By Cherry Dumaual

NEW FAIRFIELD — Dr. Kenneth Craw, New Fairfield Superintendent of Schools, provided an update at the October 16 Board of Education (BOE) regular meeting about The Anxious Generation Community Read.

Previously, the BOE announced that schools will host discussion opportunities this fall for staff, students, parents, and community members about The Anxious Generation, a 2024 book by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt that argues the rise in teen mental illness stems from a “great rewiring of childhood” — from play-based to phone-based. The Community Read is part of the district’s ongoing wellness and strategic planning efforts. It aims to help families, schools, and the community agree on collective actions that will better support students as they navigate today’s social media challenges.

Dr. Craw said, “We’ve been working with staff and having conversations at the staff level during professional learning… the principals have just informed me that they’re pleased to announce that they’ll be having a conversation facilitated by the elementary school on November 14, at 9:15 a.m. That conversation location is to be determined, but the community will be welcomed at that meeting. That meeting will be held outside of the school, at an alternate venue, such as the Senior Center.”

He continued, “The second opportunity for families is November 21 at 9 a.m. This one will be held at the schools. This is for high school. Middle School will be facilitating this one, and this would be only for families and for students. We do welcome the community to come out on November 14, and we look forward to the conversation.”

Copies of the book are available at the New Fairfield Public Library. Families can also explore related resources, such as TED Talks and podcasts, to engage further with the book’s ideas.

NF BOE Presents Student Outcomes Report 2025

A highlight of the meeting was New Fairfield High School Principal James D’Amico’s presentation of the Student Outcomes Report 2025, prepared by School Counseling Program Leader Kim Laughlin. The report offered an in-depth look at what the Class of 2025 graduates are doing after high school and how the district’s investments in school counseling are helping shape their futures.

D’Amico explained that he was standing in for Laughlin, who was still at work handling a student matter, and expressed his appreciation for her and her team’s hard work.

He began by sharing several steady trends:

• 73% of the Class of 2025 went on to four-year colleges, 18% enrolled in two-year colleges or trade schools, and about 9% to 10% joined the military, entered the workforce, or pursued other plans. D’Amico noted the increase in trade school admissions.
• Graduates applied to an average of 10 colleges each — a figure D’Amico called “healthy,” as it reflects focused choices rather than over-application.
• Members of the Class of 2025 were accepted to more than 185 colleges and are now attending over 65 different universities across the country. Students earned spots at Ivy League, large private, and state research universities, as well as Connecticut’s own state colleges. Most remain in the region — a trend D’Amico described as encouraging for the state’s goal to retain talent.

Most-Attended Schools (Class of 2025):

• Connecticut State Colleges and Universities
• University of Connecticut (“UConn”)
• Western Connecticut State University
• Regional private and public universities across the East Coast

The report credited much of the success to improvements in the school counseling program, led by Laughlin. The BOE’s decision several years ago to restore a counselor has allowed for more individualized attention to every student.

“Our counselors now make multiple points of contact with each student each year,” D’Amico explained. “That level of support and communication simply wasn’t possible before.”

New Fairfield’s counseling department has expanded its focus to include student voice and real-world experiences. Over the past year, several new programs were launched:

• Return Day Panel: Alumni share candid reflections on college, trade, or career life.
• Junior Jumpstart Panels: Covering admissions, financial aid, and trade or military pathways.
• Decision Day Interviews: Seniors recorded video reflections about their next steps and the relationships that shaped them.
• College and Career Center Visits: Connecting students directly with college representatives during the school day.
• Field Experiences: Visits to college fairs, community colleges, and the upcoming Career Manufacturing Roadshow at Western Connecticut State University.

Families also benefited from expanded financial aid workshops open to both juniors and seniors — a move that received strong positive feedback from parents.

Counselors continue professional growth by attending conferences and strengthening partnerships with UConn and Western Connecticut State University through Early College Experience (ECE) courses, which allow students to earn college credit while still in high school. The district is now exploring concurrent enrollment options that could let students take live college-level courses either on campus or through visiting faculty, broadening opportunities for future classes.

BOE Chair Dominic Cipollone praised the presentation as “real evidence of continuous improvement…. This is what investment in kids looks like. It’s the result of planning, staffing, and giving our counselors the tools to help every student discover their next step.”

School Building Project Update

Another highlight of the meeting came from Director of Business and Operations Carrie Depuy, who reported on the New Fairfield High School’s consolidated school building project.

“The playground is complete and ready for inspection, and it’s scheduled … so we’re cautiously optimistic that we’re going to be playing on the playground very, very soon,” she said.

The next regular meeting of the New Fairfield BOE is scheduled for Thursday, November 6, at 7 p.m.