Greenwich Free Press (https://greenwichfreepress.com/tag/wendy-vizzo-walsh/)
An action item at the end of Thursday’s school board meeting on extending the Superintendent’s contract ended in a tie vote, which meant the motion to extend failed. The vote came at the end of a long meeting, on the heels of the board’s 5-3 vote in favor of a bell to bell cell phone ban at the Greenwich High School. Continue Reading →
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 →
“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 →
The board did not vote on cuts to Transportation (bus routes) that would change school Start Time or changing the GHS House structure to eliminate 5 full time employees, citing the fact that 2 BOE members – Cody Kittle and Wendy Vizzo Walsh – were absent. They did vote to reject pay-to-play sports at GHS. Continue Reading →
“The impact of these cuts is not abstract. Reductions of this scale threaten the educational opportunities we offer our students and are going to jeopardize the longstanding reputation of Greenwich Public Schools.” – BOE chair Karen Hirsh
“I don’t think we have fully done our job. What I observe are mostly political theatrics here.” – Cody Kittle Continue Reading →
Three of the four Republicans seated voted to table the vote until a later date. That vote failed. The board then voted on the contract extension. The vote was 5-3 with three of the Republicans voting no. Continue Reading →
On Monday a complaint landed in superior court in Stamford with First Selectman Fred Camillo and the Town of Greenwich listed as plaintiffs and the Board of Education and its four Democratic members – Karen Hirsh, Laura Kostin, Sophie Koven and Kathleen Stowe – listed individually as defendants. Republican Jen Behette is described in the complaint as “purported BOE member (via an unlawful appointment),” and is also named as a defendant. Continue Reading →
Newly elected BOE officers are: Karen Hirsh as Board Chair, Jen Behette as Vice Chair and Laura Kostin as Secretary. Continue Reading →
During public comment GEA president Lil Perrone said she was very disappointed with recent events. “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. 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.” Continue Reading →
At Thursday’s meeting, the BOE voted 5-1 to approve a 2% raise for Schools Chief Jones. Acting chair Hirsh discussed next steps in filling the vacancy on the board. Dr. Jones said there were strong community concerns about traffic given the upcoming 18-month North St Bridge replacement project. Continue Reading →