Superintendent Outlines What’s New in the District as West Hartford Students Return to School
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New bleachers and press box at West Hartford's Conard High School were one of the major upgrades that took place over the summer. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Here’s what you may want to know, and links to what you may need to know as classes resume for students in West Hartford Public Schools on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016.
New bleachers and press box at West Hartford’s Conard High School were one of the major upgrades that took place over the summer. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
By Ronni Newton
As approximately 9,500 West Hartford Public Schools students prepare to fill their backpacks with new and empty notebooks and folders, and their minds and bodies with new knowledge and skills, Superintendent of Schools Tom Moore’s message is: “Schools should be a place of hope, of possibility.”
The message he included in the most recent “Connections” newsletter spoke of his own mixed emotions at the end of this summer, as he looks ahead to having both of his children as high school students. “You feel like you’re living the song ‘Cat’s in the Cradle,’ wanting to find more time because the clock is ticking. I hope families have had that opportunity over the summer,” Moore said.
On the other hand, he said, it’s been a tough summer that included acts of terrorism, Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter protests, and messages of fear and doom. “School should be a touchstone, a place where you know things are going to be okay,” Moore said.
In West Hartford, students come from all backgrounds, many languages, different creeds. “You see them together on the playground, on the fields, and it’s nice to see that it works.”
Moore has already spent full days in meetings with administrators and principals, reminding everyone that the focus needs to remain on the kids. That’s likely going to be a major part of his message at Monday morning’s annual convocation ceremony. Although most teachers only have a student for a single year, he plans to reinforce the message about how critical that is. “It’s neat to look at every year as a miracle – and know that somehow [a student’s] life is better because we’re part of it,” Moore said.
Along with the message of hope that provides a positive start to the school year, Moore and Asst. Superintendent Andy Morrow highlighted the many updates that parents and students can expect to find when schools open on Aug. 31 – including the opening of the district’s first new elementary school in more than 60 years.
Morrow said that the principals all toured the new Charter Oak International Academy last week, and while a few punch list items remain the school is ready for students and teachers. Sod has been put down, and the trees that were removed to accommodate the construction, which were temporarily housed at Westmoor Park, are being returned. “As far as we know they all lived,” Morrow said.
The demolition of the former Charter Oak International Academy is complete, Morrow said, although some site work including leveling and paving the area for a parking lot remains to be done. In October, once everything has been completed, the dedication of the new school building will take place.
In addition to completing Charter Oak, there were other significant construction projects undertaken over the summer.
The bleachers and press box on the home side of Conard’s McKee Stadium were replaced, gym floors at both high schools were redone, King Philip Middle School’s roof was replaced, and Webster Hill Elementary School’s auditorium was renovated. The Hall High School front office was also renovated, as was the front entrance area of Bugbee Elementary School. Painting and floor refinishing took place throughout the district.
Morrow said that new security cameras have been installed at all schools, and everything should be up and running by the middle of September.
A recent Facebook post showed some other schools looking a bit shabby, and Moore said that the district does what it can with the approximately $4.25 million capital improvement budget it is allocated. “We want every building to be as fresh and new as possible,” he said, but all of the elementary schools are more than 60 years old. There’s always work being done, but much of it, like floor refinishing or roof replacement, is invisible, and you can’t always just paint over things, he said.
“No one ever says the brick repointing looks good,” Morrow said. The major projects like Charter Oak and the new science labs which will be built at Hall are state or grant supported and are beyond routine maintenance.
“We look at Duffy, Norfeldt, some of the other schools and we know we have ventilation needs, desires, but the decision is to invest $20 to $30 million,” Moore said. If the district decides to invest in air conditioning, it will have to do it for all schools, and if not done all at once, it’s hard to decide which school goes first.
Addition of air conditioning would not be a block grant, Moore said. The expense would have to be bonded, and that’s a decision for the Board of Education and ultimately the Town Council.
“We’re actively discussing and planning, and as we discuss the capital improvement plan we will be having those conversations with the Board of Education and Town Council,” Moore said.
Other important school news includes the SBAC results, and Moore said he will be providing a detailed presentation to the Board of Education in October once the scores can be reviewed on a student-by-student level.
“We’re up in both areas, but it’s really about how a child is doing, and what that says,” said Moore. He’s proud that students overall did well on the tests, without taking practice tests, and he reiterated that he is much more interested in classroom work, as well as subjects that aren’t tested.
“We will be informed, not driven, by test results,” Moore said.
New administrators are already having an impact on the district, Moore said, including Director of Pupil Services Gretchen Nelson. She’s bringing fresh eyes – invigorating and new.” West Hartford remains a district with a reputation for “doing things the right way” for special education, and some type of service is received by 12 percent of students, Moore said. Special education is a draw for people moving into town, Moore said, because West Hartford teachers have the expertise and the benefits of scale.
Other new administrators in the district include Director of Athletics Jason Siegal, Early Childhood Department Supervisor Irene Garneau, World Language Department Supervisor Meghan Zingle, and Pupil Services Department Supervisor Emily Daigle.
New principals already announced include Jeffrey Sousa (Braeburn), Shannon Mlodzinski (Aiken), and Kelly Brouse (Bugbee). Conard has two new assistant principals – Eileen Eustis and Lindsay Tringali – and Kimberly Ambroise is a new assistant principal at Hall.
One principal change that was unexpected is at Wolcott, where Jas Singh has departed for the principal position at Goodwin College’s Early Childhood Magnet School in East Hartford effective Aug. 10. Maureen Lantner, an experienced former principal in the district, will serve as interim principal. Moore said that the position will be posted in September to allow the Wolcott community to have a role in the process, and internal as well as external candidates will be considered.
“I’m sure that no matter how prepared we are a few buses will run late on the first day,” Morrow said, but overall the expectations are for a smooth opening and a great academic year beginning Aug. 31, 2016.
Other important information
Click on the terms below to access:
2016-2017 Elementary Testing Calendar and Secondary Testing Calendar
Elementary School August/September Lunch Menu
Middle School August/September Lunch Menu
Conard High School August/September Lunch Menu
Hall High School August/Septmber Lunch Menu
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