Diana Stricker Photo
Branford’s school year will begin with 23 new teachers (some pictured here) and more nutritious lunches, but a proposed soundproofing project won’t be in place at Walsh Intermediate School. In addition, replacement of the roof at Mary Murphy Elementary School has been delayed; officials fear the installation project could cause noise and odor problems when school is in session.
Superintendent Hamlet Hernandez announced at Wednesday’s Board of Education (BOE) meeting that the much-anticipated soundproofing project for the fifth-grade wing at Walsh will not be in place when classes begin Aug. 29. He said the proposed work could either be delayed two months or scrapped completely.
Parents have been vocal and unrelenting in their efforts to improve conditions at Walsh, especially in the fifth-grade wing. The open-space concept school was built in 1972 and has few interior walls. Click here to read about their efforts.
NOISE CONTINUES AT WALSH
Hernandez said the architectural firm of Silver-Petrucelli is still preparing drawings that must then be submitted to the state. He said it will take about two weeks to complete the drawings, and then four to six weeks for the State Department of Education to decide whether to grant a waiver since the project would decrease the size of classrooms and hallways, and limit egress.
Hernandez said he will ask the architects to give their written assessment as to the likelihood that the state will grant the variance. He said if approval is unlikely, then the district won’t submit the plans. In that case, Hernandez said he will come back to the board to determine what to do next.
Frank Carrano, who chairs the BOE, seemed surprised about the delay and said he was under the impression that the documents had already been submitted. “We’re behind,” Carrano said. “I’d like to see us move that ahead as quickly as possible.”
The proposed soundproofing project has been described as a band-aid approach to the noise problem at the intermediate school. One of the duties of the district’s newly-appointed Facilities Committee is looking into the feasibility of either building a new intermediate school or doing a complete renovation. Click here to read about their most recent meetings.
Diana Stricker Photo
When the committee makes a recommendation to the BOE, it will be up to the board to make a final decision regarding the schools. The committee is not involved in the decision-making process regarding the current soundproofing issues, since those are under the jurisdiction of the BOE.
NOISE AND ODOR AT MURPHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL?
Hernandez said this summer’s rainstorms have had a serious impact on roof replacement at Tisko and Murphy elementary schools. He said the work at Tisko is nearly complete, and then crews will begin at Murphy. However, he said it is likely that school will be in session by that time.
“I would anticipate noise and odor,” said Hernandez. He is checking with the East Shore Health Department to see if it is permissible to hold classes while the roof is being replaced. However, he said he is also working on contingency plans to address the situation.
Hernandez said the district may have to make scheduling changes for classes or for the roofers, or both.
Carrano said his greatest concern is about odor from the roofing materials. “I’d like us to definitely have a Plan B … (the odor) can be very offensive.”
NEW TEACHERS
The board Wednesday night hired 23 new teachers — a large number for the Branford district. Most of the vacancies were due to retirements, except for newly created positions in pre-kindergarten and world language for the elementary schools. There were about 308 teachers in the district last year.
“We have a new crop of teachers,” Hernandez announced before the teachers were introduced. “We hired the best of the best.”
The teachers were introduced and given a kiss AND A ROSE by Assistant Superintendent Mary Peraro and a handshake from the superintendent and each of the board members. Most of the new hires come with previous teaching experience, including one with 10 years experience. A few have experience as substitute teachers. Three are Branford alumni.
Peraro told the Eagle that having this many new teachers is unusual for Branford.
The positions at the high school include a library media specialist, and language, social studies, chemistry, and special education teachers. Walsh will have a new guidance counselor and new teachers in language, special education, social studies, and physical education/health. The remaining teachers were hired for the elementary schools and pre-school.
Hernandez said enrollment is up slightly from this time last year, but he also noted that the district lost about 60 students over the past year. The current enrollment includes: 1,036 students at the high school; 992 at Walsh; 362 at Tisko Elementary; 354 at Sliney Elementary; 400 at Murphy Elementary; and 88 at the Early Learning Center. Those numbers include 28 in pre-kindergarten classes at Murphy; and 13 Sliney pre-kindergarten students at the Early Learning Center. The Sliney pre-kindergarten program is new this year.
COLLARD GREENS AND THINNER-CRUST PIZZA
Rob Weber, director of Chartwells School Dining Services for Branford, told the board that a part-time dietitian has been hired to work with Branford students and parents to increase awareness of good nutrition.
Weber said the school lunch program has undergone a number of changes in accordance with new U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations, such as using more locally grown produce, and offering more diverse selections.
“The serving size of fruits and vegetables has doubled what it used to be,” Weber said. Students will see an expanded variety of veggies, including acorn squash and collard greens. “Hopefully we can spice it up the way they like,” Weber said.
He said efforts are also being made to increase nutrition by using whole wheat breads and making thinner pizza dough.
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