Students Recognized; Budget Cuts Discussed; Superintendents Report; and New Principals Introduced

The cafeteria was overflowing with students from all grades, parents, faculty and administrators as the regular Board of Education meeting got underway this past Wednesday.

The cast of were recognized by the Board for their accomplishments (see video) and in a twist of irony, the public discussion a few minutes later was all about the music program at WIS as well as the physical education program system wide.

For weeks, supporters of the music and physical education programs have been turning out in droves to BOE and RTM meetings hopeful that the education budget would be restored to requested amounts.

Last week the the education budget at $49,545,365­– a 3 percent increase over last year. Much less than the , Board Chair Frank Carrano explained to attendees that Superintendent Hamlet Hernandez will have to review the budget and see where cuts will be made.

“We now have the task of reconciling the bottom line of the budget against the request that originally went before the BOF,” said Carrano. “We hope when we hear the Superintendent’s proposal in June, it will be something that will make the best of what we have.”

Addressing the parents who spoke before the BOE on many occasions, Carrano added, “All of you, who are hoping that in some way, we will not have to carry out all of the cuts proposed in the original budget, there is no resolution at this point.”

To find out what parents and faculty said, view the photo gallery with captions.

After pubic comment, Hernandez said, before he began his Superintendent’s Report, “If anyone out there is thinking that success is getting exactly what you advocate for then you need to restate your definition of success.”

During his report, Hernandez walked the audience through some key things that he has been looking at over his nine months on the job. “Branford public schools,” he said, “is in very, very good hands because we have exceptional students and tremendous teachers.”

He went on to explain that he is focusing in the coming year on professional development and better teacher evaluations. “We are in the process with working with teachers and administration to re-write teacher evaluation plans. Not that it sits on the shelf, but helps teachers grow professionally.”

Hernandez talked about how, through Assistant Superintendent Mary Perraro, the social studies, math and language arts programs are being refined.

Lastly, Hernandez focused on the school system’s need to look into technology, teaching advancements and 21st-century-learning. “The days of a chalk board; those days are quickly, quickly moving away from us,” he said.

Following his report, Hernandez introduced the two new elementary school principals, Susan Iwanicki-Smith appointed to (to replace interim Sliney Principal, ) and James O’Connor appointed to (to replace retiring Principal ), effective July 1, 2011. Check back next week to meet these new principals.

In closing news, the BOE adjusted the last day of school for the 2011-12 year: June 11, 2012 in order to give students Rosh Hashanah off on Sept. 28, 2011.