001And [music] she's taking me back to the skies [singing] in the arms of [music] my love I'm flying over mountain [singing] and meadow and glade. And I like [music] it so well that for all I can tell I may never come down again. [singing] I may never come down to >> [music] [singing] >> earth again. 10 [music] minutes ago [singing] I met you and we murmured our how do you [music] do's. I wanted to ring out the bells and fling out my arms [music] and just sing out the news. I have found [music] him. >> [music] >> In the arms of my love [music] I'm flying over mountain and meadow and glade. >> [music] >> And I like it so well that for all I can tell I may never come [music] down again. I
002may [singing] never come down to >> [singing] >> earth again. [music] Thank you. >> [applause] >> Thank you and Thank you so much. Um and Juno and I will be handing out flyers for the show. Like I said, it has all information the horses, the castle, the dates. If you want to reserve tickets, you can reach out to the Waterbury Magnet School and the theater department and we'll get you your tickets. Hope to see you at the ball. >> [laughter] >> Thank you. Good job. [applause] Geno, great job. >> wait to see it. Amazing voice, Geno. Great job. Wonderful. Oh. Oh, I just I want to thank again Geno and Erica and Miss Magliaro, who's here. Miss Magliaro, where are you? Thank you so much for sharing your students with us. We look forward to
003Cinderella. Excellent. Fantastic. All right. And I want to give a special shout-out to the Sofia Nguyen, also from WAMS, on the piano tonight. So, another round of applause. >> [applause] [applause] >> And of course, our students from the State Street Culinary Department, who did an amazing job, Navae, Tenez Brown, and Lenishka. And of course, Chef James, who's there with them teaching them. So, I think they're in the back room there reaping the rewards of the dinner. But, I just let's give them a round of applause. They did an amazing job. >> [applause] >> And just one last shout-out to the students that will be and the the our new and growing department using the greenhouse with uh teacher Josephine Hinds, uh who are able to provide you uh with this this plant tonight in honor
004of Board of Education month. Thank you. All right. >> [applause] >> Good evening everyone and welcome to the Waterbury Board of Education regular meeting at the Waterbury Arts Magnet School. And um we'll begin uh tonight with a silent prayer. Do we have any remembrances? None tonight. Okay, thank you. Okay. We'll have our student representative lead us in the pledge. to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Commissioner Haywood-Rollins? Commissioner Anthony Ireland? Present. Vice President Latoya Ireland? Here. Commissioner Jackson? Present. Commissioner Lopez? Present. Commissioner Flaherty? Commissioner Muñez? Commissioner Orso? Here. Commissioner Vanstone? Present. President Brown? Here. Mayor O'Leary Ski? Here. Okay. Quorum is met. Uh Commissioner uh Jackson, could you give us number four, please? Communications.
005I motion to receive and place on file communications as listed. Second. Discussion. All in favor. Opposed, abstained, motion carries. Thank you. Any public address to the board this evening? Okay. All right. Uh superintendent's announcement. Good evening uh Mayor Pennarusky, President Brown, Board of Education members, our student representatives. Um tonight I want to start off with um a special a special a special student. Uh we saw a few tonight already uh who are here to celebrate the Board of Education month, but um Senator Murphy's Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest winner here uh in the fifth district is none other than Crosby High School junior Tavares Anderson, who was selected as one of 15 winners of more than 1,000 entries. And Tavares and I actually met, if you recall, the time where the SNAP benefits uh
006were in question and we were hustling on the weekends at Stop & Shop. Tavares and I happened to be uh at the same Stop & Shop together. We got to know each other. He's also on the student council superintendent student council. And I asked him just to come tonight as part of my presentation uh to indulge the board for him to read his essay for you all tonight. So, Tavares, without further ado, come on up, buddy. >> [applause] >> Is he going to read the essay? Oh, good. And uh just a special shout out to Tavares' parents and teacher who here came out to support him tonight as well. Thank you. Good evening, Superintendent Schwartz, President Brown, Vice President Ireland, um and Board of Education Commissioners. I am honored to be here tonight to share
007my winning essay for US Senator Chris Murphy's 10th annual Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest. Having been selected as one of the 15 win I mean one of the 15 winners from over a thousand entries statewide, um I'll begin. The dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lives on through the stories and everyday lives of millions of African-Americans across the United States. That dream was not only carried by Dr. King himself, but also by the many organizers and everyday people who came together within their communities to help lead a movement with the intentions of changing America for the better. When ordinary Americans stood up for civil rights, even in the face of hate and discrimination, they showed our nation that change doesn't come from just one voice. It comes from the many voices of people
008willing to step up, advocate, and take action within their own communities. The March on Washington continues to serve as a reminder that real progress is built through the collaboration and teamwork of our neighbors. It shows that we, the American people, have the power and responsibility to call for justice when we see it is needed. The organizers of the March on Washington motivated and inspired thousands of Americans to join together and advocate for true American freedom. They showed the world that real change takes patience and teamwork. Their work is a reminder to all that that progress requires courage and determination, and while they faced many setbacks, they remained committed to building a nation where all people have equal rights and the ability to live without the worry of oppression. I've been inspired by the words of
009Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the many organizers who marched on Washington in protest against hate and oppression. Their work has taught me that meaningful change starts when local communities advocate and raise awareness about the issues impacting them. Dr. King understood this, and his dream continues to inspire African-Americans like myself who strive for change within our own communities. My dedication toward uplifting and supporting my community has been shaped by my experiences growing up in the city of Waterbury, where unfortunately issues like food insecurity face 16.5% of residents and 12% claim to live under the poverty rate. As student on the Waterbury Public Schools Superintendent Student Advisory Council, I've had the opportunity to volunteer alongside Superintendent Schwartz on a district-wide food drive initiative at our local grocery stores where we garnered both support and food donations
010from members of the Waterbury community. These donations advocating Apologies. Advocating for families who deserve stability and opportunity regardless of my age. Thank you. Wow, thank you so much. [applause] >> [applause] [applause] >> Tavares, can you introduce your your parents and your teacher to us? No, go ahead. Go up to the mic. We're going to force you to get up here. Go all the way up. >> [laughter] >> Go all the way up to the mic. Yeah, go ahead. This is my mom. Hi, everybody. Hi, Mom. Congratulations. boyfriend today. [laughter] Congratulations. And this is my AP Psychology teacher, Ms. Andrieski. And I would also just want to announce that I just got accepted into the National Honor Society for next year with our advisor, Ms. Andrieski. Awesome. Congratulations. >> [applause] >> Great great selection. Good choice.
011Congratulations, Tavares. We're proud of you. Thank you so much. That gives me uh great hope for students like Tavares that we see in all the students we saw tonight for our future here in Waterbury. Thank you. Thank you again. Um moving forward to some additional great news is that we crowned our first LEGO League City Championship for middle school students. All uh five um um I'm sorry, North End, Wallace, West Side, and WAMS, four of our uh middle schools in the district competed in the first Lego League Championship with a a big trophy and everything going to North End. This is the RAM fam up there who was able to eke out the win at the UConn Waterbury Robotics Institute. Again, this is attached to UConn Waterbury in the O'Leary building. They have dedicated an
012entire large room and floor to students in Waterbury public schools and surrounding towns to use that to advance their robotic skills. It was really really cool to watch the students. I believe President Brown, you were able to to get there early on and I was able to get there towards the end when it was getting really tight with the scores. But it was great to see everybody working together. So I want to thank all of our students and and faculty that make this happen. And a special shout-out to UConn Waterbury who has been a gracious host to allow us to expand this program. I also was able to go to Wallace Academy last Saturday where 143 students from five states competed in the International Academic Competition. Academic Academy students earned four silver silver medals and
013seven bronze medals. In addition, 30 students qualified for the national competition with 15 advancing to the international level. So I want to thank all of those at the Academic Academy who were able to turn this on. Miss Grove and Mr. Balsamo who were instrumental and all the teachers that were there helping put this really important event on for our Academic Academy students to be able to compete against others in other states. So it was great. There was a HOSA conference this weekend which is the Health Occupations Students of America at Waterbury Career Academy. And you could kind of see the room there where over 600 students attending 26 school districts represented here in Waterbury last Saturday. Many of them envious of our Waterbury Career Academy, which I was okay with. Representatives from the US Public
014Health Service, Johnson & Wales University was there, DNA Guided Medicine were set up to engage with students. Workshops included public health officials, Hartford Health Care, phlebotomy and surgical technicians. We had UConn College of Pharmacy. We had Alzheimer's Association, and it was just a great time to see students compete against each other. Career students, Jada Willens, Samantha Ramden, and London Tomba placed third in public health earning them a spot at the 2026 International HOSA conference from June 17th through the 20th in Indianapolis. So, congratulations to those students. We also were able to attend the EdRising state conference for our Career Academy students. Roshica Riddicks placed first for exploring non-core subject teaching careers. Niyaria Staton-Moore placed first for public speaking. Deanna Barnes Gianna Bracey, Rocco Zenick, and different Rocco. Zenick [laughter] and Cali Robinson, first team inside
015our schools presentation. Rosalyn McLaughlin, second lesson planning and delivery stem. And Chelsea Soares Jones, third children's literature K to 3. We are so very proud of our students at the Career Academy and the EdRising future teachers of Waterbury. Yes. Absolutely. And at that conference, Vice Principal Pete Flammia was awarded the administrator of the year for EdRising across the the So, congratulations. Well deserved, Mr. Flammia from Waterbury Career Academy. And I guess we just keep racking it up because >> [laughter] >> Ms. Dairuca Tomasella, principal of Roberto Clemente International Dual Language School, was also named the 2026 Elementary School Principal of the Year by CALAS, which is the Connecticut Association of Latino Administrator. And so, uh congratulations to Ms. Tomasella. We were there to be able to surprise her with the news. And uh she was
016taken aback because she thought, you know, when all these uh suits showed up to her school, she was wondering uh what what happened. >> But she uh well deserved, and congratulations to Ms. Tomasella. As I mentioned, and uh I could see Tavares. There you go, you made another picture. Uh Tavaro Tavares uh and and the rest of the student council and I met last uh this week with Ms. Irizarry Toucet and uh Ms. uh Janet Frenis uh to discuss student selected topics. So, the students chose these topics. They say they want to make a difference uh in the district in these two areas in terms of college and career readiness and high expectations for all. So, they've split up into two groups, and they're coming up with ways and they're very honest and critical with
017their feedback, but it's the best kind of feedback because they're also they they provide the insight that sometimes we don't get to hear uh from where we sit. There's I I I liken it to a game of telephone that by the time it gets to us, sometimes it it gets a different message. Um but I know Ms. Frenis and Ms. Toucet uh said it was one of the um best days of their week because just to be able to engage with students and to be able to to um hear right from them about how we can improve as a district is a really important step for us. So, we look forward to um displaying to the board uh some of the ideas the students came up with of how we can do better in the
018district. And just a shout out to WAMS who uh participated in the St. Patrick's Day Parade here in Waterbury. So, we had a St. Patrick's Day parade, celebrated that with Waterbury Arts um walking in that and of course today is St. Joseph's Day, so happy St. Joseph's Day as well. We don't want to leave that out. Or Mr. Albini might say something to me later. Um and when I So, I was happened to be at Wilby at my student advisory council and I was taking some people on a on a tour and Principal Pierson said, "Oh, we have a lot of people downstairs. You should go downstairs." And come to find out Nest was down there. Wilby received 75 seedlings through the Foster a Tree program for their for their greenhouse. So, I was happy
019to see that we're continuing to connect with our community partners and was so glad this this this was made possible through the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. And so, we we we want to thank Nest for giving us 75 seedlings for our students to be able to foster their growth. And with that, I just want to wish everybody on the board again a happy school school board appreciation month. Hopefully you could tell from the student performances and and from from the plants from the Wilby greenhouse and from all that was said last last school board meeting that we do appreciate everything that you do. And just a final reminder to follow us on social media. Thank you. Thank you. Any questions for superintendent this evening? Okay. Um Somebody raise your hand? Oh. Wrong
020number, please. No. Okay. All right. Uh President's comments. First, I want to thank all the students and the faculty about all these amazing events that are going on in our schools. And I know many of us try to get to these events, but that's the first time I had been to the UConn Center and for those of us from Waterbury, it's the old Masonic Temple and the room is absolutely splendid. They kept the ceiling uh the vaulted ceiling with all the design and it's really incredible. You feel like you're you're really important. So, it was really great. So, kudos to everyone uh really making Waterbury public schools uh shine. I also want to uh give a uh welcome every I mean uh say have have a nice holi- a holiday tomorrow and Jackie, tell me
021how to pronounce it. Eid? I say no. Eid Mubarak. Eid Mubarak. So, that means Happy Eid basically. Happy Eid. Okay. All right. >> And tomorrow's is it a day of celebration for our community. So, enjoy the celebration. Thank you. Next, we have our student uh rep presentation. We have one tonight. Hi. Speak into the microphone. Okay. Hello. So, this year has been a very eventful year for Wilby. Um we've had a new principal and a lot of things are looking up for us. And um yeah, I'll just get into some of the specifics. Starting with some highlighting some students and some of our staff. So, you did mention the St. Patrick's Day parade. Wilby was also there with their marching band and they did a great job. >> that. And I think that we should
022like I don't know. I just love hearing them play. And um also Miss Hince, our agriculture and gardening teacher, she was just accepted into UConn's educational doctorate program for um a educational leadership degree. And I think that's amazing. Yeah. >> Um we're very proud of all of our teachers for continuing to further their educations and for being lifelong learners. Um okay. So, onto recent events, we had our Black History Month event and our Black History Month workshop where students not only learned about Black history, but we also did learn about local Black history and our businesses and things of that nature, which I did attend and I have to say it was a very enjoyable experience. We had um students of all backgrounds there. And it was just a really like Oops. There you go.
023engaging time for our our school. Um I feel like it really brought us together. And um we also held an assembly. So, students were also able to perform and celebrate their cultures and share share it with the entire school um on a bigger scale. And then um also on our gardening within our gardening classes, we did do the Nest. We partnered with Nest to grow trees. Um however, you didn't mention that Nest is also working with us so that we can redistribute those trees throughout the community. And I found that really lovely. So, I just wanted to mention that. But, yes, our gardening um our gardening program is really growing and it's very uh student-led. So, we have a lot of new initiatives going on. Um we're also going to be doing like a farm
024day in um the next upcoming months. Uh we're also doing a plant sale. Mhm. I have to remember when that is. I believe it's on May 7th. So, wink wink, nudge nudge. Uh it's May 7th. And um I did help plant a few of those trees and a few of those plants. I think it was very fun. Uh then on the 17th, we held our annual blood drive with the help of Miss Frank Blanchard. And I'm very proud to say that again we reached our max capacity of donors. And we were able to get so many people to come that we actually had to start turning people away, unfortunately. >> Wow, that's amazing. That was very amazing. And then lastly, um as we speak actually, since it started at 5:30, we're hosting a Family Feud
025themed STEM night at Willby. And we're also doing a wellness night at Willby at the moment. So, what that is is while students and families are having fun and earning prizes at Family Feud, we're also having um free offerings of hygiene products, diapers, wipes, anything that parents would need. And yeah. Thank you. Um that's all of our current updates. And we'll continue building up our community in the mean- meantime. Thank you very much. Uh wow. [applause] Willby on the move, for sure. Thank you so much and for your participation in all these activities. I don't know how you do it, but you're an amazing student and such a leader in that school. Thank you so much, really. Okay. Uh Commissioner Lopez, can I have a motion? I move to add to the agenda item 9.4,
026Committee of the Whole revised 2025-2026 school year calendar. Second. Discussion. All in favor? I. Opposed? Abstain? Motion carries. So, that will be um 9.5. Okay. Got it. Okay, consent consent calendar. Does anyone wish to remove an item from the consent calendar? Seeing none, we'll proceed with the reading. 9.1, Committee on Finance, request approval of Amendment 1 to the agreement with ESS Northeast LLC for substitute teachers and paraprofessional staffing services. 9.2, Committee on Building and School Facilities, request approval of a facility use agreement with American Cancer Society Inc. 9.3, Committee on Building and School Facilities, use of school facilities by school organizations and or city departments. And the re- Committee of the Whole, do we read that? Do we read that? It's 9.4. Okay, 9.4. Okay. Committee of the Whole, revised 2025-2026 school calendar. Commissioner Bones.
027I motion to approve the consent calendar, um items nine 9.1 to 9.4. Also, I don't know. Yeah, that's fine. That's fine. I'll read that. Second. Discussion. All in favor? I. Opposed? Abstain? Motion carries. Thank you. Okay. I don't think there's any more. There were no items removed from the consent calendar. Uh Committee on Building and School Facilities, Vice President LaToya I I move that the Waterbury Board of Education approve the use of school facilities by the following groups, organizations subject to fees and insurance as required. Second. Discussion. All in favor? I. >> I. Opposed? Abstain? Motion carries. 11.2. Commissioner I move that the Waterbury Board of Education approve the custodial fee waiver request submitted by the following groups and organizations. Second. Is there a second? Second. Discussion. Commissioner Orso. I'm trying I'm I'm not sure
028of the date, but there's a school facilities meeting pre a next few weeks. Is that to discuss the waivers? Is that what the Okay. So, I wanted to make sure before we approve all these waivers that we're going to talk about. I I think the meeting is April 23rd, if I'm not mistaken. Commissioner Lopez. Um, in our last meeting we talked a lot about funding and uh, us being already in a deficit this coming year. So, I feel uh, though I support on the facility use from these organizations, I don't support the waiver at this time. So, I just wanted to bring that up. Commissioner Ireland, do you have a a list of the organizations asking for a waiver? Yes, I do, Madam President. >> Yes. WICC, they will be holding Crosby gym Thursday, March
02919th. We have NEST, Bridge to Success, and Chabad Lubavitch. I get I think that event is tomorrow, actually. Okay, thank you. Okay, all in favor? I. Opposed? I. Two opposed? Okay. Motion carries. Thank you. Okay. Secretary Lopez. Executive session. I motion to convene executive session for discussion concerning the dismissal of a public officer or employee. Second. Discussion. All in favor? I. Opposed, abstained, motion carries. Thank you. We're going into executive session. Yes. >> [music] [music] >> Mhm. >> [music] [music] >> Commissioner Lopez I move to return to the regular order of business with the record reflecting no votes were taken. Second. Discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Abstain? Motion carries. Commissioner Vice President Latoya Ireland, Committee of the Whole. Ladies and gentlemen, I move that the that effective immediately the Waterbury Board of Education terminates
030the employment contract of non-tenured teacher Philip Hughes pursuer pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes 10-151 as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools. Second. Discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Abstain? Motion carries. Thank you. Number 14, Superintendent's notification to the board. Commissioner Vanstone I motion to receive and place on file Superintendent's notification to the board 14.1 through 14.4. Second. Discussion? All in favor? I. Opposed? Abstain? Motion carries. Thank you. Are there any committee chair reports this evening? Commissioner Vanstone. Thank you, Madam President. Through you, I know I mentioned it. I sent a note to Carrie and she did send it out that ACES has selected a new executive director. And actually to some folks around here, the name is going to be familiar. The name is Dr. William Rice, who at one time was the math supervisor
031here in Waterbury, and one of the, I believe, original ILDs back when we had ILDs. So, he has Waterbury roots. He uh he actually walked me around the Chase campus about a year or so ago on the other side of town, ACES at Chase. And I was very excited to be able to vote for him. He had two interviews that were just amazing. He he presented extremely well. He ac- you know, he knows it because he's actually the assistant executive director now, but that was no guarantee that he would receive it. We had some amazing people apply for the job. And he rose above some pretty impressive folks. So, I'm proud to say Dr. William Rice is now the executive director at ACES at Chase or not ACES at Chase, ACES. All of ACES. So,
032Thank you. Any other Okay, Dr. Schwartz. Yeah, well, I didn't know you were going to say that, but it must have been that stellar letter of recommendation he got from >> [laughter] >> Superintendent. Yeah, but congratulations, Dr. Rice. He's a good friend to Waterbury and and uh a great educational leader. And I just I I thought I might get a question on the on the calendar, so I was saving my happy Eid Mubarak to our community, but as we know tomorrow our students are off and celebrating in our staff are engaged in professional learning and so I just wanted to say that to our community and I look forward to a day of professional learning with our staff tomorrow. Great. Okay, number 16 adjournment. May I have a motion? Motion to adjourn. Second. All in
033favor? Opposed, abstained, motion carries. Thank you everybody. Thank you. You got somewhere to go? I'm good. I know. I was nervous. You asked me like seven times. I mean we got it. We got it. I even had the kid read. I knew you would. All right. Isn't that Tavares a good kid? >> Mhm.