An Evening of Congratulations, Thank Yous and No Thanks

The Board of Education met Tuesday evening at the new auditorium, the cornerstone of the “like new” and almost completed renovation.

This was the board’s annual award meeting, and their opportunity to say “thank you” to many staff members.

Superintendent Ralph Iassogna opened the meeting by honoring 32 teachers who attained tenured status, saying “you are officially vested in a profession dedicated to the betterment of a community’s most valued assets, its children.”

He thanked them for their hard work and “for choosing Trumbull to make your contribution.”

Iassogna presented student achievement awards from the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) to three THS students, Michael Smith, Patrick Curtin and Samantha Buck.

He also presented awards to Curtin and Smith for their service as student representatives on the board. He thanked them for their “valuable insights to the board and the superintendent, and for helping them work through some important issues.”

Alice Ferreira and Kelly Sica, parents of special needs children, presented awards from Trumbull Parents of Students with Learning Differences (TPSLD) to staff members and volunteers whose contributions went well beyond the call of duty.

They first thanked Angelo Vespe, the director of the Pupil Personnel Services, who is retiring at the end of the year. Ferreira said “he has always been very supportive – even when we were not on the same side – but his advocacy was important to the quality of Special Education programs a Trumbull student receives.”

Recognition was given for initiating programs including Kids-to-Kids, in which children in general ed programs are paired with special ed students; for significant work with autistic children; and for the Top Soccer program, that matched general ed students with 65 special ed students to give them an opportunity to “build friendships and learn to play the game,” among others.

Aimee Marini was honored with the 2011 Adult Above and Beyond Award as “an inspiration to all” for helping an autistic child “learn and navigate the social and emotional life of school.”

Attention then turned to food service issues. The board must certify annually whether it will participate in the state’s Healthy Foods Program. Under this program all food sold in all schools at all times must meet the Connecticut Nutrition Standards. This includes items sold in school stores, vending machines and fundraising activities on school premises, whether or not they are school sponsored.

Superintendent Iassogna said this is “always a difficult decision,” and that “participation has a negative impact on fund raising.”

The board voted unanimously to continue non-participation.

Iassogna and Betty Sinko, Food Service Director, addressed increasing the price of school lunches. Ms. Sinko recommended to the board that prices be raised by ten cents – to $2.55 in the elementary schools, $2.65 in middle schools and $2.80 at THS. She noted this was only the fourth increase in 18 years.

In discussion, Ms. Sinko noted that earlier this year the rising cost of fuel and bad weather had raised the price of produce. She said she bought more carefully, but elected to keep fresh items on the menu to maintain the nutritional value of students’ meals.

Jordan Miller, a THS Chemistry teacher and advisor to Trillium, the THS Yearbook, presented board members with copies of this year’s book, Gold Stays, the 50th Edition.

Miller told the board that the 2010 Trillium again won awards, most notably as Best Book in New England, from New England Scholastic Press Association. He said that the staff puts in long hours as an extra-curricular activity, and that they will begin work over the summer on next year’s edition.

Trumbull High School Graduation will be held on June 21 at 5:45 p.m. at McDougall Stadium.

The next Board of Education meeting will be June 22 at 7:00 p.m. at the Long Hill Administration Building.