At Thursday night’s Board of Education meeting, held exclusively via Zoom, viewers who tuned in at 7:00 might have done a double take when they saw the faces on the screen. Both Republicans Jen Behette and Paul Cappiali appeared with other board members as panelists.
Briefly.
After a minute or two, Mr. Cappiali disappeared from the screen.
“I don’t believe we recognized him as a member of the board,” acting chair Karen Hirsh said. “He logged on as a panelist. He was moved to an attendee – I’m asking our board clerk to do so.”
Dr. Mercanti-Anthony brought up a point of order.
“My understanding is there are a number of legal filings between town legal and this board going back and forth. I’m concerned that that is an open dispute, so it’s not clear to me that Ms Behette is in legal standing as well, especially given the memo we received today from town legal.”
Dr. Mercanti-Anthony suggested Ms Behette be removed as a panelist until the legal situation is sorted out and that he feared the meeting was not in legal order.
“Thank you for sharing that,” Hirsh said. “As you know the board met on Monday and filled the seat based on board policy and state statute. The Board of Selectmen met also and we believe they did not have the authority and the BOE met last night and ratified the vote as well.”
She suggested a discussion on the matter take place at a later date.
“I don’t think this is the proper venue in which to adjudicate this,” Hirsh said.
Dr. Mercanti-Anthony said he agreed but feared the meeting was out of legal order.
“Since Mr. Cappiali was sworn in by the town clerk and certified, they request that he be re-elevated,” he said.
“Ms Behette was sworn in this past Tuesday by a justice of the peace and as is allowed by state statute and board policy,” Hirsh said, nothing that when the board discusses legal issues, that is typically done in executive session.
Top row: Jen Behette, Karen Hirsh, Kathleen Stowe. Middle: Dr. Michael-Joseph Mercanti-Anthony, Sophie Koven. Bottom: Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones and Paul Cappiali. Screenshot via Zoom. Oct 24, 2025
During public comment GEA president Lil Perrone said she was very disappointed with recent events.
“We want people on our board that put politics on the shelf. We want people who are making decisions down at Town Hall to put politics on the shelf. We want what’s best for our students, teachers, support staff and all of our community. I’m personally tired of hearing about ‘the will of the people.'”
“At our town hall your actions, words and the decisions you are making are hurting our students and our staff,” Perrone added. “Staff morale is down. This is part of it. You need to get your house in order and start making decisions that are best. Let our Board of Education do their job. Let our teachers who are educators do their job. People who know nothing about education need to stay in their lane.”
While most of the community comments were from advocates for upgrades to Riverside School, the awkward situation of two Republicans having been sworn in to serve on the BOE did come up again.
Board of Estimate and Taxation chair Harry Fisher criticized the BOE Democrats, arguing the action of their board were illegal, rather than the action of the Board of Selectmen.
“I have a long perspective on town politics as I served on the RTM and BET in the 80s and 90s. I witnessed numerous replacements of members of the BET who had to resign for various reasons. Two of those resignations resulted in my appointments. At no time to my knowledge did the party suffering the vacancy have its choice disregarded by the other party, especially to the degree that the Democrats did in an illegal meeting Monday morning,” Fisher said.
“The actions of the Democrat members of the BOE is nothing short of reckless disregard for tradition and best practices for a board in this community. I understand that the Democrats notified the Board of Selectmen prior to its properly noticed meeting on Tuesday that it planned to initiate a legal challenge to the Board of Selectmen action to appoint Mr. Cappiali.”
And there was more.
The situation popped up again during a presentation from representatives from Greenwich Together, who are the local prevention council, about the youth survey they seek to administer to students in GPS in grades 7-12.
The group, who recently was awarded a five-year $625,000 Drug Free Communities grant, focus their work on substance use reduction and mental health promotion. One of the requirements for the grant is to conduct the youth survey.
Greenwich Together is comprised 30+ groups including public and private school leaders, local clergy, media, police, town officials and non profits. It is co chaired by Police Chief Heavey and Human Services commissioner Demetria Nelson. The grant requires them to conduct the youth survey, which is confidential and optional for students to take.
Wendy Vizzo Walsh singled out on sentence from the Greenwich Together mission on their website. She noted that part of their Statement Against Racism, says, “We stand ready to do the work to end injustice and systemic racism in our country and community.”
“Can you just give me some examples of how Greenwich today is systemically racist?” she asked the survey committee.
Representative from Greenwich Together, Lauren Winston, explained the mission statements referred to “building people up.”
“Every child is valued for who they are regardless of skin color, race and all the things we value,” Winston said.
“That’s good to hear,” Vizzo Walsh said. “You might want to tone that down in your statement.”
In a voice vote, Republican Ms Vizzo Walsh voted no. Republican Dr. Mercanti-Anthony voted yes, as did the four Democrats.
Republican Ms Behette abstained, noting she hadn’t seen the survey.
“Are you going to ask Mr. Cappiali?” Vizzo Walsh asked.
“He’s not a panelist and recognized member of the board at this moment,” Ms Hirsh said.
Video introduction to Greenwich Together (formerly known as the prevention council.)
See also:
BOE Vote to Ratify Earlier Vote on New Member, Jen Behette
oct 24
BOE Democratic Caucus: First Selectman’s Actions on BOE Vacancy Are a Power Grab
oct 24
Camillo Statement on Democratic BOE Members’ Actions
oct 24
Selectmen Vote 2-0-1 to Appoint Cappiali to BOE Vacancy; Town and BOE to Litigate
oct 23