Long time overdue, see ya later.

One less bully at RMHS

The last of the "Good old Boys" club!!!!!! Time to focus on the children not the Trophy,and to state he's looking into a job focusing on Values????? Good luck with that group if he convinces them to come on board, because Values are on the top of my list of why he should be retiring,from working with children Period!!!!!

It's sad to see all these nasty comments. I don't know Mr. Vaccaro personally, but I'm a parent and a long time Reading resident. My children have gone through the schools, including RMHS. Reading seems to have a wonderful reputation as a sports community. We have competitive teams, good student athletes and these kids always seems to represent RMHS and the town in a positive manner. From what I could see, Mr. Vaccaro set the tone for the competition and the behavior. He should be applauded for that, not ridiculed, and it was sad they didn't let him finish out his final contract year.

Best wishes to Phil Vaccaro on his next endeavor.
Good luck to the children of Reading with moronic comments like the ones above.

I won't pretend to know all that's gone on within the RMHS sports programs over the past few years, but I do know that certain things should have been handled differently. Mistakes were made and tragic events occurred. That said, Mr. Vaccaro has become the stereotypical scapegoat for all that is wrong within the high school and he gets no credit for anything that is right. He is an easy focal point for people's anger and it makes them feel better that they can wrap it all up in a box and throw it away. It doesn't solve the problem, but it does take the heat off of everyone else for a while. I, for one, wish Mr. Vaccaro the best in the future and offer my thanks for the things that he has done right for the past 18 years.

Like congress, some AD positions run to long, I wish Mr. Vaccaro nothing but the best. With that said, one can only hope the school administration will use the same hiring practice's as they did with the principal position. No politics, no drama. Time for a clean slate, the current and future RMHS athletes deserve it. Nothing but the best credentials and qualifications. Do the right thing for the students.

Dear Mr. Doherty,

Please do not hire CM.

I am the parent of RMHS students and do believe that a more positive role model can be found for our students. Please remember that Mr. Vaccaro is not just Athletic Director but is responsible for all student activities including band and drama, for example. Mr. Vaccaro did not grow with his job and the times and while he was visible walking around campus, he was not a good communicator.

I certainly wish him good luck and look forward to a new beginning for our extra-curricular programs.

"The godfather" thought he ruled the school with his terrible sense of humor. Joke number 1: "that kid is a kamikaze out there" about a japanese player at one of his summer camps. No one laughed and he kept saying "you don't get it?". Joke number 2: phil couldn't get the microphone to work at the 1999 soccer banquet so he says to same japanese student "you fix it it was made in your country". When it was brought to his attention that the microphone was made in china his response was "close enough." Joke number 3: after attending a funeral I returned to school where phil tells me "a little overdressed for school?". After telling him I just arrived from a funeral he laughed and repeated "a little overdressed for school?" He is not to blame for our towns drug problem but he is a jerk who says whatever he wants to whoever he wants.

If you have criticisms, make them constructive. Don't hide behind anonymity. It would appear that some of these comments are unfair and must be reflective of personal grievances that don't belong this forum.

I've been a central office school administrator in another community for many years. I have known many AD's. It's a very difficult job from the perspective of pleasing everyone. Parents of athletes are often difficult to please. They don't understand the philosophical differences between the recreational programs their kids were involved with versus the interscholastic programs that exist in public schools. This often leads to a disconnect and the AD is generally the object of many parents' frustrations. There are many other decisions that AD's make that are controversial.

My children were RMHS athletes - one a team captain. They had wonderful experiences. No one would deny that the RMHS programs are not only successful but wonderful building blocks for kids who are learning leadership and sportsmanship. Mr. Vaccaro surely deserves some credit for this.

The job of AD is often a "no-win" position. As stated, I don't know Mr. Vaccaro, but I do know that the job requires constant decisions that many people will disagree with. These people often don't know the entire picture.

I offer my congratulations to Mr. Vaccaro on many fine years of service to Reading Schools.

I sat with him at the World Cafe.....my opinion of him would be completely different if for one moment during that event he admitted he could have done a better job with certain things. He sat smug and arrogant and said the problems all stemmed from the parents. I tried to point out that everyone in the community owns a piece however small of what was happening to the youth in Reading not just RMHS but he would have none of it. I think it is safe to say he had two sides and one side insulted and embarrassed many kids ....and that to me takes away from any good he did.

As one of his former students I would have to say he absolutely had two sides. If you were an athlete you were favored and treated more respectedly by him. If you were not he was rude and unfair. As a parent who had kids go through the high school and as a parent who participated within the sports department, he was the same way with parents. If you were a parent of a better player he treated you like gold, if you as a parent had a lot of money and kissed his behind he kissed yours in return. Just like every position, sometimes you need new blood.

Yes, it is time for new blood and repair the reputation, I've heard the snickering by near by towns parents, and athletes. This is not fair to the current and incoming students of RMHS. We cannot change what has happened in the last year, many are to blame. Please expense your energy into making sure the right candidate is chosen, we owe this to the students. Clean slate.

Aren't you people forgetting they won the Super 8 under his watch?

Now that he is gone, maybe the the girls sports teams will get the respect they deserve.

Why do we have to wait until June?

To the person commenting on CM:he has no educational degree, therefore not a viable nor legal candidate.

All you people who do not have the guts to use you real name are having a blast with this.

As a fellow AD you many times need to be the bad guy as well as the spokes person of the district. Reading Athletics has a long history of great success and that success does not happen over night. Success is made by coaches and good coaches are lead by good ADs. Although it might be time for PV to move on he should not be the brunt of overarching problems within the town. Good Luck to PV and good luck to RMHS . The most important thing is for the students to learn and be safe.

Phil pay not attention to all this garbage these people are writing you did a great job for the Town.

I’ve had two student athletes go through RMHS and have never had an issue with Mr. Vaccaro. There are incidents that happen with teenagers that the AD, coaches, and the administration all deal with that are not publicized, nor should they be. I believe that Mr. Vaccaro has always tried to do what is in the best interest of the individual and has often taken heat from people who do not know the full story. Sports, drama, music and other school activities keep kids engaged and in school. The last thing a troubled student needs is more free time. Finding students ways to keep involved will help to keep them in school. I applaud Mr. Vaccaro’s efforts on behalf of our students.

The AD position is a lose lose. Phil did a great job and brought a lot of good things to the school. The Super 8 comment above was hilarious. I wish him well. Well put Denise.

This is a classic case of the rule of thirds. NO MATTER what you do, how you do it, or what the results, 1/3 will love it, 1/3 will hate it, and 1/3 won't care either way.

From a distance, the AD job is one that is both thankless and without compliments 98% of the time. We have alot of GOOD things to be thankful for, and alot of that is done behind the scenes by the AD, seemless to the outsider. Now, whethter you like or dislike his approach is completely subjective, and shouldn't be a commentary on one's performance.

Like most, we have certain ways we do our jobs. We perform without the scrutiny of having our work lives commented on by public blogs. As with any job opening, you look at what is right for that position/company at the time of filling it. You can't judge the current person hired at a point in the past for what was right at that time and held to the standard of what we are looking for in the next candidate. I'm sure most people came into their current jobs bringing something different to the table from their predecessor. That's life and its a natural cycle. And, for the record, you don't need someone with AD experience. If someone is organized, can communicate well, build a team, and has an instinct for branding -- isn't that really what we're looking for ?

I say thank you to Phil for his service, best wishes, and his guidance to his successor during any transition.

Pete Coumounuduros

Well said Peter. I agree with you 100%

What would be typical education requirements for an AD candidate? (Sunshine?) I would hope that the superintendent would go outside of the community of Reading to do a search.

Bob Hilliard, parent of a former Reading High school student and ahtlete:
I was shocked at the negativity and almost angry invective made about Phil Vacarro. I know him as a dedicated, commited School Administrator. I know that he had a great effect on my son's growth as a young man. I feel he inspired Christain to great achievements in sports, whcih was meaningful in his college career and a subsequent career in finance in New York City. I know that he was an outspoken advocate for the new high school and has been a respected leader in the community.
Many were unsigned and we know not who has written these attacks on someone who has spent a good deal of his life servng this community. Shame on such anger and spite.

Bob, You are right on. I say not having to use their name allows the cowards to take cheap shots at Phil.

Joe Veno,
This is a story/ topic regarding
Reading Memorial High School !!
Reading not North Reading!
Get it !!!
You don't have a dog in this fight,so stop butting in.

Please stay on the N.Reading Patch.

Ron, I agree. But he should stick with
North. Reading issues........

Very spirited conversation on this matter. I've always been curious as to how much influence the AD has over the success of the sports teams, in any town. Reading has had tremendous success on average over the years I've been here. It will be interesting to see how that changes, if at all. I really don't know PV at all but I do wish him the best. I'm sure he'll land a good opportunity.

Paul, Sorry if it offends you that I am speaking in favor of Phil. I worked with Phil for many years in Reading and I will not stand by and watch people attack his good name without saying something. And one more thing Paul, even if we still had seperate pages on Patch I would be commenting on this issue. I made many comments on the old Reading Patch. Paul In closing i would respectfully say If you do not like what I post on Patch, do not read it because I am not going away. Have a great day..

Thank you Ron.

Liam, i did see any post on here where people were called liars?

liam. Where did you come up with that quote? Show it to me word for word. You can't because it is not in any of the posts. Are you dreaming these words up or what?
You read something and then change the words to say what you want them to say,
If you are going to quote people please use the words they use. And you call me a "troll"?.

Liam, Finally you are correst. that is what I said. Now I will cut and paste for you. "phil don't listen to this garbage". this is what you said. April 5th 916 pm. Sorry Liam I am correct again you read what I wrote and said what you wanted it ot say.

.....and even entertaining a Reading resident as the new RMHS AD would be an epic step backwards.

Joe is there a difference between "don't listen to this garbage" and "pay not attention to all this garbage"? When you call words people write "garbage" is "garbage" not a replacement for lies? If not please explain how you intended the word "garbage" to come across.

Hey, just a thought, how about you two exchange email addresses and continue this arguement about the way something was worded IN PRIVATE!!! And leave this forum for what it is supposed to be; comments about an article. Thank you.

Liam, The issue was not the word garbage. The issue was I did not say what you said I did. It is right there in print.

Yea we will move off of here so here is more room for people to bash Phil. I don't think so.....

Liam, I conside the bashing of Phil garbage.

What does it say about a grown adult who is perpetuating an argument with a kid in a public forum? Joe, why not help your friend Phil by not responding....your making yourself look Liam's age and frankly not really doing much for Phil either.

Me and joe are stubborn and neither of us will change our opinion so I will stop arguing with him. Had phil been great to all of us there would be no bashing of him by students and parents in reading. I will join sides with joe against anyone who wants to blame phil for substance abuse problems in town but can't change the fact that phil has no filter in his mouth and said embarrasing things to myself and other kids without being provoked.

As a reminder, please be civil when commenting on Patch. We are closing comments on this article.