THE LATEST MEETING UPDATES

  (Full meeting minutes and other BOE info can be found on the district site here.)

 

 

September 15 Meeting:


The Board met on September 15, first hearing an update on the Model United Nations program at NCHS. There are multiple overnight trips planned throughout the year, including a trip to the Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) conference in January. NCHS is one of four participants from the U.S. and is the only public high school in the U.S. invited to THIMUN. The Board approved the proposed overnight trip to THIMUN at a cost of between $4,000 - $5,000 per student for the 8 night trip.

 

The Board next approved a Model Congress Club overnight field trip for NCHS students to participate in a conference in February at Columbia University. The club, which is in its fourth year, focuses on civics, government, political science, and public speaking. The Board also approved a proposed overnight trip for the NCHS Wind Ensemble to Boston in March, during which the students will work with musicians at the Boston Conservatory and attend a concert by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

 

Next the Board heard a Summer Projects update from the Facilities Department. One of the more significant capital projects was the installation district-wide of a new cleaning system that uses an electro-chemical activation process to modify water and salt brine to create two products: a disinfectant and a degreaser. When these solutions are diluted, six various daily cleaning and disinfectant products can be created. The savings from making cleaning products in-house will be around $50,000 - $60,000 per year.

 

The Board also heard an overview of projects conducted by the district's in-house maintenance department, including the installation of a new water heater at South School. All three elementary schools also received new refrigerators and walk-in freezers.

 

The Board then heard an End of Fiscal Year report. As of June 30, 2025, the Operating Fund Expense Actual totalled $108,377,974, coming in under the total budget of $109,145,974. A balance of 768,000 will therefore be returned to town's General Fund.

 

Items that came in under budget included custodial and maintenance overtime, legal contract services, purchased services, and some transportation costs. Items that came in over budget included electricity.

 

Finally, Dr. Luizzi gave a quick update on the recent transportation challenges. The district is trouble shooting the routes that exist currently, which were built using a new software system that had incomplete data and faulty assumptions. The district is also creating a new system from the ground up with the correct data and assumptions, and will then import the routes from last year to use as a base. After the data is updated, the bus tracker app will be launched, but that launch is still at least a few weeks away.

 

September 2 Meeting:

 

The Board met on September 2 and heard a staffing update, including that 34 new teachers were at the teacher induction ceremony. Dr. Luizzi then provided an update regarding transportation issues, stating that the use of a new software had brought significant challenges, which the district was working to triage before doing a full review and a root cause analysis.

 
Each principal in the district then gave a school opening report. Principal Kascak reported a smooth first week at South School and noted that this year will be the 75th anniversary of South School which originally opened in September 1950. South has a new technology integrator and two long term substitute teachers, one in the second grade through the end of December and one in special education for the whole year. Principal Kascak reported that the composting program would continue and also that 60 pounds of produce have been harvested from the garden so far this year, with 48 pounds donated to the residents of the Schoolhouse Apartments. 
 
The Board then accepted a donation from the New Canaan Community Foundation in the amount of $25,000 for students participating in the “cookie program.” Finally, a member of the community noted that their family had been experiencing significant transportation challenges.

 

August 18 Meeting:

 

The Board met again on August 18 and heard an update regarding the DOME at NCHS, which opened under 2 years ago. This past year, the DOME has been increasingly utilized in school curriculums and also by the community. The DOME will soon receive a major software upgrade which will allow the district to expand its elementary school offerings so that more students can engage with the DOME at earlier ages. The software will also allow for more community engagement (for example, public shows) and will further support students in developing and creating their own content such as music, arts, and video games.

 

The Board approved, as a second reading, the 2025-2026 District Goals and Objectives. The five main goals continue to be: student learning, communications, teacher quality, climate and safety, and stewardship. The Board then approved an amended BOE Calendar of Meetings for 2026.

 

July 14 Meeting:

 

On July 14 the Board heard a Facilities Capacity Presentation from MP Planning Group, which looked at current conditions and trends and evaluated options for the future, recommending a three phase approach.

 

In Phase 1, a new elementary school, North School, would be built. This phase will cost between $98 - $109 million (potential reimbursement from the state of between $8 - $9 million) and would be completed at the earliest in fall 2030. In Phase 2, the three existing elementary schools would be renovated and modernized and would move to a grades K-5 alignment. This phase is projected to be completed in fall of 2031 and would cost between $75 - $196 million (the current cost estimates are broad because detailed assessments of building conditions and needs have not yet been completed) with a potential state contribution of $4 million - $10 million. In Phase 3, the lower level of Saxe Middle School would be renovated to house the Pre-K program (currently at West) and districtwide central offices. Saxe would move to a grades 6 - 8 alignment. This phase would cost between $18 - $21 million, with a potential $3 million contribution from the state, and would be completed at the earliest in fall of 2031.

 

Only one undeveloped town-owned lot of land, the Clark Property located on Smith Ridge Road, was identified as being large enough to support a new elementary school. Redistricting will need to occur to balance enrollment at the four schools. The new attendance zones would be finalized in fall of 2029 and it is expected that they will result in shorter bus rides for students.

 

The rationale for building a new elementary school and renovating the existing elementary schools included an analysis of current and projected building utilization rates, the length of time since the existing schools were last renovated (1997), and the goal of moving to a K-5 and 6-8 grade configuration, consistent with peer districts. While a building utilization rate between 90-95% is ideal, East School is currently already at 99.6% utilization. NCPS is projected to see elementary enrollment grow by 9% (140 students) over the next six years, which will increase utilization rates at West and East Schools to over 100% and bring South School's utilization rate up to 97%. Utilization rates this high would have operational impacts including larger class sizes and the need for shared rooms for specialists. Renovating the three existing schools would bring them into parity with the new North School and would also align these facilities to the district's current 21st century educational program and needs, including spaces designed to meet the needs of an increasing number of special education students. The presenters also noted that peer districts, including Westport and Darien, have each recently invested in building new elementary schools.

 

The Board also heard an update regarding hiring for the 2025/26 school year, learning that 32 certified hires had occurred across the district. The Board also accepted a donation from the New Canaan Rams All Sports Booster Club in the amount of $7,000 to support a new scoreboard at Dunning Stadium. The Board then approved, as a first reading the 2025-26 District Goals and Objectives and the 2025-26 BOE Meeting Schedule.