Trumbull Teachers' First Day of School

Schools Supt. Ralph Iassogna and First Selectman Tim Herbst welcomed the district's teachers and thanked them for taking a raise freeze for the first year of their contract.

Board of Education Chairman Ted Lovely, who is not running again, also welcomed the teachers. He started his teaching careers 51 years ago at .

Iassogna started off the session noting that Trumbull was named one of the best places to live by Family Circle magazine partly because of the schools.

"What better report card than people wanting to come and take part in the Trumbull educational experience," he said. "We all know, however, that we cannot rest on our laurels."

He said that this year, the district will emphasize anti-bullying and implementing full-day kindergarten for the 2012-2013 school year, among other things.

"We and all districts are facing" new statutory requirements without specifics on how to proceed, he added.

"The district certainly will be different in 2011-2012," Iassogna said.

Lovely then took the microphone and recalled how he started teaching at Madison School, where he taught Randy Carlson, who later attended the Citadel and West Point before working in Beirut. He was killed there in 1982.

He quoted Henry Adams: "A teacher affects eternity. He can never tell where his influence stops."

Before Carlson's death, he followed Lovely into teaching and used the same methods.

"Last year, I asked you to take care of Trumbull's most precious things: the children. Because you never know. You might affect eternity," Lovely said.

Lovely also went to military school, attending the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

Herbst then thanked Lovely for his service.

He added, "There are many veterans here today who are beginning some 30-plus years in the school district. I would like to personally thank you for the sacrifices you have made."

"We'll open on time and underbudget," Herbst said, noting that Trumbull High School's renovations should be complete by late 2012.

It will be a "21st-century learning environment," the first selectman said. 

Meanwhile, "we have weathered this economic storm better than most," Hersbt added. "Your hard work is paying off."

Finally, Tammy Baillargeon, president of the Trumbull Education Association, said although the teachers gave up a raise for one year, they have gained summer pay.

"I'm hoping we can put last year behind us," she said. The president also thanked the Board of Education for "making education a priority, not sports."

Faced with an increase half of what it asked for, the Board of Education cut freshman sports but got the funding to put them back in the end.

"Let's work together, be positive and have an awesome year," Baillargeon said.