For decades Bill Banfe has been a part of the Shelton education landscape — first as a teacher, then principal, then as director of operations for the district.
But last week, with Banfe’s retirement, the district lost what some say is an “invaluable” employee.
“For every building project we have undertaken, his participation has been crucial to its success,” said building committee Chairman James Orazietti, who lauded Banfe at last week’s Board of Education meeting.
In the past decade, Banfe has been instrumental in the construction of the new Shelton Intermediate School, the renovation of the old intermediate school into Perry Hill School, and a host of other smaller projects that installed boilers, roofs, windows and more.
Before that Banfe was the intermediate school headmaster.
“Bill is a hard worker and they are going to miss him,” said former Superintendent of Schools Leon J. Sylvester, who worked with Banfe for decades.
The two worked closely together on the construction of the new Shelton Intermediate School adjacent to the Shelton High School campus, Sylvester said.
“He had an amazing attention to detail,” Sylvester said.
So much so, Orazietti said, that when the district went before the state Board of Education’s School Facilities Unit with the Perry Hill School plans, it was because of Banfe’s hard work that the plans were submitted just before the district’s reimbursement rate was scheduled to go down.
“With this dedication to specifications and attention to detail, he saved 4 percent,” Orazietti said, noting that the reimbursement rate would have dropped from 42 percent to 38 percent had Banfe not done what he did.
“He saved the district $1.2 million in that one effort alone,” Orazietti said, “so you can see what attention to detail can do.”
Robin Willink, former superintendent in Shelton, said Banfe communicated well with all members of the school community and Shelton.
“If he didn’t know an answer, he would work diligently until he found it,” Willink said.
“His loyalty to the school system and the city was absolute,” she said. “Bill was always a pleasure to work with and was invaluable to me and the Shelton Public Schools. He will be sorely missed I am sure.”
Board chairman Tim Walsh said he has worked with Banfe since the intermediate school was opened in 1974.
“I will miss his hard work, his trust and his friendship,” Walsh said.
At the Board of Education meeting last week, the board and members of the public gave Banfe a standing ovation.
“I just want to say publicly that Bill Banfe is a treasure to the city of Shelton and he will be missed,” Orazietti told the board Wednesday. “I think everyone in the city owes him a grateful and huge thank you for all of the projects he was involved in – we couldn’t have achieved what we have in the last six to 10 years without him.”
