SEYMOUR — Extracurricular activities are coming back, the search for a new superintendent continues, and another central office staffer is leaving the school district.
Here is a breakdown of this week’s Seymour Board of Education meeting:
Change of Heart
Board members unanimously voted to allow students who choose to remain at home for remote learning to now participate in sports and other extracurricular activities at school.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, students who opted out of the board’s hybrid model (a mix of remote and in-person classes) were not allowed to partake in sports or any school clubs.
However, that changed Monday, as Seymour tries to make its way back to normalcy.
Seymour High School is slated for a full, in-person return April 15, while Seymour Middle School is staggering its full, in-person reopening for March 8, 15 and 22. Students still have the option of remote learning.
“Students know the learning environment that works for them,” said board member Kristen Harmeling. “If they’re not comfortable being in classrooms of 24 students or more, they should still be able to participate in outdoor activities.”
Board member Kristen Bruno concurred, saying “kids now have a better sense how they’re best able to access their instruction, and we know exercise helps treat anxiety and depression. Continuing to deny them of the extracurricular activities is not the way to go.”
Board member Chris Champagne agreed.
“My opinion has changed now, too, since the fall,” he said. “It gives students who need to get into school full-time in the classroom the opportunity do so, and also lessens some of the burden at the high school (to allow for social distancing).”
Board member Beth Nesteriak said giving students options is important for their “social emotional” well-being and opening up extracurriculars to those choose to continue remote learning is a good move.
Business Manager Leaving
Sherry Holmes, who has served as the school district’s business manager since July 2019, is leaving. She took over for former longtime finance director/associate superintendent Rick Belden who left after 20 years for similar role in the Shelton school district. Holmes came here with more than 30 years experiences as a business manager in various settings, from public and private school districts and municipalities, including the towns of Thompson, Coventry, Brooklyn and East Granby. Holmes’ last day here is March 12.
Superintendent of Schools Michael Wilson, who announced his resignation earlier this year and will be leaving in June, said he and Associate Superintendent of Schools Vonda Tencza will start interviewing potential candidates to replace Holmes later this week. He said five people applied for the job- which paid Holmes an annual salary of about $120,000- and once interviews are done, Wilson will make a recommendation to the board on who to hire.
Board Vice Chairman Jay Hatfield thanked Holmes for her “service and dedication to our students and the district.”
The Next Schools’ Chief
As for finding a new superintendent, the board is looking to hire a consulting/search firm to aid in the process, similar to what it did last time when Wilson was hired. Board Chairman Ed Strumello said Requests for Proposals were sent out, but the board only got one hit from the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, or CABE. Strumello said he since reached out to four other groups to gauge their interest in the search and he expects RFPs to be coming back soon so the board can make a decision.
Once the board decides on a firm- last time it used Cooperative Educational Services in Trumbull to help with the search- it will also gauge public input, likely with some focus groups, to assist in finding the right person to lead Seymour schools.
