Superintendent applauds National Merit, National Hispanic Recognition honorees
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Kennett High Senior Kyle Werner, who is headed to the Naval Academy, presents the Student Council report at Monday night’s board meeting as Mark T. Tracy, assistant to the superintendent, looks on.
Student achievement took center stage at the monthly meeting of the Kennett Consolidated School District (KCSD) on Monday, March 11.
KCSD Superintendent Barry Tomasetti noted that four Kennett High seniors – Katie Coughlan, Kiera Judge, Kristen Miller, and Gabriel Leto – were named finalists by the National Merit Scholarship Program, and three students – Diana Carmena, Julia Rivera, and Dante Pena – were honored by National Hispanic Recognition Program.
In addition, Tomasetti read the list of National Merit commended students: Kyra Miller, Haley Devoe, Kaitlyn Cassel, Aaron Hrenko, Chelsea Sprague, Nathan Smith, Julia Baumel, and Chandler McGowan. Tomasetti noted that Baumel, a champion rower, would attend Harvard.
On a somber note, Tomasetti requested a moment of silence in remembrance of William Woodson, the father of Board Member Janis W. Reynolds, and Lorenzo DeAngelis Sr., the father of Kennett Middle School Assistant Principal Lorenzo DeAngelis Jr.
Superintendent Barry Tomasetti expressed pride in students’ accomplishments at Monday night’s school board meeting.
Later, in the meeting, Kennett High Senior Kyle Werner stepped to the podium to deliver the Student Council report, explaining that he was an 11th-hour pinch-hitter and barely had time to read the list of announcements ahead of time. Werner’s presence gave Principal Michael Barber a chance to interrupt, pointing out that the teen was wearing a West Point jersey because he had been accepted into that prestigious program. “He’s a really great kid,” Barber said later.
In other business, the board heard from two residents during the scheduled comment portion of the meeting: one who focused on finances and one who addressed curriculum. Acknowledging that he had not attended a board meeting in years until he sat in on last week’s finance meeting, Jim DiLuzio urged the board not to consider outsourcing the food services staff, as it did with the paraprofessionals a year ago. He presented some cost-cutting suggestions and noted that his wife works at a district elementary school. He said he was pleased that about a dozen food-service workers, who provide dedicated, valuable service, attended last night’s meeting.
Board members thanked DiLuzio profusely for his suggestions, suggesting that some were impractical, and they encouraged him to continue to attend meetings to gain a better understanding of the issues and challenges. Board Member Dominic F. Perigo Jr. explained that that the board has a responsibility “morally and ethically” to explore all options. “If we can save dollars, we have to look at it,” Perigo said, adding that examining the possibility did not mean that it would be pursued.
The board also heard from Glen Simmonds, a resident who has previously criticized the Common Core standards. In his review of textbooks, Simmonds cited passages from a history book, which he said predates Common Core that he labeled pro-Islamist, anti-Christian and socialistic. “I’d like to see this book eliminated from the curriculum as soon as possible,” he said. He urged the board to review the book, which they promised to do.
Perigo reported that the Feb. 5 ice storm caused $74,000 in damages at Greenwood Elementary, where a tree fell and took out a transformer. It was replaced by one that was rented, he said. He added that the district was optimistic that insurance would cover the costs, minus the $1,000 deductible on the policy.
Board Member Michael H. Finnegan, who heads the Finance Committee, said the district was considering the possibility of outsourcing the night custodial staff, a change that could save the district more than $370,000. Later in the meeting, the board voted unanimously to approve a new three-year contract with CCRES Educational and Behavioral Health Services. The board agreed that the first year that the company provided paraprofessionals to the district had gone well.
Expressing thanks to those in attendance, Board President Heather Schaen said the next Finance Committee meeting would be held Monday, April 7, at the district office. The next school board meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 14, also in the district office.
