Board of Ed Gets Down to Business

After the North Branford Board of Education honored three retirees for their careers, three seniors for completing novels and Carter Welch for being named the new assistant principal, it was time to get down to business.

Superintendent Scott Schoonmaker discussed the many activities happening in each school including going to to read to 1st-graders, s 5th-grade , ’s trip to Holiday Hill and a new ticket booth being built at the by students led by John Florio and John DeNunzio.

The board then approved the revised Strategic Plan for 2011-16 with Director of Instruction and Curriculum Sara Querfeld noting that there was much input from teachers, administration, Board of Ed, students, parents and the community.

“I’m pleased with the way it will guide North Branford public schools in the next five years starting the process on many initiatives including all-day kindergarten, K-5 language, and Mr. Davis’s 8th-grade project,” said Querfeld.

Schoonmaker noted that many initiatives are dependent on the economy, while board Chairman Marcey Onofrio praised the work that went into the section on graduates’ future plans.

Querfeld then reported that of this year’s graduating class, 86 percent are continuing their education.

TVES had posted a 5th-grade teaching position and 373 applications were submitted of which 20 candidates were interviewed with eight being called back for a second interview.

“That’s an incredible number of applicants,” said Schoonmaker. “The market is flooded and with that being said, we’ll have outstanding employees joining the staff next year.”

Three contracts were also extended through June 30, 2014 including Schoonmaker, Director of Personnel and Business Donald Winnicki and Director of Technology Timothy Hartigan with a 3.5 percent salary increase for the superintendent and a 2.75 increase for the directors.

The BOE expressed excitement about this year’s Movin’ and Groovin’ Summer Camp, which will be led by Lauren Barry. There are currently 275 campers signed up, having generated $117,000. The board is confident it can reach its goal of $130,000. For information on the camp, click here.

The Building Committee’s updates included a recap of the of the new Family Resource Center building, discussion of patching some areas of the high school roof and a new sign in front of the intermediate school and high school.

The board next meets on July 21.