Woog’s World: Staples High enters ‘golden age’ – Thehour.com

A plan to divide the school into four separate “houses” – theoretically sound, but unwieldy physically – foundered. In an attempt to rein in students wandering the campus in their free time, a “Potpourri” program of movies and speakers was created. The abandoned Nike missile site just north of the school became a favored spot for whatever teenagers do in their free time. The first youth officer was assigned to campus.

The Staples Governing Board – a unique institution of administrators, teachers, students and parents making most decisions for the school (except personnel and funding), which had drawn national attention but became unsupported by new administrators and Boards of Education – withered. In 1978 the SGB surrendered its legislative role, and became advisory only.

Staples’ reputation for innovation and high standards – built over nearly 100 years, and chronicled in three previous “Woog’s World” columns – seemed threatened on all sides.

There was plenty to crow about, of course. An Alternatives program for at-risk students began; so did a Project Adventure ropes course for physical education. Girls sports grew; a boys lacrosse team began in 1976. Staples Players won the prestigious Moss Hart Award for their Native American play, “Black Elk Speaks.”

The years between 1978 and ’81 were particularly fraught. A modernization project to connect all nine buildings with interior walkways and a brick exterior took place while school continued. Construction workers and vehicles shared space with staff and students – not always easily. It was noisy and muddy. One year, the odor of tar overpowered students taking Advanced Placement exams. Vandalism rose.

But when the work was done, a handsome new school emerged. It included a new fieldhouse and pool. To reward students who had lived through three years of chaos, the graduating class of 1981 was promised free use of the pool for life. (When an alum tried to claim it years later, he was turned away.)

Marvyn Jaffe took over as principal. His firm hand was not appreciated by everyone, but he brought order to North Avenue. (It took a while. He had to ban floats from the homecoming parade because of inappropriateness, and a powder puff football game turned into a drunken brawl.)

New classes were created for jazz and television production. Staples Players won the Moss Hart Award – again – for “Cabaret.” In 1983, for the first time since 1926, ninth graders joined the school when junior highs moved to a middle school model.

But in 1983 a New England evaluation called Staples “truly outstanding.” Three years later, the former New York Times education editor named it one of the 46 best in the country. In between, Staples celebrated its 100th anniversary with a program that included a visit from a relative of founder Horace Staples.

In 1992, a 10-year accreditation team cited Staples as a “lighthouse school,” while making 34 recommendations for rehabilitating the building. Gloria Rakovic took over as principal – the first woman head in modern history. In 1994, a Gay-Straight Alliance – the first at any Connecticut public high school – was formed.

Mariangela Lisanti earned international fame in 2001, winning a pair of $100,000 scholarships in both the Siemens Westinghouse and Intel science talent searches. Staples Players continued to earn major honors, while Staples gained national attention for excellence in the four “A”s: academics, arts, athletics and activities.

But the big story of the 2000s was a new building. Just 20 years after “modernization,” the 1958-era school had outlived its useful life. A new one was needed.

Early plans for building on sites behind the present school – on the soccer field or football field – were scrapped, in favor of a new structure rising on the site of the present one. The cost would be $74 million.

A petition drive for a referendum to cut the cost in half failed to gain enough signatures. Construction began on July 1, 2003. Two years later, a handsome, state-of-the-art school was finished. With a new principal – John Dodig, who served a year as an interim, then loved the job so much he applied for the permanent post – the current golden age of Staples High School began.

The staff that shepherded Staples from the 1960s through the early 2000s is gone. In their place are dozens of bright, talented men and women, with eclectic backgrounds.

Education has changed. They face more and different challenges, during class and beyond, than their predecessors. But 138 years after Horace Staples had a dream and built a school, they honor his legacy daily. 

Dan Woog is a Westport writer, and his “Woog’s World” appears each Friday. He can be reached at dwoog@optonline.net. His personal blog is danwoog06880.com.