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Students, alumni and coaches urge Bayonne Board to reconsider robotics coach selections and keep Stamos
Summary
Students, alumni and volunteer coaches told the Bayonne Board of Education they oppose recent coach selections and urged the district to name longtime volunteer Miss Stamos as head coach to preserve competitive robotics programs and student continuity.
A string of Bayonne High School students, alumni and volunteer coaches told the Bayonne Board of Education during public comment that recent coaching selections risk undermining the school’s competitive robotics program.
"Can you tell me if there is an update coming or is Miss Stamos not being named as a coach?" asked Rafia, a Bayonne High School graduate and lead for several FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) teams who spoke for four FTC squads. Rafia said the teams have advanced to state competitions and won multiple awards and sought clarity on whether Stamos would be named a coach and whether BHS would continue to participate in FTC.
The plea was echoed by current students. "We ask that you reconsider your choice for the position of head and assistant coach," said Luca Kutak, a student involved with BHS Robotics, who said Stamos has seven years of volunteer coaching experience and has helped teams reach state and national competitions. "Keeping Miss Stamos and allowing her to train up another assistant coach for the future will be the best option for the future of BHS robotics," Kutak said.
Tommy Jimino, a member of a robotics team at a neighboring high school, told the board Stamos "has had years' worth of experience coaching several FIRST robotics teams" and argued her track record made her the most qualified candidate.
A retiring teacher who addressed the board also warned that program continuity was at risk. The teacher said they had spent 21 years in the district, brought "well over $100,000" in awards, grants and equipment to the schools and had worked to build the robotics and engineering programs; they said they were concerned about how the programs would be transferred to successors and that some new assignments had not been communicated to long-serving staff.
Board members did not make a public response to the specific coaching-selection questions during the comment period. There was no motion or vote recorded on coaching assignments during public comment; speakers requested the board reconsider its selections and asked for updates on whether Stamos would be named to a coaching role.
The comments were part of a broader public-comment session in which parents, students and alumni urged the board to prioritize coach experience, program continuity and student opportunities. The board’s agenda for the evening included personnel items and scheduled votes on several resolutions; however, no formal personnel votes on the robotics coaching positions were recorded during public comment.
The board did not announce an immediate change; speakers said they would provide contact information and urged district leaders to consult with students and volunteer coaches before finalizing assignments.
