Schools ready for day one
When students in the Danbury area return to school this week, they may meet new principals, see construction or be introduced to new programs.
Like last year, they’ll wear masks.
But some of them will be vaccinated against COVID-19, and their teachers will be required to get their shots if they haven’t already. Remote learning won’t be an option, so classrooms will be full. Students will sit at least three feet apart in most classrooms.
Here’s what else local superintendents say will be new this school year. Bethel
The school district plans to focus on creating systems to help students get back to grade-level standards after COVID-19 disrupted learning the past two school years. The schools will emphasize social-emotional learning.
Danbury
Kevin Walston is the new superintendent, with three new principals named.
Michelle Tarsi leads Mill Ridge Primary School, while Ellen Paolino heads Hayestown Elementary School. Janet Sayegh is the interim principal of the Danbury Primary Center, the new kindergarten school opening in Brookfield under the COVID-19 return-to-school plan.
Frank Connolly is the new interim finance director.
Construction is ongoing at Ellsworth Avenue Elementary School, where an annex with seven new classrooms is being added.
Easton, Redding and Region 9
A new superintendent, Jason McKinnon, is expected to start this school year. In the meantime, Thomas McMorran is the interim superintendent.
The high school cafeteria and gymnasium have been air conditioned and there will be new bleachers and refinished gym floor.
New Fairfield
Crews broke ground on the new Consolidated Early Learning Academy in July and will start construction on the new high school in the coming months.
The district is adding a talented and gifted program at the middle school and restoring that program for fourth and fifth grade. A STEAM — or science, technology, engineering, art and math — program is launching for the elementary school grades.
New Fairfield is starting a transition program for students age 18 to 12 and plans to develop more extra curricular clubs at the middle school.
New Milford
New Milford is the only local school district to have started last week.
There are several new administrators, including Holly Hollander, assistant superintendent;
Matthew Cunningham, facilities director; and Raymond Manka, New Milford High School principal.
The district is implementing a new student information system, PowerSchool, in addition to adding school-based health centers at some schools.
The high school roof is being replaced, the LED sign is being replaced and upgraded, and the athletic scoreboard is being repaired.
Newtown
Among the changes that will greet Newtown students at the start of the new year is the addition of specialists to bolster homework and tutoring programs, and the addition of 300 Chromebook laptops.
The changes are part of a twoyear plan for the $1.25 million grant from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund included in the
American Rescue Plan Act passed in March.
In the 2021-2022 school year, spending includes money for math interventionists, a special education teacher, a speech pathologist, tutoring and homework club support, software for student tracking and intervention, and staffing and busing for summer enrichment programs.
To improve family and community connections, the district plans to spend nearly $14,000 on a notification and two-way communication system with homes, and spend $2,500 on “family information nights” for the new elementary math program and for English learners.
To improve the district’s technology, Newtown has proposed spending $126,000 on 300 Chromebook laptop computers for elementary grades, and $27,000 individualized learning software, such as Rosetta Stone.
Region 12
The region has welcomed Principal Donald Schels to Shepaug Valley School. He has replaced Kim Gallo in this role.
Additionally, there is a new roof and heating system at Shepaug Valley School. Shepaug's roof was a restoration of the topcoat, at a cost $1.1 million. The decision to restore the roof's topcoat, rather than replace the roof resulted in a $5 million savings to the taxpayers.
The perimeter heating was approximately $450,000. The perimeter heating will provide a more energy-efficient as well as a more consistent temperature for the school.
Region 15
The district has a new parking lot at Middlebury Elementary School, which was the largest project over the summer.
The district installed new flooring at Long Meadow and Gainfield elementary schools, replaced some carpets, replaced two broken air conditioning units and did major updates to the elevator at the high school.
Three new administrators were hired. Pomperaug Elementary School has a new principal due to a retirement. The high school has a new chair of the special education department due to a position vacated. An assistant principal was added to Long Meadow.
Ridgefield
There are a few familiar faces to Ridgefield schools in new roles or buildings.
For example, Jennifer Phosotole is the new East Ridge Middle School principal; she was an assistant principal at Ridgefield High School. Christine Hopkinson will assume Phostole's role as assistant principal at the high school. Her former position was director of student life.
Jeffrey Corbishley is the new grade 6-12 math and science supervisor; he was formerly chair of the math department at RHS.
The district will have new turf fields at Tiger Hollow in October and Scotts Ridge Middle School in September.
Sherman
Sherman has a new director of finance and operations, Donna Coonan, as well as a new director of curriculum, instruction and innovation, Kara DiBartolo.