The Greenwich Board of Education on Thursday voted to extend superintendent Dr. Toni Jones’ contract by two years, through June 30, 2028.
The vote followed the board’s executive session, during which no votes were taken.
Republican, Dr. Michael-Joseph Mercanti-Anthony, moved to table the motion. Republican Wendy Vizzo Walsh agreed.
“Given the budget and everything else going on, I feel like this isn’t probably the best time. I think we need more time as the board to consider things like that. I don’t want this to be construed as an un-endorsement or any comment on Dr. Jones’ conduct, which I find exemplary. I don’t think we should be doing this in the midst of the budget.”
That was a reference to the $4.1 million shortfall on the school’s operating budget for FY26 that was the result of the Republican controlled Board of Estimate and Taxation. The chair Harry Fisher used his tie breaking vote to approve the $4.1 million reduction to the schools budget.
At their previous meetings, the board had started to consider cuts including to the Advanced Learning Program, charging a $220 fee per athlete per season for sports, and changing the school start times, including GHS back to 7:30am from 8:30, which was a change implemented back in 2017 after the much debate and public hearings.
Democrat Kathleen Stowe disagreed.
“Because of the budget we need to be having this conversation,” Stowe said. “There are many superintendent positions open. We’ve asked Dr. Jones to do a lot, and I’m not sure if we could find another superintendent right now, given the situation we are in. I think this is exactly the right time to be doing it.”
“We need someone with a good handle on what’s going on. “She just got generally positive feedback from all of us,” said BOE chair Karen Hirsh, a Democrat.
Republican Wendy Vizzo Walsh brought up the situation with First Selectman Fred Camillo’s lawsuit against the BOE, which Greenwich Time reported Saturday had already cost the town roughly $200,000.
That lawsuit stems from a disagreement about who rightfully holds the seat left open for a Republican on the board after Karen Kowalski resigned due to a move out of town. Camillo said harbormaster Paul Cappiali was lawfully installed on the BOE by a 2-1 vote of the Board of Selectmen.
BOE Vote to Ratify Earlier Vote on New Member, Jen Behette Oct 24, 2024
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
“We’re still waiting for the FOIA ruling. They’re going to be having a briefing on May 5, and soon after we should probably have a resolution. The last thing we want to do is enter into a contract because I don’t know if we’ll be able to get out of it. It’s easy to re-vote many things, but it’s very difficult to undo a contract,” Vizzo Walsh said, referring to unwinding all votes made with the participation of Republican Jen Behette.
The Board of Selectmen’s complaint to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) commission – over the objections of lone Democrat Janet Stone McGuigan – questions the legality of Greenwich Board of Education meetings on Oct 21 and 23 when Ms Behette was installed and then vote ratified. She was voted onto the board during an emergency meeting.
Ms Hirsh said the FOIA opinion would take longer.
“On May 5 they’re submitting briefings. We won’t hear back any time soon. It still has to go to the hearing commissioner and then over to the commission itself,” Hirsh said.
Republican Cody Kittle said he was disappointed to be talking about the Superintendent’s contract in the middle of budget situation, rather than on May 15.
“You can force something through if you want,” he said. “You don’t extend a contract when you’re right in the middle of something major.”
Mr. Kittle seconded Dr. Mercanti-Anthony’s motion to table the vote and delay.
The vote to delay was 5-3.
Voting not to delay were Behette, Hirsh, Kostin, Stowe and Koven.
Voting to delay were Kittle, Mercanti-Anthony and Vizzo Walsh.
“I think this is disappointed we are having a partisan fight here for no reason,” Mercanti-Anthony said.
From there the board voted 5-3 on the superintendent’s contract extension for two years to June 30, 2028.
No: Kittle, Mercanti-Anthony, Vizzo Walsh.
Yes: Jen Behette, Kathleen Stowe, Sophie Koven, Laura Kostin, Karen Hirsh
Back in June 2024, a vote on a 2-year extension to Jones contract failed. But the board then voted to extend the contract by one year, through June 30, 2026.
Jones was hired in 2018, after Jill Gildea resigned following less than a year in the job. Gildea’s resignation reflected the loss of Greenwich Schools 12th superintendent in 20 years. Jones was selected after a nation-wide search. She became superintendent effective July 1, 2019.
And, of course, Jones announced that because of the COVID-19 pandemic schools would be forced to close in mid-March 2020.
Dr. Toni Jones in 2019. Photo: Leslie Yager