The Sherman Board of Education (“BOE” or “Board”) met Wednesday, November 2 at the Sherman School Library Media Center and via Zoom for its regular monthly meeting. Board Chair Matt Vogt commenced the unusually brief meeting with a motion adding discussion of Board Standing Committees to the pre-published agenda. Mr. Vogt recognized member Kasey Diotte who resigned from the Board earlier in the week. Ms. Diotte served on the Board for eight years.

Superintendent Dr. Pat Cosentino began her brief report by acknowledging the recent release of a book authored by Christopher Carlone, who teaches band at the school.  The Fall from Lunathal, a young adult book, is available for purchase from Amazon. “We are lucky to have him,” Dr. Pat said. Sherman School trips are back! The eighth graders recently went to Olde Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts, fourth graders took a trip to Ellis Island in New York City, and sixth graders visited White Memorial. Dr. Pat recapped events that took place at the school during the month of October. The school’s Veteran’s Day celebration is scheduled for November 11 at 9:00 a.m. in the gym.  All are welcome to attend and celebrate.

The Board approved 2023 regular meeting dates. Next, Mr. Vogt discussed the Board’s joint RFPQ with the School Building Committee (“SBC”) and advised that the SBC recently unanimously voted to select Antinozzi Associates, an architectural firm located in Bridgeport. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the SBC’s selection of Antinozzi Associates to provide services for the development of “Educational Specifications.”

A Town meeting to approve a request from the SBC of an amount not-to-exceed $175,000 from the capital non-recurr ing fund to be used to finance architectural services, pre-construction management and planning services, schematic design and engineering services, and legal services to advance the repairs of the Sherman School faci lity is scheduled today at 7:00 p.m. in Charter Hall.

Following concerns raised by the Board of Selectmen, discussion ensued regarding former Superintendent Jeff Melendez’ association with Hazard Young Attea Associates (“HYA”), the firm selected by the Board for its strategic planning consulting project. Dr. Melendez is an associate with HYA, of which the Board had knowledge at the time of HYA’s hiring. Mr. Vogt confirmed that Dr. Melendez did not receive any compensation in connection with the choosing of HYA by the Board. The Board is pleased with the work submitted by HYA thus far and is comfortable with its decision to choose them for this consulting project. 

On Motion of Mr. Vogt, BOE Bylaw Policy No. 91-32 was unanimously updated to include six Standing Committees.  They are now: Budget, Maintenance, Curriculum and Special Education, Policy, Personnel and Negotiations, and Transportation. On Motion of Mr. Vogt, the Board voted to approve the following committee appointments: Budget: Tim Laughlin, Chair, James Philipakos and Kristin Grasseler, members; Maintenance: Mr. Laughlin, chair, Mr. Philipakos and Ryan McGlinchey, members; Curriculum and Special Education: Kate Frey, Chair, Kristin Grasseler and Mr. McGlinchey, members; Policy: Ms. Frey, Chair, Ms. Grasseler and Mr. Laughlin, members; Personnel and Negotiations: Mr. Philipakos, Chair and Mr. McGlinchey, member; and Transportation: Ms. Grasseler, Chair, and Ms. Frey, member.  

The following policies were unanimously adopted by the Board: No. 5113.2 Student Truancy, No. 5144.4(a) Student Discipline, and No. 9321.2(a-e) Remote Meetings under the Freedom of Information Act.  The full text of the policies can be found on The Sherman School’s website, https://www.shermanschool.com.

The next regular Sherman BOE meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 7, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. at the Sherman School Library Media Center and on Zoom.

By Michelle L . Santoro