News

School District Starts Earlier-Than-Usual Hiring Process for 2025-26 Academic Year

By |

New Canaan Public Schools started earlier than usual this year in seeking to hire for vacancies anticipated for next academic year, officials say. Several of the positions—they include an art teacher, school counselor, special education teacher, psychologist and social studies teacher specializing in higher-level economics at New Canaan High School, grade five teacher and two French positions at Saxe Middle School, preschool and kindergarten teacher at West School and a district-wide psychologist— “are in process,” according to Darlene Pianka, the district’s human resources director. “Many of the positions that I just reviewed will be selecting a finalist within the next two weeks,” Pianka told members of the Board of Education at their regular meeting, held March 17 in the Wagner Room at NCHS and via videoconference. She added: “This process is a bit earlier this year, just so that you’re aware in the interest of, from our perspective, securing the best candidates in what now, depending on the position, could be a really shallow pool. So we thought we’d get started earlier.

Board of Education

Board of Ed Elects Officers in 5-4 Votes

By |

A divided Board of Education on Monday voted 5-4 three times in electing its chair, vice chair and secretary. Current Chair Hugo Alves was re-elected to a second year in the post. In nominating him, Board of Ed member Erica Schwedel said he has “led our Board with steadiness and dedication” over the past year, ensuring that “we all stayed focused on what is best for our students.”

“He has developed strong working relationships with the administration and staff, serving as a critical bridge to the Board,” Schwedel said during the meeting, held in the Wagner Room at New Canaan High School. “He developed trust among Board members and fostered an environment of listening and collaborating.”

Alves also “dedicated significant time to representing the Board of Ed by speaking to groups such as other town bodies at countless budget meetings, our teachers at Convocation, and parents and students at graduation. In addition to serving as chair of the Board, and a member of the executive committee, Hugo also participates in meetings for all four of our Board committees.

News

District To Roll Out ‘Phone-Free’ Policy at Saxe Middle School

By |

Saxe Middle School soon will see students locking electronic devices—including cell phones, smartwatches and tablets—kept in a locking pouch system throughout the day as part of an updated policy on the electronics’ use, district officials say. The “Phone-Free Schools” initiative at Saxe is expected to launch around mid-September, once the pouches are in hand, according to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bryan Luizzi. “We’re looking at some of the implementation as a design thinking challenge,” he said during a special Board of Education meeting, held Aug. 26 in the Wagner Room at New Canaan High School and via videoconference. “How do you create a system that best enables students to lock and unlock their pouches as they’re coming and going during the day?” Luizzi continued.

News

School Security Update: SROs at Elementary Schools, Doors, Pedestrian Safety

By |

Each of New Canaan’s three elementary schools will have a dedicated police officer on campus when the academic year starts this week, the superintendent of schools said Monday night. In addition to expanding the number of School Resource Officers or “SROs” from two (New Canaan High School and Saxe Middle School) to five, the district is upgrading its radios, security of school building doors and pedestrian safety at NCHS, Dr. Bryan Luizzi said during a special Board of Education meeting. New Canaan Police Officers Ron Bentley (East School), Nicole Vartuli (South) and Shane Gibson (West) will join Officers Jeff Deak (NCHS) and Matt Blank (Saxe) to fill out the SRO roster, Luizzi said during the meeting, held at NCHS and via videoconference. “It’s really a great team,” he said. “They will work very well with our campus monitors—they’ll work great with our staff, with our principals.

Board of Education

‘Kind and Supportive of Others’ Success’: Board of Ed Remembers Toby Woods

By |

The Board of Education on Monday night remembered 2023 New Canaan High School graduate Toby Woods, who died Feb. 21. Board of Ed Chair Hugo Alves led the elected body in a moment of silence at the start of its regular meeting. “I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the tragic loss of one of our former students, Toby Woods,” Alves said during the meeting, held in the Wagner Room at NCHS. “This loss has deeply impacted us all and our thoughts and prayers are with Toby’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time,” Alves continued.