- Shelton High School (Connecticut)
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Shelton High School 
Location 120 Meadow Street
Shelton, Connecticut, USAInformation Type Public Established 1973 School district Shelton Public Schools Principal Dr. Beth Smith Faculty 106 Grades 9-12 Gender Coeducational Number of students 1784 students Color(s) Orange and Black Mascot Gael Newspaper Gael Winds Magnet School No Charter School No Year-round schedule No Website Shelton High School website Shelton High School (SHS) is a public high school in Shelton, Connecticut. The school is located in eastern Fairfield County, Connecticut. It has a student body of approximately 1700 from grades 9 through 12. Other nearby High Schools are Trumbull High School & St. Joseph High School (Trumbull, Connecticut), Masuk High School (Monroe, Connecticut), Bunnell High School & Stratford High School (Stratford, Connecticut)
In May, 2011, Shelton High School's headmaster, Beth Smith, gained international attention for her decision to ban senior honors student James Tate and two friends from the senior prom for posting a message above the school entrance asking his classmate Sonali Rodrigues to be his date.[1][2][3] After widespread criticism and international attention it was announced on May 14, 2011 that Smith had reversed her decision and the three would be allowed to attend the dance.[4]
NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky is a Shelton High School alumnus.
Contents
SHS History
Outside Shelton High School during Construction in 1973.The first four SHS graduates received their diplomas on June 26, 1889, from the 'first' Shelton High School. In 1894, the First School Society became the Town School Committee with Walter D. Hood as the first school superintendent.[5]
The current Shelton High School was built in 1973 by Fusco Construction Company.[citation needed] Through the years Shelton High School has provided excellent educational programs that provide a safe, healthy, and encouraging learning environment where academic and co-curricular opportunities enable students to develop to their fullest potential and to become life-long learners. In 2006 the city of Shelton wanted to renovate the High School, so they set out to vote on it.[citation needed] The city got the vote to renovate the High School at a cost of about $25,000,000 and quickly began to start the project. Fusco Construction Company was again hired to be the construction manager for the project.[citation needed] The renovation started in the Summer of 2006 and the majority of the renovation was completed in August 2008. Dr. Beth Smith became Shelton High School's new headmaster at the start of the 2008-2009 school year.[citation needed] She replaced Mr. Donald K. Ramia who retired at the end of the 2007-2008 school year.[citation needed]
SHS December 2008 Fire
A cigarette thrown into a garbage can in the maintenance department's storage closet sparked the fire that damaged a portion of Shelton High School. That closet, on the second floor of the building behind the cafeteria, contained both paper supplies and chemical cleaning agents, which reportedly led to an explosion in the closet, which set off the fire. Heavy smoke got into the school's ventilation system, sending it throughout the school, which fire officials said resulted in heavy smoke damage. Firefighters had to break several windows in classrooms, including the new fourth floor science wing, to ventilate the smoke. There also was heavy water damage that occurred while they were putting out the fire. The damage is extensive, in the millions of dollars. The media center also was heavily damaged by the smoke, and a thermal imaging camera showed flames coming out of the ductwork. Fire damage was confined to the second-floor storeroom where the fire broke out shortly after noon on Dec. 30. Heavy smoke damage occurred only in second and third floor areas directly over the storeroom. The odor of smoke permeated in just about all of the rest of the school. Fire Marshal Tortora said the fire-rated storeroom, designed to keep a fire from spreading rapidly, and the HVAC system, designed to shut off if smoke is detected, both worked as they were supposed to. Some of the heaviest smoke damage occurred in the adjacent storage closets, several nearby classrooms and in the media center on the floor above the fire, leaving soot stains on the walls, furniture and contents. Some books and computers may have to be replaced. A number of doors were damaged as firefighters dealt with heavy smoke. Cleanup of the school started Wednesday December 31, 2008.
- Three Alarm blaze at Shelton High School
- No Sprinklers at Shelton High School fire
- Cigarette caused Shelton High School Fire
Gael Winds
The school newspaper is called the Gael Winds.[6]
Athletics[7]
Shelton High School has a variety of sports programs, such as the football, baseball, boys' volleyball, swimming, ice hockey, girls and boys indoor and outdoor track and field programs. They are part of the Housatonic Division of the Southern Connecticut Conference.[8]
The Shelton Gaels high school football team won the state championship in 1988, 1995, 2000, and 2003. The Gaels have been a mainstay in statewide newspaper polls and rankings for the past ten years, usually being ranked one of the best teams in the state by sports columnists and reporters.
The Shelton Gaels high school men's volleyball team won the state championship back-to-back in 2004 and 2005, running an impressive 46-0 straight record.
The Shelton Boys Cross Country Team won their first ever Division Championship, and SCC Championship in 2007, as well as making their first trip to the New England championships. In 2008, they placed 2nd in the CIAC State Open Championships, and 4th in the New England Championships.
Construction and Renovation
Shelton High School recently underwent a $25,000,000 renovation project.
Some of the renovations include:
- Auditorium upgrades, which include new seating, lighting, sound, technology, and more
- A new science wing was added from the existing library mezzanine. In addition, all other science classrooms were renovated to a 'like new' condition
- New HVAC system/mechanical system
- Air quality improvement
- Electrical system upgrades
- Building technology upgrade
- Phone system upgrade
- Plumbing
- Fire alarm system, life safety systems, ADA, and building codes
- Site reconstruction
An addition, at the east side of the school a wing of about 18,000 square feet (1,700 m2) was added that contains new weight room and locker rooms areas. The old weight room was constructed into an auxiliary gymnasium. New student lockers were installed throughout the building as well. Construction started in the Summer of 2006 and major construction was completed by August 2008. During the summer of 2009, new outside doors will be installed along the building. Also, construction crews will be coming in to redo the cafeteria ceiling because the one recently put up is now sagging due to unexpected moisture in the area. The new boilers are going to be replaced due to unsatisfactory performance. The new health room will be reconstructed to reduce the noise levels in the room.
Some Construction Photos From 2007 
Fire Rehabilitation Construction
During the summer of 2009 construction began to rehabilitate all damages done by the fire. New fire doors throughout the building were installed. The floor in the main lobby was ripped up and reinstalled due to a crack caused by water and a support beam that needed to be replaced from the fire. Old interior sheetrock walls were removed form classrooms, and new fireproof cinder blocks were installed along with a door leading to the next classroom for an emergency. Also construction in the library, and in the maintenance / custodial area was performed to bring those areas back to perfection. New fire hose boxes were installed to replace old outdated ones. All fire code violations were addressed. A number of small tasks were also performed during that summer break like fixing wires that were cut or damaged by the fire or fire cleanup.
SHS 2008 sprinkler issue
Despite this major renovation, there were growing concerns about the state's fire codes in the school. State law and building codes clearly state sprinkler systems must be installed in older schools that undergo renovations, which is true. But later investigation showed that Shelton High School does meet all fire code requirements. Building Committee Chairman Anthony Simonetti said that Shelton High School did not go under a 'like new' renovation. Instead it went through an “alteration”; it does not require putting sprinklers in the building automatically. Fire Marshal Tortora said there are some violations of the state fire code having to do with several windowless rooms which will soon be fixed.
A fire caused extensive damage in part of the school in late December 2008, while students were out for their holiday break. During the fire cleanup, another building inspection took place in the building. Conducted by the Shelton Fire Marshall's office, it found 8 pages of fire code violations, some having to do with the lack of sprinklers in maintenance areas and art rooms. The building's fire doors were also cited. Many of the door's self-closing devices were broken, some doors were bent and couldn't close, and some didn't have fire alarm magnets.
2011 Prom banning
Incident
Shelton High School Headmaster Beth Smith came under widespread fire following press reports on May 11, 2011 of her decision to ban senior James Tate (an honors student with no prior disciplinary record) and two friends from attending the senior prom, a "once-in-a-lifetime" event.[9] The students had taped a message of 12-inch high cardboard letters above the school's entrance inviting Tate's classmate, Sonali Rodrigues, to go to the dance with him.[10] In addition to giving the students in-school suspensions for what she described as a safety issue, Smith described the act as trespass and banned them from the June 4th dance. Tom Murphy, a spokesman for the Connecticut State Department of Education, said that students have to learn that, "attending the prom is a privilege."[11]
Reaction
In addition to becoming the subject of protests on Facebook,[12][13] the incident gained not only national[14][15] but also international[16] attention. Tate and Rodrigues appeared on the Today Show to discuss the incident.[17]
Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti[18] and Shelton High School alumnus, NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky[19] questioned the appropriateness of the punishment. Connecticut governor Dannel Malloy sided with the student, saying "While it seems that there are rules that were broken, in this case, it doesn’t seem as though the punishment fits the crime."[20] The punishment prompted state lawmakers Jason Perillo, (R-Shelton), and Sean Williams, (R-Waterbury) to introduce an amendment to a pending bill that, with an exception for vandalism and violence, would require schools to offer parents an alternative to banning students from school related activities as means of punishment.[21]
Reversal
On Thursday, May 12, Smith read a statement in a brief press conference announcing that she stood behind her decision, citing long standing policy.[22] There were continued protests at the school Friday, with students being sent home saying they were told they were "inciting a riot and breach of peace".[23] Yet on Saturday, May 14, Smith held a press conference[24] reversing the decision, saying that "the level of distraction created by this incident" had "affected the culture of Shelton High School" and that "international notoriety" had forced her to reverse herself.[25]
Schools Superintendent Freeman Burr said, "James Tate has set for us a new standard for romanticism. Principals have to make difficult decisions every day. No one could have anticipated this kind of response."[26]
Tate would go on to attend and be elected co-King of the Prom.[27]
SHS School Photos
SHS Photos, Spring 2009 SHS Stadium 
References
- ^ Connecticut Post on line "Shelton High senior has a date, but can't go to the prom" Anne M. Amato, Staff Writer Updated 08:24 a.m., Wednesday, May 11, 2011 http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Shelton-High-senior-has-a-date-but-can-t-go-to-1373621.php
- ^ Daily Mail"You WON'T go to the ball: Teen banned from prom after posting giant invite on school's walls" By DAILY MAIL REPORTER http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1385916/You-WONT-ball-Teen-banned-prom-posting-12-foot-high-invite-schools-walls.html
- ^ "NFL Quarterback Backs Teen Barred From Prom, but School Stands Firm on Decision" By Joshua Rhett Miller Published May 12, 2011 FoxNews.com http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/05/12/connecticut-high-school-officials-hold-firm-prom-punishment/
- ^ Connecticut Teen Allowed to Attend Prom Published May 14, 2011 FoxNews.com http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/05/14/connecticut-teen-allowed-attend-prom/
- ^ "SHS History". http://www.sheltonpublicschools.org/shs/page.php?pid=839.
- ^ http://www.sheltonpublicschools.org/subsite/shs/page/gael-winds-2122
- ^ "SHS Athletics". http://www.sheltonpublicschools.org/ath/.
- ^ "Souther Connecticut Conference". Housatonic Division. http://www.southernconnecticutconference.org/index.php.
- ^ "Mayor: Punishment Doesn't Fit Crime in Case of Connecticut Teen Barred From Prom" By Joshua Rhett Miller Published May 11, 2011 FoxNews.com http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/05/11/conn-teen-posted-prom-invite-barred-dance/
- ^ "Mayor: Punishment Doesn't Fit Crime in Case of Connecticut Teen Barred From Prom". Fox News. May 11, 2011. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/05/11/conn-teen-posted-prom-invite-barred-dance/.
- ^ Mayor: Punishment Doesn't Fit Crime in Case of Connecticut Teen Barred From Prom By Joshua Rhett Miller Published May 11, 2011 FoxNews.com http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/05/11/conn-teen-posted-prom-invite-barred-dance/#ixzz1MMwUqebc
- ^ http://www.change.org/petitions/let-tate-and-his-friends-go-to-prom Online Petition for James Tate
- ^ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Let-James-Tate-Go-to-the-Prom/146161672121334?sk=wall Let James Tate Go to the Prom
- ^ "Creative Prom Invite Gets Student Suspended", NPR http://www.npr.org/2011/05/11/136198925/creative-prom-invite-gets-student-suspended
- ^ A story about this incident, featuring reporter Ben Sosenko, was aired nationially on MSNBC http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/42992010#42992010
- ^ "You WON'T go to the ball: Teen banned from prom after posting giant invite on school's walls". Daily Mail (London). May 12, 2011. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1385916/You-WONT-ball-Teen-banned-prom-posting-12-foot-high-invite-schools-walls.html.
- ^ Gendreau, LeAnne (2011 [last update]). "James Tate Take Prom Plea to Today Show | NBC Connecticut". nbcconnecticut.com. http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/James-Tate-Appears-on-the-Today-Show--121699019.html. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
- ^ Mayor: Punishment Doesn't Fit Crime in Case of Connecticut Teen Barred From Prom By Joshua Rhett Miller Published May 11, 2011 FoxNews.com http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/05/11/conn-teen-posted-prom-invite-barred-dance/#ixzz1MNuCCArL
- ^ NFL QB Joins Huddle of Support for No-Prom Teen May 12, 2011 8:28 PM EDT http://www.foxnews.mobi/sr=1/dd=1/ms=1/jsrv=72/aamsz=banner_top/site=FOXNEWS/area=FN.WEATHER.FORECASTS/quickPage.html?page=22995&content=51794924&pageNum=-1
- ^ http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/James-Tate-Appears-on-the-Today-Show--121699019.html
- ^ "NFL Quarterback Backs Teen Barred From Prom, but School Stands Firm on Decision". Fox News. May 12, 2011. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/05/12/connecticut-high-school-officials-hold-firm-prom-punishment/.
- ^ http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2011/05/13/news/valley/doc4dcc84b67ee8f797867318.txt
- ^ Tate serves suspension as fellow students attempt sit-in Anne M. Amato, Staff Writer Updated 11:16 p.m., Friday, May 13, 2011 http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Tate-serves-suspension-as-fellow-students-attempt-1377675.php
- ^ press video of press conference
- ^ http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/James-Tate-allowed-to-go-to-prom-1379594.php#ixzz1MMrcTwRF"
- ^ "Connecticut Teen Allowed to Attend Prom". Fox News. May 14, 2011. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/05/14/connecticut-teen-allowed-attend-prom/#ixzz1MO0xi3yF.
- ^ "THE BIG DANCE: James Tate and Sonali Rodrigues attend Shelton prom" New Haven Register, June 05, 2011, Pamela McLoughlin
External links
- Shelton High School Web site
- Shelton High School "Strategic School Profile 2005-2006" from the state Department of Education
- School's Web page at Great Schools Web site
- Shelton High School 2006 Rankings
- SHS Renovation Building Committee (Agendas & Minutes)
- SHS Fire Rehabilitation Building Committee (Agendas & Minutes)
- SHS PTSO
- SHS School Profile
- Online Photos
Southern Connecticut Conference, Housatonic Division
High School School Mascot Location School Colors Amity Regional High School Spartans Woodbridge, Connecticut Black & Gold Cheshire High School Rams Cheshire, Connecticut Red & White Lyman Hall High School Trojans Wallingford, Connecticut Navy & Orange Sheehan High School Titans Wallingford, Connecticut Maroon & Gold Shelton High School Gaels Shelton, Connecticut Orange & Black Categories:- Schools in Fairfield County, Connecticut
- Public high schools in Connecticut
- Shelton, Connecticut
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