Middle school girls’ character glows

by Sheldon Ocker

November 19 board of education meeting

Middle school Principal Bill Conley told the Revere board of education a story of kindness by his girls cross country team that was so touching he was almost brought to tears.

The incident came to his attention in an email sent to middle school husband and wife coaches Russ and Veronica Neubert by Hudson parents Jenna and Justin Richmond. Their almost-6-year-old daughter, Cora, ran in an October youth cross-country meet in Stow that the Revere girls attended.

According to her parents’ email, Cora was struggling to continue the race.

“What happened next was unexpected, completely selfless and revealed the highest character and empathy of your runners,” the email stated. “They cheered for Cora, clapped for her and came alongside her and started running with her.

“[Because of] their sportsmanship for another team, the compassion for a little girl they didn’t even know and the confidence to encourage her and endure through this situation, your runners are truly first class. … I have never witnessed something so moving.’’

Conley stopped reading briefly to keep from tearing up. “If I cry, no one tell my wife because she says the older I get, the more weepy I get,” he joked. “It’s moments like these that make me so proud to work in the district I’ve been able to work in for the last 11 years.”

The Revere Middle School girls – all in seventh or eighth grade – were introduced to the board. They are: Maria Abuhilwa, Lily Boelter, Grace Eldridge, Anabelle Guo, Stella Pirollo, Navanya Sen, Fabeha Shafqat and Caroline Slaven.

“We all struggle with different things in life, and these girls embraced a stranger and cheered her,” Veronica Neubert said. “Isn’t that what we want in every aspect of life, someone to be there and just walk with us to encourage us?”

Money matters

Treasurer Rick Berdine gave a rosy financial report but cautioned there might be hurdles to overcome.

“I’m confident in the overall number for the year that we will receive,” he said of revenues vs. expenditures. “You’ll see that reflected in the five-year forecast.”

According to his projections, Berdine does not expect the district to ask voters for more money in the near future. 

“We’re looking out to June of 2029 with a projected balance of $25 million,” he said, referring to his five-year forecast. “We are fortunate with the tax base here … also [being] beneficiaries of the [recent] tax valuation.

“We haven’t had a levy since 2011. That’s probably a record in the history of Revere. I’d be happy to continue that record.”

He cautioned, however, that the expense side of the ledger is feeling pressure from rising healthcare costs and an increasing need to raise the budget for special needs students whose numbers have been increasing.

Dispute resolution

The board approved a resolution that directs the district to enter into a settlement agreement with the family of a disabled student “regarding the board’s provision of a free and appropriate public education to their child under the Individuals of Disabilities Education Improvement Act.”

Donations An anonymous donor contributed $400 to Revere’s Feeding the Future program; The Bath-Richfield Kiwanis Club donated $500 to the Revere Key Club; Heart of Revere gave $44 to a student in need; John Bernatovicz donated his stipend of $750 to the middle school golf club; high school girls golf coach Jeremy Harpley donated his salary back to the team; the Minutemen Takedown Club contributed $5,000 to the Revere wrestling program for equipment; Lauren Scherr and Janet Stern each gave $100 to the eighth-grade ELA unit; Marianne Grandon donated warmup jackets and pants to the Revere High swim team valued at $462.