To the Editor:

While I do respect the potential Democratic Town Committee chairman shoe-in, Mr. Petruccelli, about his take on the Stratford High School project, I don’t pretend to know everything about the project personally. However, being on the Council and Building Needs Committee, going on my fifth year, I believe I have the experience about the project in question, while Mr. Petruccelli points out he is new to the process.

I never said BOE was having second thoughts about this project; I posed it as a question. Mr. Petruccelli seems to be the one not doing his due diligence, perhaps?

Even though there have been no public statements made by Mr. Petruccelli prior about Stratford High, his fast response to my letter was put out in an awful hurry.

Do I smell politics? I will continue to believe there is no apparent feasible space in the South End or near the existing school to build a new Stratford High School. It likely will be a waste of peoples’ time, when we all know the answer we were told three years ago — there was no ample land available to build a new school in the area.

If there is room to build the school at double or triple the cost, then I hope Mr. Petruccelli supports using eminent domain to take peoples’ houses? Stratford is over 90% developed. Does Mr. Petruccelli favor demolishing Shakespeare Theater to build the project, or building a school on contaminated land?

I would love to hear his take on the matter; since he seems to think due diligence was not done on my part. It appears to me that the hand-picked potential DTC chairman wants to make this school project political and carry water for the DTC’s vendetta against me. It seems he is willing to cast blame very easily.

I am ready, willing and able for the fight for my constituents. As I have fought my DTC foes in the past, and won, I will continue to fight for what is right!

Jason Santi

4th District Councilman

Town of Stratford

Stratford police officers are assigned in Stratford Public Schools’ middle and high schools as a community resource, a parent resource, a department resource, and an administrative resource.

At Wooster and Flood middle schools and Stratford and Bunnell high schools, the school resource officers, or SROs, park their cruisers in front of the school or nearby. They wear their uniform to work every day, including their service weapon, and that uniform carries the weight of respect and meaning from the kids, and the community.

“It’s true,” said Lt. Melissa Niemiec, who oversees support services, which includes the SRO program, school safety and the Police Activities League. “The uniform itself is like a kind of ‘force.’”

To help, not write tickets
Officer Al Voccola is assigned to Wooster. He left patrol 11 years ago to take up his position as SRO. He’s 53, and his own children are past school age, yet he says he connects with the middle school kids. He surprises them by knowing their music, knowing their apps, and most of all, knowing how to intervene when trouble is afoot.

“The kids don’t look at me as a police officer,” Voccola said. “I’m ‘Al’ not Patrol Officer Voccola. I am not in the hallway writing tickets. They don’t question it. It is a positive reality. Kids come up to me in the hall and tease and talk to me. They know they can come to me, and they know I am here to help, not to hurt.”

The whiteboard behind his desk, covered with silly words of thanks and love from students, is proof of his relationship there.

Voccola, along with Frank Sapione at Flood, Trish Tesla at Bunnell and Jose Escobar at Stratford High, make up the team of SROs in the district. These SROs work a beat in the schools that may be more proactive than being on patrol. They are there for prevention. For the kids, they are counselors and educators. The SROs develop educational programs for the district on bullying, drugs, sexting, driving programs, and social media, to name a few.

They are there, in the hallways, to say hello and to just answer a kid’s question about a cell phone app, or give advice about bullying. Recently one student pulled the fire alarm at Wooster and another student felt comfortable to say, ‘Officer Voccola! I can tell you who did it!’

Helping troubled youths
But students do make mistakes, get in trouble and get arrested. Tough domestic situations at home invade school life. The administration and the SROs work together to intervene and provide support, Voccola says.

“One time this mother came up to me and hugged me and thanked me, saying, ‘You arrested my daughter!’” Voccola says. “What happened was after the arrest, I gave her all the information to help the daughter out, the people to contact, and the daughter later turns out wonderful. That’s the resource part of my job.”

Social media
One of the biggest vulnerabilities, the SROs and the administrators agree, is right in each student’s pocket — mobile phones. The SROs agree this is the students’ biggest distraction. Voccola stays on top of the latest apps. He says Facebook is dead for kids, SnapChat is on the way out, and the next latest app is just waiting to be discovered.

“We will tell these kids, Be careful what you put out there because you can’t erase it,” Voccola says. “You maybe want be a teacher or a cop someday? Well, they want you to sign a release for all your social media. Even going to colleges now, they look at this.”
Last week, Bunnell SRO Tesla bused students from Stratford High School for a texting and driving simulator class. On monitors, students are able to watch a fellow student drive a real car while texting and see the terrifying results.

“The texting and the inappropriate texting is our biggest problem,” Tesla says. “Getting them to the point they understand the full ramifications of it, of how it will impact their future. Sexting has come up as a problem and it is difficult. Social media is a school and a police officer’s nightmare.”

A unit with school
At Bunnell, Tesla works closely with the administrative team. “It is not just me. We are a team here,” Tesla says. “I work with the administration. If there is a kid with trouble, we come together to devise a plan. It’s not the Police Department over here and the high school over there. We are a unit that works together to get the result we want.”

Tesla and Bunnell Assistant Principal Nancy Dowling make a striking pair sitting across from one another — one in full police uniform, including body armor vest, and one in refined office attire. The school’s philosophy, Dowling said, is that students “have to feel they are loved and are cared for before [they] can make progress. [Tesla] is right here as a part of that philosophy.”

“I think the intent of the SRO program is to approach kids as kids. To try to understand the big picture of them as a person, as a kid, before you deal with behavior. That’s second,” Dowling says.

Having the “force” of the uniformed police in the school is meaningful to the community, too, Dowling says. Before the Sandy Hook incident, she says, having a police cruiser sitting in front of a school gave an impression that something negative was going on in the school. Now, she says, it sends the message that the school is safe.
Our primary objective is to keep kids safe. These are other people’s children. That is a priority. Trish being in the uniform is important. Not to keep the kids accountable, but to keep the community accountable to our kids.”

Complex role
So the SROs’ role is complex and multi-layered. To the parents and community, they are protectors. To students, they are counselors and teachers. To administrators, they are consultants and team members. To their patrol colleagues, they are liaisons and, in a sense, social workers.

Having the SROs as liaison between the schools and the Police Department has been one of the best outcomes, Niemiec says. While all the team members respect privacy laws, Dowling says, the SROs have bridged the gap between the schools and the police. If patrol officers or the Fire Department need to enter the school, Wooster Principal Jack Lynch says, they have the SRO on the ground to answer questions easily. And SROs are in regular communication with their department, which helps them understand the school communities needs and problems, Dowling says.

“There is a level of trust that has been established and enhanced between the school administration and the police. If there is a medical emergency or the police are here to supervise an event, there is a seamless, sort of quiet, unobstructed collaboration.”

Voccola and Tesla agree that as SROs, they knows the kids better. They know their backgrounds, and are able to respond to incidents with more knowledge and more compassion than they did when they were on patrol.

“I have learned just as much from the kids as they have learned from me,” Tesla says. “I learned there is more to them than I thought there would be. You don’t realize the complicated lives some of these kids have, the diverse backgrounds, and the obstacles that some of them have overcome. It makes me cherish them, and what they have accomplished.”

Stratford Police Lt. Melissa Niemiec and Wooster Middle School Resource Officer Al Voccola show off Voccola’s whiteboard full of students’ notes of thanks. Elizabeth G. Howard photo.

Pictured back row: Brady Shea, Alex Masi, Asstistant Superintendent Elaine Watson; front row: Giovanni-Marie Roper, Marissa DaCruz, arrive at the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education’s “A Day on the Hill.”

Students from Stratford High School attended the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education’s (CABE) annual “Day on the Hill” event in Hartford on March 5, in which they, along with principals, superintendents, school board members, parents and other students from across the state, convened to voice their opinions and meet with legislators regarding education in Connecticut.

The day began with a briefing of issues at The Bushnell’s Autorino Great Hall, including the governor’s proposed budget and its effect on local schools districts, with CABE and the legislative leadership. Remarks were made by Governor Malloy, Senator Beth Bye, Senator Toni Boucher, and Representative Andy Fleischmann.

Students, principals, superintendents, school board members, parents, and other attendees then “marched to the Hill” to visit one-on-one with their legislators at the State Legislative Office Building.

Representing Stratford Schools were students Brady Shea, Alex Masi, Giovanni-Marie Roper, Marissa DaCruz, and Assistant Superintendent Elaine Watson.

Other districts represented with students at the event include: Branford, Canton, East Granby, Granby, Killingly, Madison, Montville, Plainfield, Plainville, Waterbury, and the Academy of Aerospace and Engineering.

The Connecticut Association of Boards of Education serves local and regional school districts in Connecticut and is dedicated to improving the quality of education throughout the state and the nation. CABE is a leading advocate for public education at the State Capitol and in Washington D. C.

Many of the students who crowded into Bunnell High School’s auto shop were experienced drivers, but quite a few were not. The occasion: the Peer Awareness Tour Safe Texting program, an all-day event held Feb. 28. More than 200 Bunnell and Stratford High School students tried their hand at driving — while texting.

Using a specially equipped compact car and visor headsets, the program took participants through a texting-while-driving simulation. The goal of the exercise is to demonstrate how difficult it is to do, and how texting impairs driving performance.

“Our message through programs such as these is, driving is tough enough — don’t add texting to the equation,” said Tammy Trojanowski, administrator for Stratford Community Services, which obtained a grant for the program as well as for education on drinking and prescription abuse. The program is sponsored by the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based PEERS Foundation.

“We all know how fast an automobile accident can happen,” Trojanowski said. “It takes just one serious accident to forever alter one’s life or end a life. Our message in this campaign is, whatever the message someone is sending us is, it can wait until we arrive at our destination safely.”

Mobile phones have been a great source of convenience for people today, but they also serve as a serious hazard for teen drivers. Studies show that texting while driving can be eight times more dangerous than drunk driving. As more research comes, more legislation is passed to make it illegal to text while driving.

The statistical evidence is pretty conclusive on the dangers of texting while driving. On average, a text takes five seconds to compose and send. Cruising along at 55 mph, a driver will traverse the length of a football field in that amount of time.

Moreover, according to the National Safety Council (NSC), about 1.6 million automobile accidents each year involve drivers using cell phones and texting. That is about one-fourth of the total car crashes in the United States. The NSC has called for a nationwide ban on driving while on cell phones or texting.

The texting experience
Bunnell’s auto shop hosted the event because it is the only school facility with a door wide enough to accommodate a car. While each student “drove,” others students observed, on computer monitors, what he or she saw.

On command, each participant had to send a text message while staying as close to the speed limit as possible. The car’s steering wheel, gas pedal and brake pedal were also equipped with sensors to record student driving performance. Most students had to slow down considerably while composing and sending a message.

Afterward, students gathered in groups for breakout sessions with teachers, administrators and other school officials. “This was a good eye-opener,” said Trish Tesla, the Stratford Police Department’s school resource officer at Bunnell High. “As a student resource officer, I see students texting while driving every day I’m at work. I think most of the kids who participated in this exercise now realize how dangerous that can be.”

According to Joe Crapanzano, an assistant principal at Stratford High School, several students admitted to having firsthand experience with texting while driving. Still others talked about using mobile phone applications that automatically block calls and texts while a car is in motion. AT&T DriveMode, CellSafety and tXtblocker are just a few of the apps now available.

“When they are driving, their phone will automatically send a message to the sender that the message will have to wait until they stop,” said Crapanzano. “That’s good problem-solving on the part of these students and their parents, and more of our students need to download these apps.”

All of the officials hope to see a replay of the exercise. “Students were quite sobered to learn that they weren’t as adept at texting while driving as they had thought — which is an important lesson,” said Tesla.

Trojanowski said the event was praised by students, teachers, administrators, and parents. While the phenomenon is usually associated with young drivers, adults have been shown to be just as careless in their driving habits.

“The timing for this exercise was perfect — right before prom season,” Crapanzano noted. He was one of two assistant principals from Stratford High School to attend the Feb. 28 event, but time precluded him from getting behind the wheel.

A presentation of real life stories and facts about underage drinking — Talk Early, Talk Often — will be held for all current Stratford high school freshmen and their families Tuesday, April 1, from 7-8 p.m., at Bunnell High School auditorium. All freshmen who attend will receive a homework pass and a chance to win door prizes.

This freshman forum is a community event sponsored by Stratford Partnerships For Success (PFS) Coalition, Stratford Youth and Family Advisory Board and Stratford Public Schools.

Childcare and transportation will be available for those attending the forum. Space in the childcare is limited so call 203-385-4095 to reserve your spot.

For more information and to register, contact Stratford High School main office at 203-385-4230 or Bunnell High School main office at 203-385-4250.

A former Stratford resident arrested on felony charges for threatening students here and in Danbury had a fascination with the murders at Columbine (Colo.) School and talked about shooting students and staff to death, according to warrants unsealed April 1.

Natalie A. Carpenter, who was arrested by Torrington police on March 4 on felony charges of first-degree attempt to commit assault and conspiracy to commit assault linked to Stratford and Danbury high schools, remains incarcerated at Niantic Corrections Institute according to published reports.

Natalie A. Carpenter, arrested for threatening to kill at Stratford High School.

At the time of her arrest Carpenter lived at Hope House, a residential facility for individuals with mental illness.
According to a a fellow resident at Hope House who told police she heard Carpenter talking about killing people at schools, Carpenter and a friend, Peter Thulin, planned on getting “down to Danbury High School and then to Stratford High School and hide out in the school like in Columbine. They were going to take the school hostage,” the witness said, “and after some time start shooting students and staff until they were dead. She said they planned on killing themselves afterwards.”

According the arrest warrant, Carpenter, 18, and Thulin, 19, conspired to “shoot up a school,” but they figured they had to wait until they were 21 when they could legally buy guns. The two recently went to two gun stores to look into various weapons possibly to purchase, the warrant states.

Torrington police said Thulin is currently in a secure mental facility and will be turned over to police when released.

Carpenter admitted to police that she recently watched videos about the Columbine shootings and had written in a journal that “High schoolers are the ones who deserve to get shot. They’re (expletive deleted) heartless, trust me I know.”

Carpenter had attended Bunnell High School and Stratford High School and claimed to have been bullied while attending those schools, according to testimony of Carpenter’s mother, Wendy, in an affidavit leading to the arrest. Carpenter wrote in her journal, “There’s still bullying going on and its getting worse.”

Other writings in Carpenter’s journal, according to the warrant, were expressions of sympathy and compassion for the two Columbine murderers, feelings of suicide, depression and being disrespected by men in her life.

Along with Carpenter’s journal, which was seized as evidence, police found in Carpenter’s apartment a book : Ceremonial Violence, A Psychological Explanation of School Shootings.

“Carpenter admitted writing about the shootings,” the warrant states, and she “stated she remembers thinking about the people who were mean to her when she wrote the entry into her notebook but claims it was just writing and she wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

Carpenter’s mother “confirmed Carpenter currently suffers from mental health issues such as mood disorder, personality disorder, ADHD, depression, and she has been known to cut herself and has made previous suicide attempts,” according to the court documents. The mother “also confirmed that Carpenter has expressed a desire to commit suicide by shooting herself inside of a school so all the bullies can see the effects of bullying,” the warrant states.

For an expanded report on this case check back to this website.

A special meeting of the Stratford Board of Education has been called for Friday, April 11, for the purpose of deciding between the options of renovating Stratford High School or building a new high school possibly on Longbrook Park property, Board of Education Chairman Andrea Veilleux confirmed.

The special meeting, which is open to the public, will be held at Board of Education headquarters at 1000 East Broadway starting at 4 p.m. on the 11th, according to the notice distributed on April 9.

Veilleux said that she plans for the meeting to have discussion of both options and then a vote to choose one or the other.After the board vote, Veilleux said she plans to have the board send their recommendation to the Town Council’s Building Needs Committee for consideration and action.

Responsibility for school building issues in Stratford is split — the BOE determines its needs, preferences and educational specifications required, but the Town of Stratford owns the properties, has final approval authority, and manages construction and renovation projects.

The BOE’s Plant and Planning Committee met in the past week and had preliminary discussions on the options, Veilleux said. Details from that meeting were not immediately available.

BOE Chief Operating Officer Clarence Zachery said that he expects the meeting discussion to include also the results of the schools’ exploration of other possible sites for a new high school.

Time is of the essence, said Zachery, because decisions need to be made before the end of June. He explained that the state grant money that was obtained for a Stratford High renovation plan, which has been is various stages of planning for about three years, was contingent upon construction beginning by June 2014. Because that is not feasible at this point Zachery said that the Town would need to apply for an extension by June 30 in order not to lose that grant money. First, then, the Town must decide if it wants to stick with the renovation plan or drop it and go with a build-new plan.

The board chose not to wait for its next regular meeting on April 28 to take up the renovate or build-new question.

The major building-related issue has come up during what some are seeing as a contentious budget season, with the Board of Education requesting a $5.2 million budget increase for 2015, Mayor John Harkins recommending a $2.3 million increase for the schools, and the Town Council working to come up with a final budget that will be approved by the 10-person Council.

Under the mayor’s proposal the town would see an overall budget increase of $11.5 million and a mill rate increase of 5.7%.

Zachery said the timing of this building question is driven by the June deadline for dealing with pre-approved state grant monies, and “We can’t control state deadlines.”

The people of Stratford have two chances to speak publicly to the Town Council and the mayor about the proposals for the 2015 Town Budget, which includes Stratford Public Schools and Stratford’s municipal services.

The first public hearing will be Tuesday, April 15, 7 p.m. at Stratford High School. The second public hearing will be Wednesday, April 16, 7 p.m. at Bunnell High School.

For some details about the budget proposals see adjacent article and StratfordStar.com. The full proposals are available at TownOfStratford.com and StratfordK12.org.

The Town Council is required by Town Charter to have a final budget approved by mid-May.

The Stratford High School PTSA/Booster Club is looking for vendors for their 5th annual Craft Fair and Tag Sale Saturday, April 26, 9-3, in the SHS gym.

Tables are $30. Gym holds up to 100 tables. Admission is free and student helpers are available for loading and unloading vendor spaces.

For a vendor application, contact Jen, gr8mom526@aol or 203-558-3333.

Following the success of Square One Theatre’s mainstage production of Irena’s Vow three seasons ago, teachers requested that it be presented to students in both Bunnell and Stratford High Schools to enhance the teaching unit about World War II and the holocaust. The production was held Tuesday, April 8, at 8:30 a.m., at Bunnell and 12:30 p.m., at Stratford High School.

A truly life-affirming story about one of wartime’s most courageous and unsung heroines, the play tells the true story of Irena Gut Opdyke, a strong-willed young woman, who during the Nazi occupation of Poland was forced to work as head housekeeper for a prominent Nazi major. Over a two year period of service, Irena would be confronted with the choice of protecting twelve Jewish refugees who secretly fell under her care. Determined to help, she decided to hide them in the safest place she could think of…the basement of the Nazi officer’s house. This is the extraordinary true story of one woman’s choice and the twelve lives that would live or die by her decision.

The students showed a great deal of pride when Director Tom Holehan informed them that relatives of Irena’s (the late George Opdyke and his wife Daphne) lived in Stratford for a number of years. In fact Daphne attended one of the mainstage performances and talked with the audience about “Aunt Irena” in a post-performance discussion.

Holehan adapted the production to fit the length of the student class periods at each school. Members of the original cast re-created their roles including Peggy Nelson (Hamden) in the title role of Irena, along with Janet Rathert (New Canaan) and Al Kulcsar (Fairfield).

This is the twelfth year Square One Theatre has taken a stage production into the Stratford Schools. For each production, Square One provides study guides for the teachers to use in the classrooms and invites the students and faculty to participate in post-performance discussions with the actors and the director.

These educational programs are subsidized by People’s United Bank.

In 2005, Square One Theatre received “The Friend of Education” Award from the Stratford Board of Education for its work with the schools.

Stratford High School students: Taylor King-Craigwell (front row left), Sarah Henriques (front row second from right), Stephanie Boston (front row right); Square One Theatre actors: Janet Rathert (back row left New Canaan), Peggy Nelson (front row second from left Hamden), and Al Kulcsar (back row right Fairfield).

Before the Board of Education voted in favor of building a new school at Longbrook Park on April 11 Town Hall administration officials suggested that the BOE consider two choices: a) renovate Stratford High School at its current location, or b) build a new high school at Longbrook Park.

The site of Longbrook Park came up as a possibility when an informal working group responded to questions from the Board of Education about the availability of any property in Stratford that could accommodate a new high school, according to Chief of Staff Marc Dillon.

The working group consisted of Town of Stratford Chief Administrative Officer Stephen Nocera, Dillon, Board of Education Chief Operating Officer Clarence Zachery, Stratford High School Principal Joe Corso, Town Engineer John Casey, Antinozzi Associates Architect George Perham, and Capitol Region Education Council Director John Meno, according to numerous sources.

One of the first responses to the Board of Education’s inquiry into potential building sites was for the Town to issue a request for proposals to see if any property owner wanted to sell to the Town. That “RFP” attracted no formal proposals, according to Casey, Dillon and Zachery. One property owner reportedly offered informally to sell land without buildings for $20 million, which Zachery said was a “non-starter.”

When the property-acquisition avenue came up empty, the question focused on what Town-owned property might be available and adequate. It was then that Casey mentioned Longbrook Park as potentially being of size to handle the desired 30-acre campus for a new high school, according to Zachery, Meno and Dillon.

Casey was not available for comment April 16 or 17.

After the idea of Longbrook Park arose town employees on the working group authorized Antinozzi Associates to determine of the site acreage could accommodate a new school. Antinozzi reportedly determined that the site would be large enough.

No other studies of the site were conducted, according to Dillon, such as traffic, environmental or neighborhood impact.

Dillon emphasized that the Longbrook Park site was given to the Board of Education by the working group without any recommendation about the merits of such a site.

Given a limited choice of renovating in place or building new at Longbrook, and given that the Board of Education felt pressured to act quickly due to impending June 30 deadlines from the state related Stratford obtain grant money, the BOE voted to recommend to the Town that they build new at Longbrook.

Part of the Board of Education’s considerations before their vote were that new construction would take two years, while renovation would take at least three years; a renovation of the current building has the potential for uncovering harmful contaminants, which would further disrupt education there; renovation cost is estimated at $90 million, before possible additional costs if contaminant remediation is required, and new construction cost is estimated at $99 million.

Based on the public outcry against taking away open park space for a new school and the Town Council voting unanimously to reject the use of Longbrook Park for a school, the BOE either did not investigate before their vote what the townspeople’s reaction would be to using Longbrook, or BOE decided that their role was to focus on educational aspects only and leave the vetting and public hearing to the Town Council.

Or both.

Part of Longbrook Park that was recommended by the Board of Education for a new high school as seen looking north from Pender’s Field. Greg Reilly photo.

To the Editor:

As elected Board of Education (BOE) members, we have a fiduciary responsibility to both the State of Connecticut and the town of Stratford to advocate for the education and safety of our students. Our goal is to continue to provide all Stratford students with the best learning environment achievable, increase quality instruction, and improve student achievement. We also have a responsibility to provide residents with transparency as to the actions we take to achieve these goals.

Following is our attempt to provide further transparency regarding the Stratford High School project:

We wish to clarify the misconception of the Board’s action with regard to building a new high school at the Longbrook location. The Board was given only two viable options by the Town and/or architects. The Board was not involved in selecting which town sites might have been appropriate to build a new high school. We were given two options to consider “A” and “B”, and proceeded to follow the process mentioned below.

Expansion of SHS is required in order for the school to obtain a renewal of accreditation from the State of Connecticut. The last accreditation review indicated that the total square footage of the facility is too small for the number of enrolled students, and classroom size does not meet the latest 21st century state requirements.

Actions taken by the board follow a process that, for the most part, are vetted by sub-committees, discussed in detail, and submitted with approval recommendations to the board as a whole. Accordingly, the following process took place for the Stratford High School project:

1. The Plant and Planning Sub-committee was presented with two options. Sub-committee members unanimously approved “Option B” for building a new school, versus “Option A” which was to renovate existing facility.

2. On Friday April 11, the BOE as a whole held a special meeting (due to the June deadline for obtaining the state grant reimbursement), and voted 4 to 2 in favor of constructing a new SHS building under “Option B”. The recommendation is then forwarded to the town Building Needs Committee for their approval.

3. The pros of “Option B” are that it would: a) provide 21st century classrooms in compliance with state mandate, b) expand the size of the gymnasium, c) would be completed one year earlier than renovation, d) would provide easy access to Penders Field for athletics events, and e) be less disruptive to students’ learning environment.

4. The cons of “Option B” are that it would require utilization of the town’s limited open space, near a residential neighborhood.

The renovation of SHS under “Option A” will: a) take longer to construct, b) be more disruptive to students as they transfer from one existing building section to a new section, c) not include expansion of present gymnasium, d) potentially limit parking areas, and e) potentially include increased project costs and delayed construction schedule due to the possible discovery of hazardous materials in existing building (i.e. section built in 1935).

In summary:

• The BOE determines needs, preferences and educational specifications.

• The town owns the school buildings, and has final approval for construction of a new school, or renovation of an existing facility.

• It is the town’s elected officials decision to decide what is in the best interest of both its students and its residents.

• The BOE has submitted what it believes is best for our students education.

As of Monday evening, the Town Council rejected “Option B” to build a new high school. The Board of Education will abide by this decision.

Andrea Veilleux

Board of Education chairman

Bob Chaloux

Board of Education vice chairman

A week after the Town Council unanimously rejected the Board of Education’s choice to build a new Stratford High School at Longbrook Park rather than renovate the existing SHS, the council’s Building Needs Committee voted unanimously April 21 to restart a plan to renovate the existing SHS.

During the lead-up to the Board of Education’s vote to build new at Longbrook, a working group searched and found no other adequate land in Stratford for a new school. As Building Needs Committee Chairman Paul Hoydick said, “We would love to build new, but land is the issue.”

A plan to renovate Stratford High was created in 2010 and the Town Council bonded money for what was then a roughly $56-million project with a 50% reimbursement from the state.

That original project stalled for reasons that include normal approval time taken by the state to evaluate projects for grant money, and possibly for other reasons that are not clear. As years went by without a renovation shovel hitting the ground, a new schools superintendent was hired in mid-2013, and she hired a new chief operating officer, and the Board of Education had four of seven members elected in November.

Before Building Needs voted on Monday to restart a plan to renovate, the committee was told by architect George Perham and school building consultant John Meno to expect the costs to be about $90 million. That number does not count possible, but unknown, additional costs if hazardous materials are discovered.

Reasons for the $34-million increase in estimated costs for renovation include a much different scope of work, according to Board of Education Chief Operating Officer Clarence Zachery. The $56-million project was more of a cosmetic renovation, which does not get the school to meet education specifications for the 21st Century, Zachery said.

With a new plan that meets educational specifications, classroom size will increase from approximately 650 square feet currently to 750 to 800 square feet, said architect George Perham, and “you can’t do that with the existing footprint.”

So construction of a new add-on building is now in the renovation plan.

Also, the school construction market has changed significantly in the past four years, the consultants said. There are fewer construction companies in business after the recession, and demand for those that remain has increased.

Meno, of Capitol Region Education Council, resisted saying that there may be ways to reduce the $90-million budget, because thorough studies of the structural integrity and possible environmental hazards have not been conducted.

Committee member Alvin O’Neal asked if it might be better to demolish the current Stratford High School and build new on that site, and Perham said that would certainly cost more than renovation alone.

All committee members present voted for renovation: Hoydick, Linda Manos, Christian Barnaby, Len Petruccelli, O’Neal, Dan Senft, and Alan Llewelyn.

One high school in the future?
Shortly after the vote to renovate Stratford High, during an informal conversation during a recess, committee member Dan Senft wondered aloud about realigning school facilities and combining Stratford’s two high schools into one. Senft told The Star that he believes the town has never done thorough due diligence on that question.

Councilwoman Stephanie Philips, who sat in and observed the Building Needs meeting, followed up on Senft’s question and suggested that the town should start now analyzing the idea of a one-high-school town for four to six or 10 years from now.

Money spent now on renovating Stratford High would not be wasted, Philips said, figuring that another tenant would make use of the building if the school were relocated.

Stratford High School is set for a thorough renovation. Greg Reilly photo.

To the Editor:

Anything that pertains to millions and our schools or any public building, in my opinion, should be voted on by property owning taxpayers. The history of our town’s very poor decisions regarding tearing down schools have cost us dearly. Local neighborhood elementary schools were priceless!

I was quite surprised to read that they want to tear down Stratford High School and build a new school. Longbrook Park is just that, a park. Keeping it a place for recreation is priceless.

I graduated from Stratford High School in the mid 70’s. My father-in-law graduated from that beloved school. My parents, my husband’s parents, along with my husband and myself have been taxpayers of Stratford most of our lives. Those who pay taxes should decide the future of this school that will impact the future of our Town.

Simply ask if they favor to relocate the school or modernize the building. The votes can be sent back with the taxpayers’ own stamp as usual. Do not think anyone would have a problem putting their name to their vote, regarding a school.

Personally, I Iove the old building where it is across from our Town Hall. The two buildings definitely complement each other.

My freshman high school memory of Miss Wall, our business teacher taking our freshman class across the street for a little field trip and introducing us to our wonderful Town Hall. We were all so proud to be there and it made quite a positive lasting impression.

The generation that built Stratford High no doubt would object to this notion of tearing it down.

Hoping the voice of the tax payers along with good supervision over the votes will settle this debate.

A little skeptical and hope this is not about politics. A little tired because everywhere you look today one cannot escape seeing they have made everything into politics.

Regardless, still love my home town.

Mary Kriz

Stratford Continuing Education graduation ceremonies will be Thursday, May 8, at 7 p.m., at Stratford High School, according to Administrator Richard P. Hageman. Twenty-five students who have either completed the required high school credits or who have successfully passed the five sections of the GED Test will be receiving their high school diplomas in the Stratford High School auditorium.

Attending the ceremonies will be the Interim Superintendent of School Margaret Lasek members of the Stratford Board of Education, other administrators, and a representative from the Connecticut State Department of Education. Live music will accompany the ceremonies with a reception of light refreshments.

For more information, call 203-385-4270.

The following students were named to the third quarter honor roll at Stratford High School:

First honors

Grade 12 — Keishera Aldonza, Megan Aviles, Cristian Barba, Samantha Beck, Anthony Bobko, Maggie Bodington, Andrew Bouchotte, Alicia Buynovsky, Jeremy Calvar, Danielle Calzone, Quincy Cayton, Kelly Ceccarelli, Andrew Cerone, Ayanna Christian, Margaret DeCapua, David Dempsey, Liliette Diavua, Kyra Ezekiel, Jenna Fasanella, Ann Fednard;

Also, Samantha Feliciano, Julia Genetti, Linsey Gold, Christopher Gonzalez, Gloria Grave Avila, Kristopher Guzman, Jonathan Homburg, Reid Jefferson, Rose Kasongo, Taylor King-Craigwell, Katherine Lee, Eleanor Lefever, Fletcher Mackay, Yasmine Mahmud, Margaux Mahoney, Spencer Marks, Alexander Martin, Matthew Masi, Brittany Mendenhall, Eric Mezzo, Milo Mitchell, Haley Moore, Brandy Morales;

Also, Shannon Mraz, Madison Norton, Timothy Paproski, Abbie Perez, Sarita Peterson, Joanne Pierre-Louis, Anabelle Plaza, Kathryn Posser, Katherine Rodriguez, Emma Rooney, Gabrielle Rooney, Rachel Santo, Kaitlyn Schuessler, Nora Scott, Anekka Scott-Gray, Miguel Seclen, Chayla Sherrod, Alexia Smith, Allyson Starkey, William Tait, Alexandra Trahan, Anna Trahan, Michael Vavala, Anthony Vazquez, Paige Whitley.

Grade 11 — Tahirah Anderson, Samantha Breaz, Samuel Breiner, Austin Bult, Zane Carey, Christopher Carroll, Piotr Chaber, Phinehas Cleary, Livingston Cortez, Marissa Dacruz, Tyler Devellis, Jerry Dinan, Nathanael Domschine, Cierra Donald, Thomas Ferrara, Tarquinn Granado, Katharine Himpel;

Also, Enrique Jaime, Stephen Jepsen, Coralie Joseph, V’eona Lanham, Alex Masi, Michael McClean, Kevin Mendoza, Tasiana Mesidor, Ambar Negron, Kristin Pantelis, Alexis Rader, Christian Sarmiento, Matthew Schaefer, Lynn Schneider, Ayanna Staton, Anna Velasquez, Kylee Vitka-Lainey, Alexis Williams.

Grade 10 — Marlene Abouaassi, Julia Barksdale, Elmar Barrios, Jaydin Beatty-Knight, Justin Beatty-Knight, Helen Branyan, Timothy Breiner, David Buonantony, Kyle Carmona, Remy Cooper, John Cox, Joseph Cox, Shannon Dugan, Jomaris Echevarria, Kyle Fasanella, Nathan Glick, Gillian Goddard, Katherine Goodrich, Christopher Hamilton, Ashley Jean-Pierre, Madison Lazaro;

Also, Megan Leonard, Olivia Mastroluca, Joseph McClean, Gabrielle Olexovitch, McKayla Owen, Emily Pappas, Danielle Peterson, Michael Petillo, Aileen Pingol, Eric Redgate, William Rooney, Zohra Sarpas, Tyler Schuessler, Christopher Smith, Daniel Thorstensson, Jakub Tomaszewsk, Fatima Tuziahrah.

Grade 9 — Connor Anderson, Tia Anderson, Benjamin Andrade, Ndidi Anekwe, Connor Anstis, Ross Bodington, Britney Boursiquot, Alan Brzuszko, Jordan Chach, Shawn Chambers, Danielle Cisero, James Dotterman, Maia Dufane, Daniel Duque, Thomas Fernandes, Erik Flores, Tristan Frownfelter, Zachary Gottlieb, Liam Hannon, Paige Hoydick, Khalifa Karim, Steven Koripsky, Roula Kouvatas, Emma Lacourciere, Jean-Paul Lieu, Caroline Londa, Carley Lubas;

Also, Leanne Lubas, Emily Luciano, Allysa Noccioli, Jenna Noccioli, Sam Noccioli, Angeleen Pingol, Martha Polanco, Meghan Reynolds, Samantha Rivera, Vanessa Rivera, Alexis Rosado, Al, Molly Ryan, M, Daniel Schaefer, Katie Schneider, Jeffrey Sharnick, Maggie Shea, Nathaniel Shields, Colin Townsend, Marguerite Walsh, Kaya Wells, Michael Yacik, Brady Young.

Second honors

Grade 12 — Janesha Allen, Joseph Baptiste, Scott Bracken, Michelle Bravo, Maxwell Breiner, Derrick Briand, Rushawn Brown, Benjamin Canevari, Jacob Cayton, Jillian Chambers, Matthew Chonko, Timothy Cox, Jacob Cuevas, Timothy Das, Daniel Dellavecchia, Matthew DiCostanzo, Nicolas DiIulio, Jose Espinoza, Brian Evan, Jalenthan Feliciano, Tyler Ferrara, Camylla Ferreira;

Also, Carlos Flores, Christian Foito, Richard Francois, Brendan Gloss, Jacqueline Gonzalez, Sarah Henriques, Jordan Jackson, Alex Jaime, Jephthe Jean, Kristofer Koch, Nicholas Kovalik, Rebecca Kuzmich, Rebecca Lee, Mcbryan Lesperance, Victor Lopez-Hernandez, Jacob Martinez, Jessi McNeill, Adrienne Meneo, Brendan Miller;

Also, Orville Morris, Alexander Pale, Nyle Peterson, Carolyn Petkevich, Siah Reeves, Andrew Rios, Edward Rivera, Raymond Rodriguez, John Rohaly, Robert Rohaly, Frank Sessa, Emmanuel Silva de Sousa, Rebecca Simon, E’Zhana Smith, Mateusz Sowinski, Elizabeth Tallberg, Juliana Troche, Joi Vickers, Andre Vilarinho, Jacqueline Walsh, Nicholas Wills, Roman Yacik.

Grade 11 — Anthony Alvarez, Jenna Amoroso, Stephanos Baggeas, Bertha Barrios, Samantha Belport, Curtis Boahene, Shaquanna Borodack, Brianna Bursey, Kelleigh Cantiello, Danielle Caselli, Brett Cody, Alexander Colwell, Mariah Cortes, Karen De La Roca, Christopher DeCrescenzo, Jack Erazmus, Kelsey Gabris, Giovanni Gonzalez, Lauren Goodrich, Wassim Haddad, Kaitlin Hines, Lance Jamison;

Also, Schekina Jean, Crystal Kantzas, Katherine Krasniewicz, Michael Lapia, Timothy Leveen, Balli Matosko, Tera-je McLennon, Albert Messana, Rosalina Morales, Alyssa Mucherino, Bethy Napaul, Lauren Padua, Athanasios Panolis, Celina Perez, Stephanie Perez, Tiara Pomontty, Laura Quijano Jimenez, Taylor Reed, Kareem Robinson, Victoria Sajaw, Emily Sanchez, Patrick Warren, Emily Winter.

Grade 10 — Laura Battey, Grace Belport, Kristina Bennett, Daniel Brennan, Jonathan Brooks, Michelle Buzzanca, Gabrielle Camarero, Matthew Canapetti, Ricard Castaneda, Geraldine Chavez, John Duffy, Elissa Dykes, Danielle Evan, Lenyn Feijoo, Guirlaine Francois, DeAndrea Frederick, Jayla Frederick, Stephanie Gabriel, Mackenzee George, David Goldstein, Jasmine Gonzalez;

Also, Autumn Graham, Matthew Herrera, Kayla Hughes, Dialynda Joseph, Sarah Kotsay, John Lagerfeldt, Helen Langston, Willie Llera, Miguel Marrero, Justin Monah, Darla Moss-Clarke, Sylwia Pajorek, Brett Patrick, Teresa Petreycik, Jeffrey Riccio, Brianna Rotonto, Tamara Schriffert, Bryce Scofield, Rachel Scott, Richard Starkey, Carlos Umana, Kacie Velasquez, Markus Washington, Caitlin Whaley.

Grade 9 — Kirsten Adams, Anuoluwapo Atoyebi, Mackenzie Bakos, Amanda Bedat, Brianna Braham, Amelia Brennan, Shaiann Bridges Potts, Christian Camargo, Lauren Cesar, Nicholas Cody, Jeremy Corpuz, David Decoteau, Olivia Donnelly, Samantha Gangemi, Ryan Gerrity, Charlotte Haas, Rory Hannon, Brooke Haschak, Caitlin Hoey;

Also, Jessica Homburg, Kaitlyn Keegan, Kelsey Lepesko, Peter Luong, Kamal Mansour, Rebecca McMahon, Jennifer Medina, Jhoan Montano, Olivia Murray, Brandy Okrah, Megan Pale, Tatyanna Pettway, Olivia Plavcan, Terry Ramalho, Nichole Richards, Vanessa Russo, Sabrina Saad, Isaiah Schmidt, Christopher Scott-Gray, Raghad Serri, Khalil Sokunle, Franklin Vasquez, Sarah Zuiewski.

Many of the students who crowded into Bunnell High School’s auto shop were experienced drivers, but quite a few were not. The occasion: the Peer Awareness Tour Safe Texting program, an all-day event held Feb. 28. More than 200 Bunnell and Stratford High School students tried their hand at driving — while texting.

Using a specially equipped compact car and visor headsets, the program took participants through a texting-while-driving simulation. The goal of the exercise is to demonstrate how difficult it is to do, and how texting impairs driving performance.

“Our message through programs such as these is, driving is tough enough — don’t add texting to the equation,” said Tammy Trojanowski, administrator for Stratford Community Services, which obtained a grant for the program as well as for education on drinking and prescription abuse. The program is sponsored by the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based PEERS Foundation.

“We all know how fast an automobile accident can happen,” Trojanowski said. “It takes just one serious accident to forever alter one’s life or end a life. Our message in this campaign is, whatever the message someone is sending us is, it can wait until we arrive at our destination safely.”

Mobile phones have been a great source of convenience for people today, but they also serve as a serious hazard for teen drivers. Studies show that texting while driving can be eight times more dangerous than drunk driving. As more research comes, more legislation is passed to make it illegal to text while driving.

The statistical evidence is pretty conclusive on the dangers of texting while driving. On average, a text takes five seconds to compose and send. Cruising along at 55 mph, a driver will traverse the length of a football field in that amount of time.

Moreover, according to the National Safety Council (NSC), about 1.6 million automobile accidents each year involve drivers using cell phones and texting. That is about one-fourth of the total car crashes in the United States. The NSC has called for a nationwide ban on driving while on cell phones or texting.

The texting experience
Bunnell’s auto shop hosted the event because it is the only school facility with a door wide enough to accommodate a car. While each student “drove,” others students observed, on computer monitors, what he or she saw.

On command, each participant had to send a text message while staying as close to the speed limit as possible. The car’s steering wheel, gas pedal and brake pedal were also equipped with sensors to record student driving performance. Most students had to slow down considerably while composing and sending a message.

Afterward, students gathered in groups for breakout sessions with teachers, administrators and other school officials. “This was a good eye-opener,” said Trish Tesla, the Stratford Police Department’s school resource officer at Bunnell High. “As a student resource officer, I see students texting while driving every day I’m at work. I think most of the kids who participated in this exercise now realize how dangerous that can be.”

According to Joe Crapanzano, an assistant principal at Stratford High School, several students admitted to having firsthand experience with texting while driving. Still others talked about using mobile phone applications that automatically block calls and texts while a car is in motion. AT&T DriveMode, CellSafety and tXtblocker are just a few of the apps now available.

“When they are driving, their phone will automatically send a message to the sender that the message will have to wait until they stop,” said Crapanzano. “That’s good problem-solving on the part of these students and their parents, and more of our students need to download these apps.”

All of the officials hope to see a replay of the exercise. “Students were quite sobered to learn that they weren’t as adept at texting while driving as they had thought — which is an important lesson,” said Tesla.

Trojanowski said the event was praised by students, teachers, administrators, and parents. While the phenomenon is usually associated with young drivers, adults have been shown to be just as careless in their driving habits.

“The timing for this exercise was perfect — right before prom season,” Crapanzano noted. He was one of two assistant principals from Stratford High School to attend the Feb. 28 event, but time precluded him from getting behind the wheel.

Seniors from Stratford High Schools have been awarded the Daughters of the American Revolution Excellence in History award for outstanding work in American history and overall academic character.

Bridget Frouge, Bunnell High School and Margaret Decapua, Stratford High School are awarded Excellence in History Bronze medals and Certificates by the Sarah Riggs Humphreys-Mary Silliman Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Mary Rozsa, the Chairman of the American History awards, said that these young women are our country’s future leaders. She noted that the DAR promotes American History throughout the year and encourages everyone to be more aware of their heritage.

The DAR perpetuates the memory and spirit of the men and women who won American independence. Any woman over 18 who can prove an ancestor served in the American Revolution is a prospective member.

For more information on the DAR go online at sarahriggshumphreysDAR.org.

The Stratford Historical Society Scholarship Committee announced that five $2,000 scholarships were awarded to five high school seniors in Stratford.

The students submitted written essays regarding their interest in history or civic affairs in town along with written recommendations from teachers or friends and their GPA average from their school.

All qualified students must be residents of Stratford, but may attend schools outside of the town.

The awards were given to: Rachel Santo, Stratford High School, Rebecca Simon, Stratford High School; Bridget Frouge, Bunnell High School; Carolyn Drenkard, Trumbull High School; and Craig Pellegrino, Bunnell High School.

UPDATED JUNE 26. As the Stratford High School class of 2014 graduated on June 18 under a warm sun and commenced upon the new chapter in their lives, the two highest ranking academic students spoke to their classmates in a most inclusive way. They gave examples of how each of the 275 graduates had some sort of success at SHS, and they forecasted how each member of the class was bound to find success in the future.

The valedictorian and salutatorian spoke not at all about their own individual achievements, but rather of all the contributions made by all the students throughout the school. They spoke about the pride each graduate may have and how they are prepared for the challenging “mountain” ahead.

The following are majority excerpts from two student speeches delivered at the Pender’s Field ceremony last week.

by Timothy Paproski
Valedictorian
So this is it: Graduation day. We have reached a huge turning point in our lives, and I am sure most of us are still a little surprised, or even in denial, that this day has come. It’s weird. It seems like only yesterday we walked into Stratford High for freshman orientation.

Can you believe we have been in school for 12 years? It’s amazing how time seems to pass so slowly, but when we look back, we realize just how fast it actually goes by. I’m sure our parents will all say at some point tonight, ‘Oh, they grow up so fast!’

Previously we might have rolled our eyes at them. I bet now we all finally understand how very true this statement actually is.

I want to thank the choir and the band for coming out and performing for us tonight. I don’t know what feels stranger — knowing I’m about to graduate or seeing the band play tonight without me. I’m sure you all felt just as strange on your senior nights for football, track, or volleyball, or when you ushered at your last concert, performed in your last musical, or whatever you did here and loved for the final time.
We are leaving behind a lot at this school — activities, sports, friends … and about 100 security cameras!

Our class has left its mark on this school in a big way. Look at the flag that the National Honor Society constructed to honor our fallen soldiers. Think about the fund-raisers our class worked so hard to host, like Retail 101.

Consider all of the sports achievements that occurred under our leadership: Our core of senior athletes led our baseball team to states and our lacrosse team to states and the SWC championship game.

Our senior musicians helped keep our music department and groups in first place with high ratings in our competitions.
Class of 2014, our work here is done!

Never lose your memories for what we did here. Don’t forget the Senior Picnic, Prom Night (with the broken chandelier!), all of our athletic and personal achievements, and, most importantly, all the friends and relationships that we made on the way.

Always remember your learning experiences with your teachers. Let’s all thank our teachers today. Many have helped you in more ways than you even are aware of. For example, two of my most influential teachers are here tonight: Dr. Ryan and Mr. Leinen. Without them, I don’t know where I would be, or if I would even be going into music as a career.

Stratford High School has made us all who we are today. Be proud of your alma mater!

A good portion of us will move on to college. Some people will go to trade or technical schools to perfect a skill they have, or even go directly into the workforce. A few will be heading into the military. Whatever we each choose to do, I have no doubt that each and every one of us will be successful in one way or another — whether it’s by becoming a music teacher, a sportscaster, a businessman or woman, a professional athlete, a fashion designer, or a master carpenter.

Every one of us will be able to find success in whatever we do. American author Zig Ziglar says, “Success is the maximum utilization of the ability that you have.”

I challenge each and every one of you, my classmates, whatever you may do or whatever your job may be, to do it to the very best of your ability, with no less than 100% effort. Follow your passion and your heart, and you will all go far.

As I wrap things up, I refuse to give in to the biggest cliché that surrounds graduation speeches everywhere. I won’t say that “We did it,” because the past tense implies that our hard work is complete, and life will be easy from here on out.

Let’s replace that with the present tense. Class of 2014, we are doing it! We are living our dreams and moving on to the next chapter in our lives, not the next book.

I’ll leave you with the words of Dr. Seuss that Mrs. Stolzenberg left my class with on the last day of sixth grade: “You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way!”

My fellow classmates, our future looms in front of us like a mountain, so let’s tackle it.

Class of 2014, Today is our day! Let’s go!

by Rachel Santo
Salutatorian
I would like to start by saying how honored I am to be a part of a class of such high caliber. Each and every one of us worked hard and gained high accolades throughout high school.

These past four years are only a glimpse of the success we will have in the future, and that future starts today.

I know for most of us, the moment is bittersweet. While we are anticipating starting the next chapter of our lives, we are still holding on to the memories we made. One thing I know is that these memories will last a lifetime.

I may be looking too far into the future, but I can honestly say that I see myself sitting around with you guys in 20, even 30 years, discussing our times at Stratford High School — athletic triumphs, all of the awards our music department won, watching or participating in theater, talent shows, the first annual Mr. Stratford High, struggling to keep our cool in the Devil’s Den, and Rodney’s performance at the Funny Money assembly junior year.

Even more recently, we made memories with special senior events including the Senior Picnic where we learned about our classmates’ lip synching talents and watched some of our boys defeat men double their size in the tug of war, our prom night where we literally did damage on the dance floor and watched our friends become celebrities when they were hypnotized.

And now we have today. Today is one of the biggest days of our lives to date, and we have every reason to be proud of ourselves and of each other.

Congratulations Stratford High School class of 2014.

ALL PHOTOS BY KAREN REID.