001And welcome to tonight's Board of Ed meeting. The date is Tuesday, November 11, 2025. And today was the day we paused and said thank you to all our veterans. I would appreciate that you turn off your cell phones as this meeting is being recorded. And Ellen, can you please do our roll call? Yes. Good evening, everyone. Ms. Callan-Carson? Here. Mr. Carey? Present. Mrs. DeRoberts? Here. Ms. Hernandez-Williams? Here. Mr. Riley? Here. Ms. Walters? Present. Vice Chairperson Mr. Lacavoli? Here. And Chairperson Granato? Present. Wethersfield High School Student Representative Ms. Anashka Gandhi? Here. All present. All right, now I have the privilege of asking the Charles Wright students who are here, along with Dr. Huber, to stand and lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and
002to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, thank you. And we're going to move on to student and staff recognition where the Charles Wright group is going to be coming up and will lead us in a recognition of their Veterans Day presentation. Dr. Huber. Good evening, members of the board. Oh, welcome. I'm going to have my Charles Wright kids who are part of our Veterans Day celebration come on up. We have three quick things we want to share with you tonight in alignment with board goal two making sure that our school walls are permeable and our kids are learning outside in the community and our community is learning inside. We had nine students that made a Veterans Day presentation and we're going to share
003with you a portion of that today. It's not the entire portion but you're going to get to see some of what we presented to our kids and we had nine community veterans in our building today. So I'm going to Turn it over and I'm going to have each student introduce themselves and they're going to go and read their portion. My name is Elizabeth from Miss O'Brien's class in Charles Wright. And to celebrate Veterans Day, some cities and towns have parades. Veterans from the area may march in the parades. Sometimes people visit cemeteries on Veterans Day to remember those who gave their life for others. People may put flowers or flags on the graves of veterans to honor them. Other times, schools such as ours hold special ceremonies like this to show our appreciation to say
004thank you to our veterans. Veterans Day used to be called Armistice Day. An armistice is an agreement to stop fighting between two opposing sides. Armistice Day was... created to remember the end of World War I on November 11, 1918, which is why November 11 was picked for this special day. In 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower formally changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day to celebrate all veterans, past and present. Every day our veterans served our country to protect and keep us safe. They demonstrated our Charles Wright pride behaviors, the exact same ones we are learning about and practicing every day. Veterans are respectful to others, they care for us, and they care for and protect people they don't even know. Their actions positively impact others every single day. Veterans are independent because they model
005great behaviors, they always do their best, and they persevere or never give up no matter what they are doing or where they are doing it to keep us safe. Veterans are dependable because they are always there for us no matter what. Veterans leave their families and their homes for months at a time to do good for others. Lastly, veterans are engaged, they work together, and they work hard every day to accomplish their goals because their safety and freedom is so important. Why don't you come over here with me? Just so we can see you. My name is Brad and I'm a Mr. Dean's second grade class. It is fun to celebrate Veterans Day because a lot of us know veterans. My great grandmother and her sister were both in the Marines a long time ago.
006As we walked into school today, you may have seen some sidewalk chalk art recognizing Veterans Day. Today during recess, everybody's in the grades making paper art to express their feelings. for our veterans using the track outside. You may decide to make a pledge, or you may need a soldier, or just write the words, thank you veterans. It doesn't matter what you decide to do. It matters to us. You are taking some time to say thanks to everyone who served in our country, and especially everyone who served in our country today. Good evening. My name is Justin, and I am a Charles Wright student. I am excited and proud to introduce a very special Charles Wright veteran, Owen's grandfather, Mr. Michael Hufferman. Mr. Hufferman joined the Navy in 1969 upon graduation from high school and served
007for our country for four honorable years. He started his service by attending boot camp, which is where he learned to be a soldier, at the Great Lake Training Installation in Illinois. One of the amazing responsibilities of Mr. Huffman was receiving a top-secret security clearance, which meant he knew such important information about other countries that no one else did, allowing him to monitor communications between Middle East countries as well as ships in the Mediterranean to guarantee our safety. Mr. Huffman then returned home and ended his service in 1972. Another special welcome to Mr. Ashton Haswell. Mr. Haswell joined the United States Army in 2006. He served as an inferency man and completed basic training at Fort Beginning, Georgia. His unit, known as the Wolfhounds, served in Iraq from 2007 to 2009, during which Mr. Haswell earned
008the rank of a surgeon. His most important mission began in 2018-2020 when he became Lorelai and Matilda's dad. During his time in the military, Mr. Haskell learned the power of friendship, that everyone could be brave and that leaders always lead from the front. I would now like to read you a poem. We honor you today by Susan R. Smith. To all our veterans far and near, we thank you for your service for all those years. You sacrificed your time and some gave your life. You preserved our freedom by willingly paying the price. Many of you were sent overseas. You were wounded in battle with scars and disease. But courageous and brave, you weathered the storm. You faced every battle with faith and beyond. We honor you with joy for all that you've done. You stood
009strong for our country, for our daughters and sons. So no one stands alone. We walk hands in hand. Remember we are with you. Together we shall stand. On this day, let us express our love and thanks for the sacrifice you paid. You served and honored for many years and days. And we will never forget how you're strong and brave. Some veterans that these guys are reading about were actually in our building today with their kids or with their nieces or nephews, so it was a nice celebration. So I'd like to present our Charles Wright student leaders for a portion of their Veterans Day celebration. I wanted to share, we have a very special bit of news. We have one of seven finalists for Connecticut Kid Governor as a fifth grader at Charles Wright. So I'm
010going to call up Mr. Sitaro and one of our fantastic fifth grade students. I'm going to do an introduction. Do it. Good evening everybody. Charles Wright has participated in the Connecticut Kid Governor program, civics program, since it began back in 2015. Among other topics, our Kid Governor lessons teach students. We teach students about the three branches of government, the responsibilities of our state's governor, and the history of voting rights in the United States. We also spend time discussing how fifth grade students can make positive impacts in our state. After researching community issues each student cared about, they drafted platform speeches and included three ideas for making a big change. Students who had received parental permission to run for Kid Governor also created video speeches as part of their campaigns at school. In our primary elections
011this year, the CW fifth graders voted for Isla and her twin brother, Eiley. Both kids went on to deliver live speeches before an audience packed by fourth and fifth grade students, as well as multiple staff members. The final vote to see who would advance in the kid governor race for Charles Wright School was very close, and we were proud to see Isla advance to the next step. After submitting Isla's paperwork and her awesome video, it was a wonderful surprise for me to receive a phone call from Linda Preston, the Kidd Governor's State Coordinator, explaining that Isla had been selected as one of the seven finalists in our state. This was the first time a CW student had ever been selected. Last week, the CW fifth graders watched the videos of the seven finalists and cast
012their votes for the 2026 Connecticut Kid Governor. Sometime between November 17th and the 21st, the state will announce its next Kid Governor. We, of course, are rooting for Isla, who will either become the Kid Governor or serve on the Kid Governor's cabinet. Isla is a true leader in the classroom and we wish her the best and you're going to get a chance to see her video in just a second. That's great. Great. And I'm 10 years old. I'm running for kid governor because I want to help kids feel better, learn, and enjoy their time without being too dependent on screens. The reason I chose this cause... Let me just pause it so we can get up on the screen. and I'm 10 years old. I'm running for Kid Governor because I want to help kids
013feel better, learn, and enjoy their time without being too dependent on screens. The reason I chose this cause is because according to studies in the U.S., children between the ages of 8 and 12 spend an average of 4 to 6 hours a day in front of screens. This includes watching TV, playing video games, using tablets, or being on their phones or computers, not counting schoolwork. Isn't it a lot of time we're spending on electronics? How much screen time can damage our eyes, make us tired, and even make us feel sad or stressed? It can also take away time from reading, playing, and being with friends and family. So for all of these problems, there's a magical solution that we call books. Reading helps us use our imagination, learn new things, and become better thinkers. Books
014are fun, exciting, and can take us to wonderful places without needing a screen. When we read more, we become smarter, calmer, and more creative. Books are windows to the world. These facts above make me think that we need to find a solution to try and spend less time on electronics. I've read over 300 books and because of that I came up with this idea to help other kids love reading too. My plan is 1. Book Club 2. Screen Free Week 3. Book Buddy Program Each school can have a book club challenge with fun prizes for students who read the most books. Screen Free Week events. I will organize a Screen Free Week where we do fun activities like crafts, games, outdoor play, and reading together. Book Buddy Program. Older students can read to younger ones,
015helping each other learn and enjoy books. I believe that we can all do something small to make a big difference. Let's turn off the screens and open more books. I want to be your voice, the voice that speaks up for all of us. Vote for me as your next Kid Governor! And I just have one other thing that we wanted to share, just because we only get to come every few months. We have two dads who wanted to talk about a community connection with their kids, and this will just take a second. I want to bring up Mike Rivers and his son, Lovett, and Chris Colaby, and his two daughters, Olivia and Grace. They're going to talk about something we started to share called Hawk Heroes, and Hawk is how to call Wethersfield kids. And
016these guys are going to talk about what they do during our academic day. Hello. You got my vote, by the way. Fantastic. Yeah, I just want to say, give a full-throated support to the Hawk Hero. Thanks for starting that, Dr. Huber. It's just so much fun to go into the class and be with all the kids and meet all of your classmates. And I already had a tremendous respect for teachers. and trying to wrangle 40 students has only made it go exponentially higher. But we're having a lot of fun hanging out at recess and playing Gaga ball and... hanging out at lunch and just seeing you guys. You want to add some things, Chris? Yeah. Hi, Chris Colby. Mike and I also serve as president of the Dad's Club. Mike's the vice president of the
017Dad's Club. And when Dr. Huber reached out to us over the summer about this program, I was thoroughly on board from the moment of go. I love spending time with my kids and this was an opportunity to spend a little more time with them. And I think we've all experienced that moment where you ask your child, hey, how was school today? What was going on? Good. It was okay. But you don't really get feedback. But by going to the school, I get to see them interact with their friends, with the paraprofessionals, with their teachers. And I just get a lot from it. And I know that both my daughters get a lot from it. So I'll let Grace say something. I love when my dad comes to school for Hawk Heroes because I miss him
018a lot because on Friday I get to see him at school and it's only for recess and lunch. So I just love Hawk Heroes. So anyway, we'd encourage this program to obviously be spread throughout the other elementary schools and to the junior high and high school at some point. I think it's a wonderful thing, and I think Dr. Hibbier is doing a wonderful job. So thank you. I think it's my sister's turn to have a drink. Oh, do you want to say something, Olivia? Hi, Olivia. I like hot chews because my dad comes. All right, anyone up here for comment, questions? Liz? Isla, you have my vote and I'm gonna keep track of this. I really hope that you win. I think you'd be a terrific kid governor. Thank you. Anyone else? Matt? I just
019want to thank Dr. Huber for coming and bringing some of the things that are going on in your school to us. We sit up here as a board and we don't always get to be in these schools, but it's awesome when you can come and share what is going on with these schools with us on nights like this. So thank you for everything. And Martha, I think we have a candidate in eight years. Anyone else? I'd like to say a few words about how this could be a recruiting film video for your dad's club. That was wonderful. It really was. And I love our kid governor. And soon we will be having kid mayor and chair. So hang on to that and we'll be doing that come January. Thanks everybody. That was great. That school
020energy is right in the roof. Love it. Okay, next on tonight's agenda is the approval of the minutes for our regular Board of Ed meeting on October 28th, 2025. May I have a motion to approve the minutes? So moved. Thank you. A second? Second. All right, any discussion? No discussion? All right. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Any abstentions? That motion passes. Also, we have the approval of the minutes of our special Board of Ed meeting on October 28, 2025. The meeting was to interview and select the board's legal representation. May I have a motion to approve the minutes? So moved. A second? Second. Any discussion? Yes. I believe under who was present, John Cazar should be listed. He was present in the meeting along with you and Dr. Paddyfoot. And since he was an active
021member of the discussion, he probably should be listed to accurately reflect the minutes. I'll add that. Okay. Anybody else? All right, so with our corrected meetings, do we have a vote here? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Any abstentions? Those minutes are approved. Well, Mr. Whidbey, we have a bittersweet presentation for tonight as we celebrate three of our Board of Ed members who will be leaving us, people we have so enjoyed working with. And I'll talk after each one. Thank you, Madam Chair. So first, I'd like to just say, You know, people don't realize the hundreds of hours of volunteer work that goes into being on a board of education. And, you know, it's important that we honor the service of our outgoing members who've provided outstanding service. So our first member is Liz Walters. And,
022Liz, I'm going to have you come on up, and I'm going to turn it over to the chair. Okay. Our first member who's going to go up is Ms. Liz Walters. Oh, no. Talking about appreciation. Thank you so much. Okay. Oh, sure. Thank you. Okay, that's nice. Stay right there. Yes, okay. Because, Liz, as you step away from our board, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for all your contributions. Your impressive business skills and your understanding of our graduates' needs have enriched our discussions and have also inspired us. Your spirit and dedication to our work will be deeply missed. Thank you for everything and best wishes for your future endeavors. And Liz, I can't leave you without a quote. And this is a great one. Great leaders don't set out to be a leader.
023They set out to make a difference. So thank you, Liz. Thank you. Okay, Christina, you're going to go on up. Okay, thank you, Christina, for your incredible contributions to our Board of Ed. Your dynamic teaching style and the recognition you received as Teacher of the Year at your school speaks volumes about your dedication and talent. You brought a wealth of educational expertise, innovative ideas, and a natural ability to connect with people, all of which have greatly benefited our community. Your passion for teaching and commitment to our students is truly inspiring. So please stay in touch, especially when we need to call a friend, and also stay in touch to give us the scores that your son is doing in his hockey and his golf. So congratulations. Okay, I have it here somewhere. John? I almost
024lost it here. John? I got it. Okay, John, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your incredible service and commitment to our board. Your business skill set and your collaborative spirit have truly made a difference in our discussions and in our decision making. You navigated some pretty complex situations and found common ground to compromise. You have enriched our Board of Ed in ways that will be felt long after your departure. So, while it's bittersweet, I am confident that you will bring the same dedication and insight to the Town Council. They are gaining a dynamic member in you, and all of us wish you all the best in your next chapter. John, you will be missed. Okay, any other board comments? I too have a few words to say about some of our friends, our
025friends who are leaving us. And you covered just about everything, Bobbi. I have a little bit to add or a different way of saying it. Christina has been a powerful force on our Weathersfield Board of Education. As chair of the Human Resources Committee, she has jumped right into questioning practices in requesting school climate data and analysis and looking for ways to support teachers. Ever energetic, Christina was always ready to lend a hand wherever needed and to support fellow board members. She is someone with the experience and intelligence to quickly size up a situation or issue and then to share her valuable insights. Her contributions are numerous and I for one will miss her for that, but also for her friendship and camaraderie. And for Liz, I could say much of what I said about Christina,
026about Liz. Her interest in learning about the people that make up the Weathersfield schools has very often resulted in new ideas and actions. Liz is truly a person of action, of actively supporting people and programs and always sharing thoughts of how things might be improved. ever respectful and friendly, Liz knows the value of teamwork and striving to be a positive force. And I am personally am fortunate to be in her neighborhood. I didn't know that previous, so this is wonderful. I have a new friend in the neighborhood. And for John, John has very impressive abilities to not only lead our board's facilities and maintenance committee, which I've had the pleasure of being on with him, but also to step up to chair our town's building committee at a moment's notice, really like a moment's notice.
027His quick wit and insights kept us focused. For myself, as a seat mate, he would sit here. He let me look on to the agenda or whatever I happened to forget, and he was always ready to open my water bottle. should open this one for me because I'm having trouble. But anyway, you will be missed and he was such a presence and I know he will be such a presence on town council. So thank you all so much. Anyone else? Matt? So I want to thank those that are departing our board after two years of service. John, Christina, and Liz. Between the three of them, we are losing a significant amount of skills, insight, and work ethic. It's natural to have turnover on boards and committees, but I will really miss the fact that regardless
028of party affiliation, these three individuals showed up to all of their assignments and came prepared like professionals ought to. They did not take their responsibilities to the school system or town lightly, and that's a big part of what we should be asking our local elected officials to do. take it seriously, show it prepared, ask good questions, and work together. John Weiner, Christina Hernandez-Williams, and Liz Walters, thank you all for your contributions to Wethersfield Public Schools. You have left your mark, and I have learned from each of you. Thank you. Anyone? Marjorie? So I'll just say a few things about each of these gloriously wonderful people who unfortunately are leaving. I'm going to start off with Liz. So Liz and I knew each other a little bit before we were both members. We both started at
029the same time. And I would say that prior to this, I always... like thought of myself as a questioner like I'm always asking questions I always feel like the weird person is asking too many questions in a meeting and then I met Liz and then we started being members on committees together and I so many times I've left a meeting going this asked so many good questions like she asked a lot of questions but they're always good and I'm so happy to have another person asking questions now and so because of you and your curiosity And just wanting to find out information and it always made it a better meeting and it made it easier to work with you and like know what we needed to do. So I thank you for that and I
030will miss you. And if you have any more questions you want to ask, you can ask me and I'll ask. And then John, what a positive force. And we also didn't really know each other when we started. And we just kind of jumped in. And there was so much going on. And stepping up is probably the best way to explain who you are. Always stepping up, always adding, always saying yes if someone needs something, always a team player. positive and you just navigate so much complexity with this referendum and the building committee that and it's amazing how it became like you know it passed and it was such a successful endeavor and I thank you so much for that and all that you've done for our town and you're going to still be doing more
031stuff and then Christina the most insightful, compassionate, and empathetic people I've ever met. And I loved having you on the board because you gave such a good perspective not only about, you know, wanting to know what the child thought or how students perspective because you are also a teacher, but also the teachers perspective and which helps us so much in navigating the different issues that came before the board and it was really, really helpful and I'm going to miss you so much, but we're here and... we'll talk and I'll ask you questions when I need to know things. But thank you for taking this little trip with us for the last two years. Anyone else? I'm going to miss all three of you. And I just wanted to say that the strength in the board
032is its diversification and different points of view. So I will miss that from all three of you. So thank you. You want to say something? Yeah, sure. So I did want to follow Jim because the few times that we did the... bike for the town and the scarecrow gym came to every activity and I created like a teacher little thank-you cards with all the photos so I hope you enjoy it. I wrote thank-you cards. But I did want to say a few words. Can I say a few words now? Okay, awesome. I'm gonna start by thanking each board member for serving alongside me. I have learned from each of you. You each have dedicated to service to serving our community and I truly admire them. I have been a teacher since 2001 and being a
033board member has been the hardest thing I have ever done. The time commitment and the immense responsibility I felt to make the right decision were both good and bad. There have been moments where decision-making felt heavy as I do believe that we want to do what's best for our community. I hope I served the community well and that I was a good listener. One of my fellow board members said habits are big for me. And being a good listener is essential. She's right. To the new board members and to the existing board members, my advice is this. Be a good listener. Read and be well informed about the big issues. Do research in other districts in the state and in the nation. We don't have to copy other districts, but it helps to have similarities
034and differences. It is how we can make positive changes. Each school in Wethersfield has their unique qualities. Let's ensure that each school is getting what they need. Equitable means that what each school needs is met as much as possible. Listen to teachers. More importantly, listen to students. We need to do that more. Give them ownership of their own education system. Encourage families to become collaborators with the school community. Focus on the positive. The bad things that come up are good to be aware of, but should not be the focus. And lastly, to my husband Dave and Rohe, I would not have been able to serve for two years without your support, patience, love, and guidance. I'm inspired by both of you, and thank you for supporting me without a single complaint. Wethersfield, thank you for
035trusting me to represent you. Okay, anyone else? Okay, well I'll make a motion that we have a recess at this time. Can I have a second? Second. All right, all in favor? Aye. Opposed? Any abstentions? So we're in a recess right now. Thank you. And I always have it ready to go. I looked at, I looked at Jess. The playground days. So sweet. Oh, thank you. Oh, no. Just turned 17. Thank you. Nothing like a board of ed meeting. I know, I know. It's all blue right here. It is now. Oh. Yes. He's a Republican. Yeah, so there's three Republicans. Jeff's coming. A little addition here. All right. I make a motion that we reopen the meeting after our recess. Do I have a second? Second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Any abstentions? We have
036reopened our meeting. All right. Now. Now for the swearing in. Okay, can I have Sue Schrader come on up and give us the oath? of the state of Connecticut so long as you are a resident thereof and that you will be able to discharge according to law your duties as members of the Leatherfield Board of Education to the best of your abilities. So I hope you do that. Thank you. Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. Now we can serve the new board. Who wants to come up? Okay. Oh, I took a picture. The list, I don't know. Excuse me, you've got to put your name. You remember. Okay. Ellen, would you please do the roll call for our new Board of Ed? Yes, thank you. Ms. Callan-Carson? Here. Mr. Carey? Present. Mrs. DeRoberts? Here. Mr. Riley? Here. I'll
037say Mr. Lacovoli. Here. Mrs. Granato? Here. And hang on just a second. Ms. Gold? Here. Ms. DiBacco? Present. And Ms. Drew? Here. All present. Thank you. Oh, and I'm sorry about the student rep. I was... You're good. So, Weathersfield High School student representative Ms. Anushka Gandhi. Here. All present. Okay, Mr. Whidbey, I'm turning the meeting over to you. Thank you, Madam Chair. At this time... We're going to embark on the election of our chairperson and our vice chairperson slash secretary. So to begin, I'm going to ask, do we have a nomination for the chairperson of the Board of Education at this time? Yes, we do. I move to nominate Bobby Hughes-Granato as our Board of Education chair. We hear a second. Second. Okay. Any discussion? Yes. Two years ago, when I had the honor of
038nominating Bobbi, I recognized her experience as an educator and as a leader. As an educator, a teacher of 40 years, Bobbi, second grade, all 40 years, right? Bobbi was a talented and popular teacher who is still very popular. When you door knock with her, that's when you really find out or do anything with her in town. have to expect to wait a while while people stop her to talk. As a leader, Bobbi exhibits the qualities that truly defined leadership. She encourages initiative, independence, free expression, and actions based on well-researched information. Bobbi also possesses the vision, passion, and energy needed to make the tough calls and transformative decisions. And I've seen her in action doing it. We can count on her to do the right thing at the right time. So once again, I move to
039nominate Bobby Hughes Granato. Thank you. So should we have Ellen do a roll? Ellen, will you do a roll vote for us? Ms. Callan-Carson? Yes. Mr. Carey? Yes. Ms. Sister Roberts? Yes. Mr. Riley? Yes. Mr. Lacavoli? Yes. Mrs. Granato? Yes. Ms. Gold? Yes. Ms. Tabacco? Yes. Ms. Drew? Yes. Unanimous. Okay, thank you. And thank you, everyone. Thank you very much. Okay, a few words. First and foremost, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the town of Wethersfield and to the Board of Education for once again entrusting me with the title of Board Chair. It's truly an honor to serve in this capacity and to represent a community I love that is so vibrant and caring. My commitment to our town and its citizens runs deep and I believe that the love we have for
040Wethersfield is reflected in every decision we make on behalf of our students and our families. Together we strive to push our schools into the 21st century, embracing innovation and ensuring that our students are equipped with the tools they need to thrive. I want to emphasize that our work is guided by your voices. Your votes matter immensely to us and we take them seriously. Our goal is to work collaboratively with you, ensuring that we uphold the values and aspirations you have for our education system and for our community. So I ask for your continued support as we embark on this journey again together. Let us unite in our dedication to our students, their families, and the town we all love. Together we can achieve great things for Wethersfield. And thank you once again for this incredible
041opportunity. Thank you. And I didn't quote you. Okay. Thanks, Jim. Now at this time. I'll ask if we have a nomination for the vice chair secretary of the board of education. I have a nomination. I nominate Matt McAvoli for vice chair of the board of education. Do I hear a second? Second. We have discussion? All in favor? No, we don't have to do discussion. Okay. So I nominate Matt McAvoli because He's a wonderful guy and a great team player and he always keeps us on task and he is, you could just always count on him for pretty much anything and he'll find out any information or he guides Bobby all the time into all kinds of different issues and territories. Matt loves Wethersfield. Matt loves to serve this district. And Matt is really good with
042numbers. Matt is great with budgets. Matt, if you have any questions, and I will occasionally have questions about numbers and budgets, and he either knows it or will find out and explain it to you in a way that I will understand, right? So he's just guided us in many ways in this capacity throughout the last two years, and I really appreciate it. I was really happy to see that he was going to run again because he... you know he's he's just fully committed to the sport of education and and and keeping us moving and moving us forward um and he is really a true team player and i appreciate him immensely and i'm so grateful he's going to be our next vice chair ellen you want to do absolutely miss callan carson yes mr carey
043yes mrs de roberts yes mr riley yes Mr. Lacavoli? Yes. Mrs. Granato? Yes. Ms. Gold? Yes. Ms. Tabacco? Yes. And Ms. Drew? Yes. Anonymous. So I do have some remarks prepared tonight. I remember two years ago when I was nominated vice chair, I did not. I tried to speak off the top of my head and I didn't think it went as well as it could have. So I prepared some remarks tonight. I would like to thank Marjorie for the nomination and this entire board for even considering me as vice chair. Over the past two years it is a role that I have taken seriously and it is a role that I have grown into. In all honesty I'm still trying to figure out how to be the best board member and the best vice chair
044possible but knowing that I have a great team beside me and a tremendous board chair it feels easier. It's really hard to make promises in life concerning outcomes. So all I can promise is that I will show up, engage with everyone, listen, and try to do my part to advance Weathersfield Public Schools, which I am a proud product of. Everyone up here, our goal is the same. Our thoughts may differ in some spots or when it comes to budget items, but at the end of the day, it's all about the students and families of this district. Through the ideals of equity, empathy, and achievement, we need to remain focused on creating our vision of the graduate. one who is a communicator, collaborator, and problem solver, and who is prepared for life after high school. I
045appreciate the nomination, I accept it, and I look forward to working with our new board. Thank you. Any other board comments? Anyone? Well, I'll just say that he sits on my left side here, but he's my right-hand person. And we just discussed about when budget time comes up, it can be so complicated, he simplifies it for all of us who need that. And we so appreciate because, as Matt said, we're all here for our students and their families and Wethersfield as a community. So thanks, Matt. I'm glad you're going to be there on my left side. Thank you. Okay, any other board comments on anything right now? Amanda? Yeah. So I just wanted to say thank you to the voters for giving me the opportunity to serve. I look forward to it, and I will
046always give 110%. I'd like to thank my children and my husband for allowing me. the opportunity to do this. It takes a village in order to do this and I really appreciate it. I would also like to, in advance, apologize to Kelly. Kelly will be graduating from Wethersfield High School this year, and I will be on stage embarrassing her by giving her the absolute biggest hug that I could possibly give, because I'm very proud of her. And so I just wanted to make sure we were all on record that I do apologize. So thank you. Thank you. I'll take a picture of it. Yeah. Video. Mindy? Yes. I wrote something down so that, per Matt's wonderful advice. It is an honor to be here tonight and to have earned the trust of this community. I
047really didn't expect to be here a year ago, but I kept finding myself in spaces where neighbors were dreaming bigger and then doing the work to achieve them. From Winnett to Weck to the early childhood endowment passed by the Connecticut legislature this June, again and again I saw how powerful it is when people decide to show up for one another and the future they believe in, and that's what led me here tonight. Professionally, my work is in human-centered design, listening first and then solving for real needs, and I'll be bringing those skills with me into this role. I'm looking forward to working collaboratively, building a strong relationship with our superintendent, stewarding these new schools into reality in a way that's both beautiful and efficient, and centering what should always be centered, our kids, our families,
048and our teachers. Every child and student in Wethersfield deserves to feel safe, respected, and nurtured in our public schools. And I'm excited to champion early childhood education every chance I get because what happens before kindergarten truly shapes everything that comes after. Our schools are here to support children in becoming full human beings, thinkers, neighbors, citizens capable of building a better world for themselves. As the mother of two young children, you might have heard them tonight. This is what will drive me every day as I leave before bedtime to come here and volunteer my time and energy. So thank you so much to everyone who got me here. I'm very excited to get to work. I would also like to say a few words. Thank you, Wethersfield, for giving me this incredible opportunity. To my amazing
049family who is here tonight and my boyfriend, Logan, thank you so much for all of your support. It has meant the world to me from the support of my family, my friends, and this incredible community that I had the chance to move back to at the beginning of this year. I certainly did not... think when I moved back to town that I would be sitting up here with all of you tonight but it is the greatest honor and I do not take this lightly. I'm so excited to get to work with everyone and to be a positive voice of change and hope for our community and for the younger generation. I'm excited to represent this town and to get to work. Thank you all. I would also like to thank you all and thank the
050Wethersfield voters for sending me back to the Board of Ed. I was on for a four-year term and I'm on for another four. It was an exciting four years and disappointing sometimes. We were trying to get the referendum together, but it was wonderful to be able to see that through in those four years. Thanks to Mindy and so many others. who have really worked hard on that, including Amanda, who is on the building committee. And also to see changes happening in central office with our new superintendent that we're so pleased with. So it's good to stay on and see how all that works through and also to see what we can do with the second part of our referendum so we can get all of these schools built. That was a big thing for me
051in getting elected the first time. I was really, really anxious and happy, excited about having that happen. So I'm happy to continue and have a wonderful um board to work with these are really quality candidates they were candidates that were wonderful and now thank goodness they're working with us and amanda again it's great to be back with you um so thank you thank you again okay Go ahead. I generally don't speak this much, so I've never had this many remarks prepared. I did have some comments prepared for the vice chair nomination, but I also have some general election remarks prepared, so we're all doing that. So I'll go. I want to welcome Gabby and Mindy and re-welcome Amanda to the board. I look forward to working with you all as this board is made up
052currently. I would like to thank my wife, Lauren. I would like to thank my parents and my in-laws, along with so many other people for their support during this campaign and throughout my life. I have to thank the team I ran with, Janice, Gabby, and Mindy, as well as our council slate. I have to thank DTC leadership, Steve, Jessica, Liz, and Martha. Martha and Liz had the faith in me to run me again, and in terms of leadership and campaign strategy, there is no one better. I need to thank the voters. So the night before the election, I stood out on my sidewalk and I looked all the way down the street, both ways. I live on a long straight street, so I can see far, I can see lots of houses. And I just
053thought, I said, man, I hope these voters trust me and trust us to lead Wethersfield. 24 hours later, I found out, yes, they do. They looked at the work we've been doing over the past two years and they told us to keep going. And now the work starts because if we don't do the work and we don't keep the town and the school system stable, the voters will replace us. That's how it works. So now it's on us. No pressure. Finally, I have to thank our fearless leader, Chairwoman Bobbie Hughes-Granato. Bobbie has been a mentor to me and a steady leader of this board and school district. Along with Jeff and past superintendents, she is the face of this district and there is no one who could chair this board better than her. A couple
054people up here got a lot of votes and I would love to have seen how many votes Bobby would have gotten with a turnout like that that we got last week. That would have been impressive. So to the woman who doesn't even need a last name, Bobby is that famous. I look forward to working alongside you and learning from you some more. Let's keep the work going. We'll get through this night. All right, well, we do want to make public comments available, too. If there's anyone wishing to make a public comment, please come on up to the podium and state your name and address. And may I remind you that you have a five-minute limit, and I think everybody up here has talked out, so we don't respond after comments from the public, just to
055let you know that. Anyone all right we do have one more comment from the day is here and it's from Anushka We would love to hear about life at the high school, and then I'll have more comment Bobby hmm. I'll have more coming up Sure good evening everyone and congrats to all the new board members Here's a quick update on what's been happening these past few weeks at the high school Last week honorees were inducted into the Fall National Honor Society along with the World Language Honor Societies. They were celebrated for their successes both academically and in their respective world language. Additionally, the Fall Theater production, She Kills Monsters, is taking place this weekend, Friday and Saturday night at 7.30. and Sunday at three. Today, as we celebrate Veterans Day, the high school hosted their
056annual ceremony where veterans were honored for their devotion to protect our country. On the athletic side, fall sports are coming to a close, but I've been making lots of progress as the season comes to an end. Our football team had a great victory over Middletown last Friday. Our girls field hockey team were finalists in the Class M state tournament. And boys soccer continues to fight for the Class L state trophy. Finally, our unified soccer program just wrapped up and they ended on a great note. Unified soccer stars collaborated with the cheer team to perform together at last week's football game, serving as a great representation of teamwork and school spirit. And that's what's happening at the high school. Thank you so much. And we do have another board comment. Yes, and I'm probably standing between
057everyone in recess, but I'll go quick. I did write something down, like Matt, I should know this after 10 years, that I'm better off writing it down than just speaking off the cuff. He learned quicker than I did, I guess. I want to begin by expressing my deepest gratitude to the voters in this community for once again placing your trust in me to serve on this board of education. It's an incredible honor I do not take lightly. Each time I've run for public office, I've been reminded how special it is to have the opportunity to give back to this wonderful community that I grew up in. I'd be remiss if I didn't thank my wife, Wendy, my children, Owen, Venus, and Aliana, for always having their unwavering love and support. Campaigns are never easy. Public
058services takes time and energy that often belongs to family first. You stood by me through every step in encouraging me when the days were long and reminding me why this work matters. I couldn't do any of this without you, and tonight's success is as much yours as it is mine. I also want to extend congratulations to my fellow board members, Gabby, Mindy, and I dropped the ball on that, Amanda. I look forward to working with you. I'm especially eager to continue collaborating with our new superintendent as he continues his transition into our district. His vision and leadership are already making an impact and I believe that together we can achieve great things for our students. Most importantly, I'm committed to helping building and maintaining a bipartisan collaborative board that puts students first and ensures that
059politics never takes center stage. Our focus must remain on creating the best educational opportunities, supporting our teachers and staff, and preparing our young people to thrive in an ever-changing world. I'm going to end with a quote like Ms. Granato-Hughes likes to. I'm reminded of a quote by President John F. Kennedy. Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future. Together, let's choose the right answers for our students. Thank you again for your confidence and your support. I'm truly honored to continue to serve this remarkable community. Thank you, Chuck. Okay, any others? All right, I'm going to finish with a quote because Liz has trained us well. So one final
060quote for the evening. It's from Dr. Seuss. And it's, don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. So thank you all. And can I have a motion to adjourn this meeting? So moved. A second? Second. All in favor? Aye. Nobody's opposed. Nobody's abstaining. Thank you all and good night.