(Left to right) Derby school board chairman Jim Gildea and schools Superintendent Matthew Conway.
DERBY – Derby Public Schools Superintendent Matthew Conway said March 18 that the school district should be able to cover a $594,669 spending increase in its proposed budget for the next school year.
“Over the past couple of months, things have gone up and down, but I think we are in a great place and have a plan for funding this budget moving forward that will hopefully not require any increase in our mill rate,” Conway said.
Conway made his statement during a budget meeting of the Derby Board of Apportionment and Taxation, also known as the tax board. Its elected members approve an annual budget.
The Derby Board of Education adopted a budget of $21,043,120 with a 2.91 percent spending increase in February, and then sent it to the tax board to review.
Space Shuttle Atlantis lands in 1992 (Image made with Canva).
This week, we take a look back at 1992, which according to what the cool kids were saying was “all that” and “da bomb!”
A historic referendum was held where white South African voters overwhelmingly supported ending the apartheid system. With 68.7% voting ‘Yes’, this marked a critical turning point in South Africa’s journey towards racial equality and democratic transformation under President F.W. de Klerk’s leadership.
These were the top 5 songs topping the US music charts this week:
Shannon Allison, first-grade teacher at the Mead School, was recognized as an Extraordinary Educator by a national education advocacy group.
ANSONIA – A city educator has won national recognition for her math teaching chops.
Shannon Allison, a first-grade teacher at the Mead School, was named an “Extraordinary Educator” in December by Curriculum Associates, an education advocacy group. She was one of only 29 educators to be selected from across the nation, out of about 1,000 that applied.
Allison won the award after helping to introduce a new math curriculum at the school. The award seeks to recognize educators who demonstrate innovation and commitment to high achievement in the classroom, according to the Curriculum Associates website.
“Ms. Allison is an exemplary teacher. She creates a positive learning culture in her room and encourages all of her students to achieve at the highest level,” wrote Amy Cosciello, principal at Mead, in a prepared statement.
Griffin Health’s Valley Goes Pink initiative will host Par for Pink on May 20 at The Golf Club at Oxford Greens in Oxford to support The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital.
OXFORD – Griffin Health’s Valley Goes Pink initiative will host its 4th Annual Par for Pink golf fundraiser on Tues., May 20 at The Golf Club at Oxford Greens in Oxford. The fundraiser will feature a 9‑hole round of golf starting at 9 a.m. and lunch. Proceeds will benefit The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital.
Sponsorship opportunities range from $100 to $5,000, and foursomes start at $460. In-kind donations are welcome. To register or for more information, visit https://onecau.se/parforpink.
SHELTON – The Rotary Club of Derby-Shelton is excited to announce the launch of its annual membership drive, aiming to welcome new members who are passionate about community service and fellowship. This initiative seeks to broaden the club’s reach and amplify its positive impact within the Derby and Shelton communities and beyond. For more information, see www.RotaryHappyHour.com
The Rotary Club of Derby-Shelton offers a unique approach to community service by combining personal and professional networking with meaningful volunteer opportunities. Members engage in various service projects, social events, and collaborative efforts that address local and global challenges. The club’s diverse activities make it meaningful to members from all walks of life – retired, working or not.
DERBY – Computer systems at the Derby Police Department may have been compromised by a third party, The Valley Independent Sentinel has learned.
The Valley Indy reached out Monday (March 17) to the police chief and Mayor Joseph DiMartino’s office for more information.
Details of what happened – or what’s happening – are not being shared with the public.
However, at the Derby Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen meeting March 13, elected officials added a discussion item to the agenda calling for an executive session “related to a matter of security pertaining to the police department’s IT system.”
School administrators and the Ansonia Board of Education discussed next year's budget March 12. (Left-to-right: school business administrator Erich Marriott, assistant superintendent Steve Bergin, and superintendent Joseph DiBacco.)
ANSONIA – The Ansonia Board of Education voted to adopt a budget for fiscal year 2025 – 2026 that carries a $2 million, or 5.3 percent, spending increase.
Members of the board voted unanimously March 12 in favor of the $39,560,719.75 budget. School board president Rich Bshara said the numbers will likely continue to change as the schools receive more information from the state.
The budget includes a $549,763 increase for salaries across the board. That’s a 2.9 percent increase over the current budget.
SEYMOUR – Here are some highlights from the Seymour Police Department’s calls for service from March 10, 2025 through March 16, 2025.
It is a partial list of calls, curated by The Valley Indy. The goal is to give the public a head’s up on what’s happening in the community.
Note: generally, this publication does not post the names of people charged with misdemeanors; the names of victims; or numbered residential addresses. If we publish a suspect’s name, we track the case.
Seymour police received 173 calls for service and made three arrests between March 10, 2025 and March 16, 2025.
ANSONIA – Here are some highlights from the Ansonia Police Department’s calls for service from March 10, 2025 through March 16, 2025.
It is a partial list of calls, curated by The Valley Indy. The goal is to give the public a head’s up on what’s happening in the community.
Note: generally, this publication does not post the names of people charged with misdemeanors; the names of victims; or numbered residential addresses. If we publish a suspect’s name, we track the case.
Ansonia police received 315 calls for service and made six arrests between March 10, 2025 and March 16, 2025.
