Harbinger The Algonquin
MARCH 2016 vOL. 28 NO. 4
The Student Newspaper of Algonquin Regional High School 79 Bartlett street, Northborough MA 01532 | arhsharbinger.COM
Special Olympics brings senior to DC
Seymour talks sports, Project Unify with politicans
COURTESY JANE SEYMOUR
Senior Rachel Seymour shakes hands with Senator Elizabeth Warren at Capitol Hill, accompanied by Patti Doherty, Special Olympics Massachusetts Youth Engagement and Schools Manager. ANNIE campbell
Sports Editor Youth Activation Council member and senior Rachel Seymour recently traveled to Capitol Hill to inform the Massachusetts congressional delegations, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, about how sports have influenced her life and her involvement in Project Unify. Seymour, a special education student, is active in many athletics and social groups both in and out of sports. Her recent involvement in Project Unify has allowed her to share her passion with others. “I am on the Youth Activation Council,” Seymour
said. “I get to promote Project Unify in schools for kids with and without special needs.” According to the Special Olympics website, the National Youth Activation Committee (YAC) is made up of young people from across the country who work together to promote school communities where all young people are agents of change. “I recommended Rachel for the YAC because I thought that she would both make a positive contribution to the group as well as grow from the experience,” Class of 2015 alumni Lexie Koziel said. “I got to know Rachel through Unified Track. She was always very quiet, but very thoughtful and caring. I am so impressed and
proud that she went to D.C. and participated in activities to promote Special Olympics.” Seymour’s accomplishments and progress have impressed many members of the community. “I have seen enormous progress and change in her as a person,” Unified Track coach and Best Buddies adviser Kevin Hausmann said. “She has grown in her maturity, her willingness to meet new people, and especially speaking out loud and talking about the things that are important to her.” Senior Colleen Kasprzak is also a YAC member. “It’s such a mix of people and it’s such a sense of belonging because despite having so many differences that would typically prevent friendships, we all get together for one common goal of unification and acceptance,” Kazperzak said. “We discuss how to implement different programs like unified sports, how to get fans in the stands for our games, or the R word campaign to help spread the word about inclusion in today’s world.” She spoke with politicians, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, regarding Special Olympics and, more specifically, Project Unify. According to the Special Olympics website, Project Unify is an education and sports-based strategy powered by an engaged youth community that increases athletic and leadership opportunities for students with and without intellectual disabilities, while creating communities of acceptance for all. Algonquin participates in this worldwide initiative with the Unified Track and Basketball teams. Hausmann explained these teams have many positive effects on students with and without intellectual disabilities. “Sometimes students with intellectual disabilities are not the first to join groups and belonging is something that makes you feel more important, so it is a self esteem booster as well,” Hausmann said. “[Sports] are a lot of fun, they’re awesome and I like them,” Seymour said. “[Playing sports] gets me out of the house and keeps me active.” Seymour is the captain of the Unified Track team and a member of the Unified Basketball team who embraces the team spirit. “She is the type of person that with a fist bump and a smile your day just got better,” Hausmann said.
Johnson reacts to Hoey’s theft of district funds Jen Fox
Editor-in-Chief Following the Northborough-Southborough School District budget officer’s arrest on March 2, Superintendent Christine Johnson discussed the ongoing investigation, potential impact of the alleged crime, and the district’s precautions to ensure future account security.
Beginnings
Arraigned on charges of larceny and embezzlement, budget officer Christopher Hoey has spent the past week (as of publication) in custody on $100,000 bail after allegedly stealing between $200,000 and $400,000 of district funds to fuel his drug addiction. Superintendent Christine Johnson’s report of financial discrepancies to town police and later to the Office of Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. led to a swift arraignment at the Westborough District Court Thursday, March 3. “The local law enforcers in Northborough and Southborough were phenomenal to work with,” Johnson said in an exclusive interview. “That was my first outreach, and then I reached out to the District Attorney. There’s
What’s INSIDE:
been a lot of great collaboration with them.” Hoey faces “charges of larceny over $250 by common scheme, embezzlement by a public official and uttering,” according to a letter from Johnson to the school community sent out on the day of his arraignment. Hoey could not be reached for comment. Johnson, who said she does not “usually go to an arraignment,” took notice of the speed and organization in calling Hoey before the court to answer to the charges. “It’s really procedural,” Johnson explained. “The charges are shared, the alleged criminal is brought in, the findings are read, and the judge makes a determination. In this case, the judge made the determination that [Hoey] would not be released on the amount that was initially suggested by the defense attorney, and the judge upheld the $100,000 bond for his release to happen.” “I said to someone this morning that it was a week ago he was arraigned, and it feels as if it was about six months ago,” Johnson said. “There has been so much rapid activity.” Meanwhile, Johnson said that there will be all new precautionary measures to prevent future fraud, and that the district learn the most they can from the ordeal.
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“I feel like I’m an elephant charging down the road to try and move us forward and wanting to bring back the confidence that we’re doing everything we can to address this unfortunate situation, which no one wants to go through,” Johnson said. According to a letter from Johnson to the school community sent out the day of the arraignment, the District Attorney’s office “immediately assumed a lead role in the investigation.” “The intent was to release a press release sooner, even when we just knew something had happened,” Johnson said. “But in talking with the State Police, they asked that I not do that... there was only probably a day and a half delay in that, but [while] I was ready to move, they respectfully requested we delay, and I agreed because I wanted to make sure that I didn’t come out with anything that was going to hinder their ability to make an arrest.”
Magnitude of stolen funds, impact
Although The Worcester Telegram reported that Hoey allegedly embezzled district funds through fraudulent checks and self-estimated the amount stolen as
Fraud, page 2
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