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Schools

Greenwich Board of Ed Subtracts, Adds and Informs

Lulow explains capital projects cuts.

Schools Take a Bite Out of the Capital Apple

At last week's meeting, Superintendent Roger Lulow, who sits on the on the Town Wide Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) Committee as a voting member, explained that the initial meeting of the capital architects on Jan. 4 revealed that the requests for capital expenditures came in at $55 million with only $45 million available.

As a result, each Town of Greenwich department head was asked to propose eliminations and/or deferrals. At their next meeting on Jan. 11, there was a total of $7 million in capital projects offered up on the chopping block to be eliminated, deferred or phased in.

Lulow revealed that the district's bite of the bitter apple totaled $1.9 million. The nearly $2 million in proposed eliminations, deferrals and reductions can be seen in the breakdown attached.

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He explained that in determining how to reduce the district's proposed spending, he reviewed projects that could be deferred or phased in with an intent to place priority on safety as well as projects already in process of being implemented.

Lulow said that after reviewing the needs at with the facility department, A/C vent replacement project was cut because that project would have been eliminated anyway.

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The CIP Public Hearing is at 7 p.m. Thursday in .

Math Coach Approved

The board voted 8-0 in approval of a 1-year assignment of an instructional math coach to address the needs of the students at the 3 Title 1 schools, , and . The price tag for the addition to be implemented during the 2012-2013 school year is $78,000.

Super Search Update

Consultant Bill Librera of Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA), the firm hired to recruit school superintendent candidates, gave an update on the process, public stating that they received 360 responses to the online survey with an additional 201 individuals who participated in focus groups or interviews.

HYA has presented the results in a preliminary form to the board and is in the process of finalizing the development of the leadership profile. PTA Council President Lisa Beth Savitz said "greater public involvement significantly increases the value of a search." Savitz said that after conferring with both Librera and the state PTSA Board, the PTA Council is "even more convinced that there is a place for parents and teachers in the ultimate review of candidates."

In contrast, both Librera and school board Chairman Leslie Moriarity stated that the search and interview process will remain confidential.

Don't Let The Bed Bugs Bite

As a proactive measure for providing information on bed bugs, the district is hosting an open forum on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. in the Greenwich High School Auditorium.

The forum is a follow-up to the  were found last fall in GPS.

GPS Integrated Preschool Program

Applications are due Feb. 1 for the popular Greenwich Preschool Program whose new attendees are selected through a lottery process. Click here for applications to in both English and Spanish.

Magnetized

Another deadline coming up is for Magnet Schools Applications, which are due Feb. 10.

The Greenwich Board of Education operates 4 elementary magnet schools that accepts new students through this application process

The which is an authorized International Baccalaureate-Primary Years Program school, is holding an information session on Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m.

Hamilton Avenue is offering an information session on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 9:30 a.m.

New Lebanon, also offering the International Baccalaureate-Primary Years Program, will hold its session on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m.

Julian Curtiss held information sessions earlier this month.

Music To Our Ears

At the Connecticut Music Educators Association (CMEA) Western Region Festival with 30 high schools represented, GHS once again made a strong and impressive showing. Of the 412 high school students who participated, 91 or 22% were from GHS.

Even more musical is the breakdown: the festival included 111 band participants with 40 or 36% from Greenwich; 161 choral participants with 39 or 24% from Greenwich; 123 orchestra participants with 9 or 18% representing GHS; 17 jazz performers which included 3 or 24% from Greenwich.

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