Karen Hirsh

Recent Posts

Greenwich School Board Reverses Itself on Pre-K at Riverside School Renovation Ed Specs

BOE member Veronica Chiavaroli said other Greenwich elementary schools already house district programs besides their K-5 responsibilities. Riverside does not. Pre-K for children age 3, 4 and 5 is required by federal law to be provided for free for special education students who are in class with peer students who pay tuition. The number of students identified for Pre-K has tripled since 2012. Continue Reading →

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Greenwich School Board Worries Open Enrollment at Central Middle School Might Cause Racial Imbalance at Western

Given almost all the interest in CMS open enrollment originated from Western Middle School students, new board member Paul Cappiali suggested the superintendent seek a legal opinion on whether enrollment might be limited to Eastern Middle School students. Schools chief Dr.Jones said there was a possibility of Western moving to the “pending” racial imbalance category if students move to the CMS in the fall. Continue Reading →

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Greenwich School Board Okays $207 Million 2026-27 Budget Despite Concerns of Students, Parents, Staff

The opposing perspectives seemed to boil down to whether enrollment might be declining in response to cuts or cuts being the response to declining enrollment. In one teacher’s words, “Death by a thousand cuts” or in the words of the Superintendent, “The budget for what the district needs.” Continue Reading →

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Greenwich School Board Installs Mercanti-Anthony as Chair: “We ask for your grace”

“As we start the meeting and start the new term – to all of you, the public at home and everyone listening – we ask for your grace. We have a new board – half of us are brand new. We have new leadership and it’s easy to forget that we are all in this together. All of us are parents, all of us  ran for the board because we want the best for our children and community.” – Dr. Michael-Joseph Mercanti-Anthony, unanimously elected BOE chair Continue Reading →

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Greenwich School Board Agendas Are Overshadowed by Budget Cut Climate

Two heavy agendas included changing 5-house structure at GHS to one based on grades: 9, 10, 11 and 12; moving to a 7-block fixed schedule, consolidating freshmen English/Social Studies and not weighting the grades, school bus parking, and Cardinal Stadium lighting. The much anticipated enrollment report was presented. Also the head of IT gave an update on the cellular improvement project at GHS. Continue Reading →

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Elected Officials Respond to FOI Commission Ruling on 2024 BOE Emergency Meeting

“At the hearing, the Commission specifically noted that their decision was extremely narrow and that the complainant, Fred Camillo, would need to seek relief from the Superior Court to have a judicial determination regarding who may appoint members to serve on the Greenwich Board of Education.” – Democratic members of the Board of Education, Sophie Koven, Karen Hirsh, Kathleen Stowe
“”I sincerely hope that these members who the commission found violated state law will pledge to abide by that law in the future and avoid putting the town through this unnecessary process again.” – Fred Camillo Continue Reading →

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BOE Democrats, DTC Respond to Preliminary FOI Commission Ruling on 2024 “BOE Emergency Meeting”

The FOI Commission will consider the matter for disposition at its meeting which will be held in person at the FOI Commission’s hearing room, conference room H, on the ground floor at 165 Capital Avenue, Hartford, CT at 2:00pm on Wednesday, Oct 22, 2025. Continue Reading →

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BOE Member on Anger at 64 Buses Parked at WMS: “We’re in this situation because of the budget cuts”

“This is a huge traffic and safety nightmare for Western Middle School students riding their bicycles, staff, families and the surrounding neighborhood.” – Frances Wu Nobay, PTA Council Facilities Committee chair Continue Reading →

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