By Cherry Dumaual

NEW FAIRFIELD — The last regular meeting of the New Fairfield Board of Education (BOE) on December 19 via Zoom led off with Chair Dominic Cipollone sharing his reflections on the BOE’s accomplishments and ongoing efforts within our school community. Two major projects have been successfully completed or are near completion, showcasing the power of collaboration when boards work together to meet community needs. He noted the lighting of the stadium and the replacement of the stadium turf scheduled for spring, as well as the STEAM initiative becoming a reality, thanks to the dedicated efforts of Mr. Phil Ross, director of facilities and his team.

Citing the strategic plan continuing to move the district forward, Chair Cipollone acknowledged the strong leadership of Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Craw and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Kristine Woleck. “We have a vibrant school community with so many dedicated individuals working towards a common goal of providing our students a safe judgment-free, healthy learning environment that focuses on gifts and talents while addressing areas for growth.”

Chair Cipollone emphasized the importance of integrity and honesty in the BOE and the school community, urging everyone to focus on the greater good rather than personal agendas. Noting the approaching budget season, he stressed the importance of creating a fair and fiscally responsible budget that balances the needs of the schools and the wider community. Ending his report, he expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in making a positive impact.

Dr. Craw followed with his superintendent’s report by highlighting that the arts have really taken off here in New Fairfield. He spoke about the pleasure of attending many of the theater and musical performances. “Our kids continue to grow in those areas, and the support of the community and the board is fantastic. So I want to thank our students for the good cheer. They’re sending us off into the break with those inspiring performances.” He also thanked the teachers for their dedication to the arts.

The meeting proceeded with discussion of topics, such as Assistant Superintendent Dr. Woleck’s presentation about the continuation of the orchestra program through high school, with support from the Fine Arts Boosters. Instrument challenges were highlighted, with a focus on acquiring cellos and basses.

Board member Tim Blair gave an update on an earlier special meeting of the curriculum subcommittee, which discussed bilingual services. He informed that Assistant Superintendent Dr. Woleck talked about the Connecticut State statute regarding bilingual education requirements, and she provided the current district statistics that show the district currently has 91 students K through 12 who are multilingual learners. According to her, the next steps include a request to have a new full-time certified bilingual teacher to provide the level of support and services needed to accommodate the growing number of English learners and bilingual students in the district. Mr. Blair also gave a Middle School World Language update, which includes positive feedback on the change in September allowing students to take a full year of Spanish or French and areas for improvement.

Turning to the ongoing oil tank project, Mr. Ross shared a status, mentioning the selection of Fuss & O’Neill as the design-build engineering firm. Mr. Ross explained the plan to abandon the oil tank in place due to its location next to a septic system and propane tank, and the decision to use an above-ground tank inside the middle school courtyard. He brought up the expected cost proposal and the schedule for the project, aiming to complete it before the start of the next school year. Mr. Ross estimated a six-week timeline once funds are available. He clarified that abandoning the tank in place involves exposing the top of the tank, cleaning it, and filling it with lightweight concrete, allowing for future excavation if needed.

The regular meeting announced that NF Public Schools and the Town of NF have been awarded competitive cybersecurity grants from the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS). According to Mr. Paul Gouveia, director of technology, in the last five years or so, public schools and municipalities have become the number one target for ransomware attacks and other cybersecurity threats. The federal government, recognizing that, issued funding to the states. New Fairfield had to craft a proposal as to why the town was in need of those funds. Mr. Gouveial said he was very pleased to announce that both the town and the schools were rewarded 100% of the projects that they asked for.

The public schools will receive $316,708, and the Town will receive $108,000 to bolster their cybersecurity infrastructure. This funding will be used to implement advanced security measures, including Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Endpoint Detection Response (EDR). These upgrades will enhance network defenses, reduce exposure to emerging cybercrime threats, and save costs associated with system recovery and repairs. MFA will ensure secure access to sensitive systems by requiring additional authentication, while EDR will protect devices and cloud systems by detecting threats and containing breaches. Together, these measures represent a proactive approach to safeguarding New Fairfield’s digital assets and critical systems.

When Chair Cipollone praised Mr. Gouveia for his efforts in securing the grant, he said, “I’d be remiss to not shout out my team for all of their efforts as well. We have a phenomenal tech team in New Fairfield, from our data team to our computer technicians, our data analysts. We have some of the best in the state, and I’m happy to bring this grant forward.”

Toward the end of the meeting, the BOE members adjusted subcommittee meeting dates to avoid conflicts with the budget season. The 2025-2026 school calendar was approved, and a $3,700 donation from the Old Timers Association was enthusiastically accepted for a new storage shed at Rebel Stadium.

# # #