001Welcome to our special meeting for June 1st. Um, I'm going to call our meeting to order at 6:05. And Lisa, would you please call the role? Thank you, Lisa. Everybody has the agenda in front of them. If I could please have a motion to approve the agenda. I have no additions. >> Motion by Katherine, second by Matt. Thank you. All in favor? >> All right. Thank you, everybody. Well, I'm thrilled that we are able to move forward with this special meeting and get to appoint our next superintendent because the 50 times I've asked Dr. Mackery to stay, she keeps telling me no. So, we I decided I better give up and we are so thrilled to welcome Michael Lucas to our community. Uh I'm going to do the motion and then we can have discussion
002if that's okay. and then we'll let Mike say a few words, but we also have a second agenda item. So, please don't let me forget that we need to also do two parts. So, we need to um appoint an acting superintendent as well. So, I'm going to read this motion because it is in legal ease in Jessica language. So, I will read it, but then I'll ask somebody all you have to say as I make that motion. Okay, >> they met already. >> I was going to say his next best friend. So the motion is it's moved in accordance with section 10157 of the Connecticut General Statutes that the Cromwell Board of Education appoint Michael Lucas as superintendent of schools effective July 27th, 2026 and continuing through June 30th, 2029 subject to the following conditions.
003One is approval of the Commissioner of Education in accordance with section 10157 of the Connecticut General Statutes. and two, satisfactory completion of all statuto statutory requirements concerning the hiring of board of education employees and moved further that the board chairperson be authorized to finalize and execute the proposed employment contract with Mr. Lucas on behalf of the board. Does somebody want to make that motion? Oh, Kelly second, Alan. Thank you. Discussion. You want me to start? I I'll I'll start and then you guys can all jump in. Um so we had a pretty uh intense um really amazing search process. So I want to just first start by thanking Mary and Jack from Cave because I think we they we owe them a round of applause. We had such an tremendous interest. I won't say anything
004confidential, Mary, but we had tremendous interest in our community. And so that makes me really really proud and it should make our educators and our families. It should make our administrators proud that so many people are really excited about the idea of coming to to be part of our community. So I that really jumped out at me. Um and we had an in intense many late nights. So, thank you to all of you because it was a really thoughtful discussion and a tremendously fruitful process to work through that with all of you. Um, I'd like to say a few things about Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Sorry, I'll be shorter. Um, I want to say a few a few things about our >> big packet. >> This is the letter. I know I have No, I'm
005not gonna read all this. >> Go ahead. Sorry. >> You know, I'm not that longwinded. Um, so I I want to just talk about um Mike Lucas that we um unanimously agreed on because we were so impressed with his 28 years of experience in education. Mike was a social studies teacher. He was a coach. He was a summer camp director. He served as a principal and most recently a superintendent of Oxford, Massachusetts public schools. Um, we we were talking to Jack and talking about what do we really what is the most important thing? And we said we want somebody that loves kids, that cares about kids, wants to support our educators. And in Mike's cover letter, he said, "My philosophy is whatever's best for the kids, whatever's best for those that are supporting the kids
006is how I want to lead." And so, I kind of knew from that first read that this was somebody that really would fit in with with what we were looking for. Um, Mike talked about collaboration. He talked about fostering academic excellence. He talked about fiscal responsibility. John Ireland's not here, but I know he would have been happy to hear that. Um, talked about implementing datainformed systems to drive quality of education, improving access to um, education at all levels for all levels of learners. Um he said he's guided by the question what is best for students which I absolutely appreciate. Um talked about visibility, talked about being there for the students in the classrooms with the kids at the events. Um and truly represented himself as somebody that is going to be great for our community.
007So I am really thrilled to get to welcome you. And it feels really weird Mike with you behind me but and I'm talking about you. So, I'm thrilled to get to welcome you and we'll um I'll let Katherine talk now because I won't read the rest of my >> Oh, and >> thank you. >> All right, Matt. Matt wants to be next. >> So, um when I joined the board, it was right after Dr. Macker became superintendent and it was a really tough time in the town of Cromwell and she brought us to a whole new level um that I kind of wish my kids were in the younger grades when she was here. Um but we developed she developed um along with the rest of the Cromwell community a fantastic school system that had
008an exorbitant number of highly competitive applicants to be superintendent of our school district. I know that there are several other school districts that are looking for supers. So I thought this was going to be a much more limited field. I was shocked at the volume of what great candidates we had in front of us. I'm not saying anymore, Mary. Um, but it it really it really just goes to show what we've developed here in Cromwell Public Schools and um everything that Madudi said about Mike has been spot on. Um, he definitely impressed all of us even with all our extremely difficult questions that we asked because we had him and we threw them at him out of nowhere. So, um, he he was ready. So, he's highly involved in the community. Um, he even tried
009to catch some of the baseball game today. Unfortunately, the boys won too quickly. Um, but which is awesome. So, on to the next state round. But it was just impressive of how we got through this process and to see where Cromwell stands as a school district to get that many highly competitive candidates. And I'm super excited for Mike to come in. Um because it's hard to say goodbye to your superintendent, but um we weren't expecting it, but we have somebody who's going to follow and continue to grow and expand in our district. So that's all that's true. >> Go ahead, Mr. Zorowski. >> So, first things first, um I do want to thank Enzo to start off with. Our our working relationship got off to uh I'm not going to say it was a rocky
010start. Uh but our first interactions were her first year as superintendent and I was an angry parent. Um and I will say that she handled it with grace and she took took the What's that? >> You mean was an angry parent? >> It was all right. Maybe I'm still an angry parent. Um but but I will say she handled she handled my concerns with Grace. Um she even though she um didn't give me what I wanted, um she did her she she did a really good job of building a good relationship with me and addressing my concerns and and allowing me to um express my emotions. and she it was a very constructive process and you kind of won me over in that process. Um even if it was a difficult situation. So I I
011appreciate that we had that start and I like to think that we are having a very good finish. Uh I am I am going to miss working with you. Um I am sorry to see you go. I am as sorry as I am to see you go. I am excited for uh Mike to come in um in this process. I think one of the things that I value about our board is we have so many different views. We have parents of students who have some some of their own needs. Um we have parents of young children. We have parents of graduates. Uh we have uh retired teachers. Um we have people from kind of the business lens. We have people um like myself who are currently teachers. And through this process, the one thing that
012I kind of leaned back on was as a teacher in looking at the various candidates, who would I be most comfortable having as a teacher leading the district? Who who did I who would I feel be supportive? Um, and I really got that vibe from Mike. I think you I think he's going to be really good at building relationships in the area. Um, I think he's going to probably be very good at at evaluating his staff and and helping to build future leaders. Um, and I I you know, in some of those things, I don't think that's that dissimilar from from Dr. McCrae. So, um, you know, it was it was a big task, but um, as sorry as I am to see you go, I'm very excited to see Mike come in as well.
013Look at that. I kept it under five minutes. Anybody else or we want to move this? Go ahead, Alan. >> Dr. Mer, I'd like to thank you. It's pleasure working here this past, you know, five years now. >> Yeah. Well, okay. Well, I'm saving it. And also, I'd like to thank Alyssa for doing heading up this crew. You I think you did a spectacular job. So, thank you very much. Yes. that you need a round of applause. >> I tried to quit the job multiple times and get her to stay, but she just kept telling me no. Not even in a nice way. She just say no. I don't know who is next, Lori or or Donna. Okay, Lori. So, um, as you know, I was like the last man standing that was here when
014we hired Enza. And, you know, that was I feel like that was so long ago, but um, I had the same feeling that, you know, when we hired you, just knowing that we picked the right person and, um, loving working with you and I, as you know, because I cried when you said you were leaving. Um, you know, now having gone through this process again, you know, I feel the same way. I feel really excited for Mike. I'm so sad to see you go. Um, but I feel that same excitement and confidence that we got it right. We picked the right person and um, I wish you all the best and we're going to miss you, >> Miss Maddie. I've only been here since November, so I haven't really known Dr. Machri as well as
015everyone else has. However, I knew her maybe before some of you because my daughter worked with her and you were the principal as I recall. My daughter was a new young teacher and I'd like to think that she had my about kids. I I know she did and all I'd hear about is Enza Enza this ends of that and I think wait a second who is this woman and how is it Lisa's not saying mom you taught me this and I learned this it was ends of this ends of that. So I have to thank you for that Enza. Um and I know I know that Lisa feels the same way. But I also want to say that it was even though I've only been here a short period of time it was to be
016able to get to know you a little bit and um to see what Lisa was talking about. Um as far as I'm concerned, you made it very clear and you put it on all of these that students come first. And in actually when you were talking about leaving, you talked about yourself and how you felt when you were in school and how you wanted kids to feel um empowered and successful. And I I do sense that um even though Michael isn't a woman, I do sense that he has that same sort of perspective about children. No, I mean that you lead with your heart and he's talked about kids and am I going to make a mistake here to say he has a lot of kids um himself. So, I am excited about him uh
017coming on board, but I wish you the best and I know how you've affected so many people's lives and God bless you for that. >> Cali, >> I will be brief because you've all said everything that I have to say. Thank you, Dr. Macker. You have been an amazing leader to this community and really appreciate everything you've done. Thank you to all the board members. Um, I know it was a lot of time and work, but I think we made a wonderful decision and I just just have like the biggest smile um that this is finally being announced and I just welcome to our team and we're so excited to see what you're going to do. >> Okay, there is a motion. That's Do you want Oh, I'm sorry, Jessica. Mrs. Lamb, I'm sorry. I
018didn't see you over there. >> It's okay. I'll be even briefer than Kelly. Um, I also want to acknowledge Dr. from Hacker's legacy that you're leaving behind. And I I also believe we've got the right person to carry it forward. And I see a lot of faces that are sitting over here. We've got teachers, administrators, there's probably community members on the phone. We have leaders from our community. Um this is the right person for you to get to know and I can't wait for you to get to know him. Um because he is going to carry on that legacy and he really does truly care about the students, the teachers, the administrators, and the community. So really really very much looking forward to working with him. >> Thank you. Okay, there is a motion on
019the floor. It has been seconded. May I call for a vote? All in favor? >> Anybody abstaining? Opposed? I did that backwards. Okay, congratulations. All right, we're going to do one more action item and then I if you'd be willing to say a few words, we would love to have you do that. Okay, thank you everybody. I'm going to read this other motion in Jessica Legal's language that for one of you to move forward. But um before I do that, I just want to say so as I mentioned in um the motion for Mike's contract, he's starting with us July 27th. He has a very sad community in Oxford, Massachusetts who are are heartbroken to see their beloved superintendent leaving them and uh is going to stick with them until the middle of the summer.
020But we were in a little bit of a a challenge of what are we going to do? TRB doesn't want to let us borrow Dr. Macker, unfortunately. and um we were so lucky that um Miss Bington agreed to step up and support us for the summer. So I we couldn't do this without you. We're so grateful to you and um just are are excited to see you in this role even if it's only for a a short time. But what an opportunity to show us all to stretch your leadership legs and to really support the district. And I promised her that nothing bad was going to happen this summer. and I work in town. So if it does, she's gonna call me and I have to come. So please, please, please, >> I'll help, too.
021Don't worry. >> Don't say that. >> Oh, there you go. Okay. So, I am the the motion for the appointment of the acting superintendent reads as follows. moved in accordance with section 10157 of the Connecticut General Statutes that the Cromwell Board of Education appoint Ramsay Bimington as the acting superintendent of schools effective July 1st, 2026 and continuing through July 26th, 2026 subject to the following conditions that the uh first is the approval of the Commissioner of Education in accordance with 10157 of the Connecticut General Statutes and two satisfactory completion of all statutory requirements concerning the hiring of the board of education employees and moved further that the board chairperson shall be authorized to finalize and execute the proposed employment contract with Miss Bington on behalf of the board. Thank you. Thank you, Mrs. Ross. There's
022a motion second by Mr. Zabroski. Any discussion? Okay. All in favor? >> Anybody opposed? Anybody abstaining? Motion passes. Yay. Oh, we we truly are so grateful. Thank you. Okay, there's no further action on our agenda, but I would like to give an opportunity for Mr. Lucas to to Now, I told him this space is so awkward that they're going to be sitting behind No. Why don't you sit here next to Matt? >> This is hazing. >> This is how it begins. >> All right. Thank you so much. Um, it says a lot about your community, the fact that you have an evening like this and welcome somebody like me. So, I appreciate it. Thank you so much. Uh what was great about the interview process with the board was I really felt like we were
023talking about kids. It was student centered. It was about where what it should be. Kids, their future and what they have in Cromwell and beyond. Um and for me that was really incredible. It was a great experience. I I didn't feel like there were interviews. I felt like there were actually discussions about values and what we want for children. Um and that means this is a very special place because the board has their heart in the right place. But thank you for tonight. I am so excited. Um, I am blessed to to love where I work right now and the team I work with, but I'm very excited to come here as well. Um, the administrators, thank you for coming tonight. It's so nice that you came. It's appreciated. Um, I can't wait to start
024working with all of you. Um, and I'm very excited. So, I don't have a lot to say, but um, thank you for this opportunity and I hope I can live up to all the words you just gave me, the compliments tonight. So, the bar has been set high, but thank you so much. I'm looking forward to it. Thank you. Okay, there's no further action items. I know you guys are me sad, but we're get to be together again tomorrow night for our regular board meeting. >> Um, you can come back and run that meeting. >> No, until 6:30. June 30th, you're stuck with us. >> 11:59. >> See, Ramsey, she's trying to get out early. >> No, I wouldn't. May I please have a motion for adjournment? >> Thank you. Motion by Mrs. Campwell, seconded
025by Mr. Schuman. All in favor?