police report that cites "simple assault," it is troubling to me that a coach would get fired for an attempt to avoid such a situation. How is it that a teacher/administrator can assault a student, and still be employed working with students? It seems that this history of a short fuse has something to do with this situation.

Find out what's happening in Westwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Also, the reasoning behind this entire matter is, simply put, baffling. Distance runners not allowed to run shirtless in the hot weather? This is absolutely absurd. It seems that the student-athletes agree as well, as evidenced by them modifying tee shirts as to provide more cool air and sweat evaporation (ultimately cooling the athlete's body temperature). Would you rather have student-athletes working hard to become the best athlete they can be, or have student-athletes keeling over in heat stroke and dehydration? Unfortunately, this is not a far-fetched possibility. Tell me, Superintendent Antonucci, is the swim team not allowed to take their shirts off either? Also, it is my knowledge that this "rule" is not written down anywhere. And finally, when the decision was made that students were not allowed to train shirtless, were any of the actual student-athletes asked for input on this? It doesn't seem likely to me.

As there are two sides to every story, this is a request for the administration's side. This is not a matter that can be just swept under the rug. It is the strong feeling of the public that the wrong decision has been made here. This is certainly a case where there has been a significant over-reaction (as Mr. Fogel has a documented history of) to a questionable policy. He has hit a child, berated another recently, and gotten into a shouting match with a coach (in front of student-athletes). This is about as unprofessional as it gets. "Who is he going to strike at next?" should be the question asked here. I can tell you that I would not want a man with a history of physical abuse and a short explosive temper riding a motorized vehicle through my child's practices. That just has danger written all over it. 

In the end it seems that this overly egotistical Athletic Director and the Superintendent of Schools that is sticking by him need a little dose of humble pie. The public needs to press the core issues laying under the surface, and the administration needs to answer to the public.

Steven Fitzsimmons, Jr.
Concerned Citizen


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here