001Yes. I think I just lost Lisa left. Okay, she disappeared. Oh, here's Michael. Great. I just let in Michael. The only one we're missing now is Sharon. Yeah. Sorry about that. That's okay. We're just We're just waiting for Sharon. Okay. Give me a minute. I'm going to reach out to her. Oh, I see her there. Hold on. Great. Thanks, Yeah, I just promoted her. So, you should be good to go. Perfect. Sorry, guys. I uh hopped on the wrong link. Yeah, there are many links. I'm like, why am I the only one here? This is not good. And and and many more to many more to come. Um well, thanks everybody. Um, it's Tuesday, March 25th, 2025. It's 5:33 in the afternoon. This is a Weston Board of Education special meeting. Um, the first item
002on the agenda, it's a call to order and a verification of the quorum. Uh, we have that. Um the uh next item on the agenda is a discussion and an action of the appointment of an acting superintendent of schools. And I think before I begin, uh, for those that are listening, uh, for the public that's listening, the board, um, has been quite active in, uh, searching for, uh, an acting superintendent of schools, uh, given the events that have taken place over the last over the last week. Um, and I think uh it's fair to say the unfortunate events that have happened uh over the last week. That being said, uh we have uh interviewed uh candidates uh for the position. Um it's an important position. Um this individual individual will uh be in an acting
003uh role uh as we uh determine who the next superintendent of schools is for uh for our town. Um we have hired uh and they are very actively been actively engaged in um in a search for a superintendent. Uh we are uh having our first uh update on that on Thursday uh Thursday evening. There are a number of applicants um that uh that that will be reviewed and we will hope that that individual whomever it may be will be in place uh June uh maybe at the latest July. It all depends on uh what their contracts uh say at the school systems that they're uh uh currently uh employed. Um so we had a long meeting yesterday evening almost four hours maybe a little bit over four hours uh where we discussed amongst ourselves what
004we were looking for in a superintendent uh discuss met with and discussed with uh each of the uh potential uh individuals um and we um came up with the individual we think his best uh to uh oversee uh the school system uh over the next three or four months. Um Mr. Long, it was a very fruitful discussion. Um and we're at a point now where uh we would like to appoint that individual um and u go forward and make that public to the uh to the community. Um so the first uh the first item uh is a resolution. Um I will read it and then if someone can second it or if there are questions certainly uh you know please ask them. And the resolution is be it resolved that subject to the approval of
005the commissioner of education for the state of Connecticut in accordance with section 10-157 of the Connecticut general statutes. Uh the board appoints Ms. Deborah Loe as acting superintendent of schools on a short-term basis effective March 28th, that's this Friday, and continuing through the earlier of June 30th, 2025 or such time as an interim superintendent of schools or a new superintendent of schools commences employment. Um, and can I have a second to that motion? I second. Um, thank you. Second. I think it's best if we just all vote individually. I'll look at my screen where people are. Uh, Chad. Uh, David. I unmuted. I Yes. Okay. David, yes. Peter, hi. Michael, yes. Lisa, yes. Sharon, yes. Terrific. Well, and I I vote yes as well. Um so it's it's unanimous. Um so just let me read
006a a statement um which will uh which will tell you who who uh who Deborah Lo is. Um so last and this statement will be um uh sent out to the public. Last week, we informed you that Superintendent Barbierro is on a medical leave of absence for the remainder of the school year and will be retiring in June. We are pleased to announce the unanimous appointment of Deborah Loe as acting superintendent effective March 28th through June 30. As we continue our search for a new superintendent, we are extremely fortunate to have Ms. Lo joined our school district's excellent leadership team during the important transition period. In addition to being a Western resident since 2022, Miss Low's experience as an educational leader in Connecticut and specifically Fairfield County runs deep. Miss Low served as the superintendent
007of schools for Richfield Public Schools from 2007 until her retirement in 2015. Prior to that, Miss Low held multiple administrator positions in the Western public schools beginning in 1987 and 2007, serving including serving as principal of Wilton High School from 1998 to 2004 and assistant superintendent for the Western Public Wilton public schools from 2004 to 2007. In 20 2017, Miss Low was elected to the Wilton Board of Education and served as board chair from 2019 until she moved to Weston in 2022. Miss Low is a highly respect is highly respected in her field and has served on the executive board of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendent and as president of the Southern Fairfield County Superintendent Group uh of the Connecticut Association a public school superintendent. Any comments or questions about this from the
008board? Terrific. Um the next item on the agenda is a discussion and an action uh to authorize the board chairman to finalize and execute uh an agreement regarding the active superintendent. Uh and the motion is be it resolved that the board authorizes board chairman Steven Ezis and board member David Felton to negotiate and execute an agreement including but not limited to appropriate compensation regarding Miss Low service as acting superintendent of schools. Uh do I have a second to that motion? I'll second. I'll second it. Terrific. Um uh uh I think we should vote again. Uh this is a very important position we're filling. And if we just do it uh verbally. Chad, yes. David, yes. Peter, yes. Lisa, yes. Yes. And yes. And I'm a yes as well. So it's unanimous. Um unless anyone has
009any other comments or questions, uh we are very lucky have attracted uh Debbie Lowe uh to be our next next to be our acting superintendent of schools and she will start on Friday um where she'll where she will meet uh the members of the administration um and uh she will be uh with Tina uh visiting each of to schools uh and getting to know them. Um and she'll be uh you know she'll be the captain of the ship until uh until we find another uh you know a replacement for Lisa which will be difficult. Um but it is well along the way and we'll learn a lot more on uh on late Thursday afternoon. Any comments from any of the members? Yes. Is there anything I've missed? Nope. Terrific. Um Steve, if there's anything that
010we as board members can do um obviously to help Deb Debbie become as successful as possible over these next few months, uh don't hesitate to to tap us and let us know what we can do to help. Well, you know, I think I think the best thing to do is we need to arrange a meeting for all of us to meet uh Debbie in person. Uh we'll do that as you know as quickly uh as quickly impossible as possible. Um when Jessica and I spoke with uh uh Debbie this morning um and I asked her um you know when she can start Friday morning, you know, and uh she's ready to go. Uh and um we've reached out to uh Tina and Tracy um uh to make them aware of the uh of the decision
011and they are both incredibly supportive and ready to do whatever is necessary to uh get Debbie involved in uh in the Western school system. Um and they are uh all on board with this. So, I think it's been a I I' I'd like to use the term long, but in reality, it's been a very short period of time uh since uh since we learned that uh Lisa was um going on an extended medical leave um in a very short period of time. With all of your participation, uh I think we've come to a uh you know, a great decision to uh to have Debbie join the the school system as we transition to our new superintendent. And so with that, uh, can I have a motion to adjurnn? Yes, a move. Okay, great. Second. All
012those in favor? I I Terrific. Thanks everybody. Appreciate it. Thank you, Steve, for everything you're doing. And you too, Jessica. And you too, Jessica. and Dave.