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The What

The What: New School Leadership in Norwalk and Stamford; Inside the Research Station at Manresa; and more.

The What is your look around southwest Connecticut for the week of June 8.

The What: New School Leadership in Norwalk and Stamford; Inside the Research Station at Manresa; and more.
We're taking a small trip this week to kick off summer—hope you all are enjoying the lovely weather! (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

Monday, June 8

Happy Monday! We’re taking a little early summer getaway this week—hope you all get to do something fun with your family and friends too.  

Highlights 

This section gives a brief overview of the key items in the newsletter.

  • Last week, we highlighted how Manresa Wilds announced a new research and education station—called R.E.S.A.—at its site in Norwalk. This week, we have a new video exploring why officials say this is a difference maker for Norwalk and beyond.
  • When the school year starts in September, both Norwalk and Stamford will have new leaders at the helm. See what this means for two of Connecticut’s largest school districts. 
  • In Westport, the Long Lots School Building Committee will give an overview presentation of the plans for Long Lots Elementary School and Stepping Stones preschool at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10. 
  • In Fairfield, on Tuesday, June 9, the Board of Education will meet at 7 p.m. and receive presentations on students’ device usage and a cellphone-free schools update, in addition approving the contract extension for Superintendent Michael Testani.

Spotlight

This section features our main reporting each week.

The newly formed Research and Education Station (R.E.S.A.) at Manresa Wilds in Norwalk could serve as “a hub for future forward thinking,” officials said.

“We know that there are hundreds of sites that look like Manresa all across the Northeast and being able to establish research and education programs that help us to understand sites like this better, help us to advance the whole entire area—not only just the state of Connecticut and Norwalk, but also beyond,” Jessica Vonashek, executive director of Manresa Island Corp, said in May.

Watch our latest video to understand why officials say this site could be impactful for Norwalk and beyond.

As the current school year winds down, Stamford and Norwalk public schools are looking ahead to next year. For the first time in years, both districts will have new leadership at the helm starting July 1. 

Norwalk Superintendent Alexandra Estrella is leaving to become the superintendent of Gwinnett County Public Schools in Georgia after leading the city’s school district since July 2020. Stamford Superintendent Tamu Lucero is leaving to lead a private pre-K–12th grade international school in Africa after leading the city’s school district since April 2019.

Both superintendents helped lead two of Connecticut’s largest districts through the COVID-19 pandemic. Both launched new facilities plans that have resulted in millions of dollars of investments in school facilities. And both faced growing populations of special education students and multilingual learners and worked to provide additional resources for those students. 

However, at the same time, both also ran into challenges. Lucero came under fire for pushing for a 4x4 block schedule that many parents and teachers opposed. Estrella and her staff bumped heads with city officials during multiple controversial budget processes, particularly last year. Members of the teachers union said that they conducted a survey that showed “95% of our Norwalk teachers have a general lack of trust in this administration.” 

As these two leaders get set to leave, let’s take a quick look back at their tenures and see what’s ahead for both districts. 

This Week at a Glance

This section includes a list of meetings, events, and programming happening around southwest Connecticut each week.

Bridgeport

Featured Meeting: Now that the budget has officially been adopted by the city, the Board of Education will vote at its meeting on Monday, June 8 at 6:30 p.m. to finalize any remaining adjustments that need to be made. 

Stamford

Featured Meeting: The Board of Finance will meet on Wednesday, June 10 at 8 p.m. and vote on numerous items including approving a $324,646 grant to cover the cost of a police officer assigned to the Behavioral Health Unit for a five-year period.

Norwalk

Featured Meeting: The City Council will meet on Tuesday, June 9 at 7:30 p.m. and vote on numerous items including approving a $2.8 million contract to replace a ladder truck for the fire department, as well as $92,000 to The Open Door Shelter for providing services to Norwalk residents experiencing homelessness. 

  • Monday, June 8: Police Commission Special at 12:30 p.m. | Norwalk Commission on Gender Equity at 7 p.m.
  • Tuesday, June 9: Conservation Commission at 6 p.m. | City Council at 7:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, June 10: Ad Hoc Sustainability and Resilience Committee at 6 p.m. | Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs at 7 p.m.
  • Thursday, June 11: Finance & Claims Committee at 7 p.m. | Library Board of Directors at 7 p.m. 

Fairfield

Featured Meetings: The Town Plan and Zoning Commission will meet on Tuesday, June 9 at 6:30 p.m. and review numerous items, including a pre-application review of a proposal for a “Transit Oriented Development Park” at 160 and 219 Ash Creek Boulevard. Also on Tuesday, June 9, the Board of Education will meet at 7 p.m. and receive presentations on students’ device usage and a cellphone-free schools update, in addition approving the contract extension for Superintendent Michael Testani.

Greenwich

Featured Meeting: It’s a busy Representative Town Meeting on Monday, June 8 at 8 p.m. The legislative body will be voting on approving the Dorothy Hamill Rink replacement, appropriating $6 million more to the Central Middle School project, and submitting the town’s safety plan to the state, which includes the use of speed cameras.

Darien

Featured Meeting: The Representative Town Meeting will meet on Monday, June 8 at 7:30 p.m. and vote on a 10-year lease with the Darien Arts Center and a slow/no-wake provision in Darien Harbor.  

Westport

Featured Meeting: The Long Lots School Building Committee will give an overview presentation of the plans for Long Lots Elementary School and Stepping Stones preschool at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10. 

Stay in touch!

As we continue to grow and evolve, please join us! You can do that by:

Please note: All of these agendas and information here are current as of Sunday night. Meeting times and agendas may get adjusted throughout the week.

Have a great week,

Kelly Prinz

Founder, Reporter at Coastal Connecticut Times

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