<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4TmX1x_0vkjGT0s00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4TmX1x_0vkjGT0s00" width="1000" height="750" ><figcaption>WA Press Box. (Photo/Ben Domaingue)</figcaption></figure>WESTFORD — The School Committee continued their conversation about renaming the Westford Academy Press Box last Monday.Earlier this month the School Committee met to discuss renaming the football field press box at Westford Academy in honor of Michael Parent. The purpose of the Sept. 16 meeting was to give the School Committee members an idea of who Parent was and why the community wanted to name the press box after him.Kathie Ablondi, former Westford Academy Administrative Assistant, and Mike Cannata, an alumnus of the Westford Academy class of 2000 and students of Parent, spoke at the meeting on Parent’s merits.“Looking back at my time at WA Mr. Parent was one of the teachers that made it such a great experience,” Cannata said, “Mr. Parent wasn’t a traditional teacher, he wasn’t a history or math teacher, but he taught us all about being better people and preparing us for the real world and he did that better than anyone.”Cannata concluded his remarks by saying that this simple act of renaming the press box to someone who has served his community for over 30 years would be a great gesture.Ablondi not only worked with Parent but also he also coached two of her kids. She commented on Parent’s ability to be a firm leader but also a loving mentor.“I think they [her kids] would rather disappoint me than disappoint that man,” Ablondi said, “They really cared for him and he was very good with all students.”Former WA Principal James Antonelli also attended the meeting. Antonelli has known Parent since the 1980s, he has worked with and coached with Parent and looks back on those experiences fondly.“He’s a guy that has made a tremendous impact on so many students throughout his career and I think that this opportunity for us to provide him a piece of his legacy by putting his name on the press box just says something about how much he means to the community of Westford,” Antonelli said.The reason renaming the press box was not a straightforward decision is because, according to the policy, certain criteria must be met to rename a structure or space. The policy also does not specify if a press box falls under the criteria.“The way that the policy is currently written it speaks to spaces including but not limited to school buildings, athletic facilities and open spaces,” School Committee member Sean Kelly said.The policy requires that any name approved by a naming committee is considered at annual town meeting. However, the School Committee discussed the possibility of suspending the policy or changing it altogether.The School Committee will continue discussions on Sept. 30.</div></body>

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School Committee continues discussion on WA press box name

WESTFORD — The School Committee continued their conversation about renaming the Westford Academy Press Box last Monday. Earlier this month the School Committee met to discuss renaming the football field press box at Westford Academy in honor of Michael Parent. The purpose of the Sept. 16 meeting was to...