School Committee to Review Hall of Fame

The School Committee's Policy Subcommittee on Policy will hold an information gathering public hearing on the Hall of Fame, Dr. Janet Crane, committee chair, announced Monday night.

The hearing will be held on Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. at the School Committee chambers at 29 Highland Ave.

“The object is to learn the status of the hall of fame committee,” Crane said.

The hall of fame, which was founded in 1990, primarily solicits nominations for the hall, reviews the nominees' credentials, selects the inductees, holds an induction ceremony and raises money to operate the hall of fame. It is an entirely volunteer organization.

The hall of fame has also been the topic of controversy in political and sports circles, primarily because the committee has refused for years to induct former high school football coach Ken Perrone.

Critics of the committee have also challenged the informal rules that govern the hall of fame board, particularly in determining the terms members serve on the board and how new board members are selected.

City Councilor-At-Large Tom Furey has been a frequent critic of the hall of fame and has asked the school committee three times to launch an investigation into the hall of fame committee. The hearing next week is in response to a recent request by Furey to look into the committee.

The controversy stems from the 1994 teacher strike, when Perrone played a football game. Perrone has been inducted into the halls of fame at and the University of Maine. He coached baseball at Salem State, Furey said.

Playing the football game during the strike was opposed by then-Superintendent Ed Curtin, who is a member of the hall of fame committee. Other committee members include Salem High School Principal David Angeramo, Director of Athletics Scott Connolly, Lawrence McIntire, the former director of , and former High School Principal Sean Gallagher.

Former Superintendent Bill Cameron last March wrote a memorandum to the school committee, outlining the history of the hall of fame. He made no recommendation for any changes or actions by the school committee.

On the issue of replacing board members, he wrote: “When a vacancy opens on the board, the remaining members meet to decide whom to invite to join them. The process is informal.”

A vacancy occurred last year when Joseph “Pep” Cornacchio died.

After Cornacchio died, Furey proposed that “a turnover of the hall of fame committee's members would provide new perspective. Clearly some members have had an ax to grind with some of the coaches involved in the strike.”

Furey described Perrone as no “saint, but he's a coach's coach.”

He urged the school committee to “bring closure to this matter and dignity to the hall of fame. After 16 years it's time to move on and organize a new committee with no past ghosts or demons.”