Volume 23, Number 31
Friday, January 18, 2019
www.towntimes.com
District to reshape curriculum, buildings By Bailey Wright Town Times
On Wednesday, Jan. 9, the board approved a new grade configuration: pre-school through second Starting in the fall of 2021, Regional grade at Brewster School, grades School District 13 will have a “one three through five at Memorial building track for all” system, ending School, and keeping grades six the decades-long practice of offering through eight at Strong Middle different programs at its two eleSchool and nine through 12 mentary and two middle schools.
at Coginchaug Regional High School. The estimated costs of this new configuration are $2.2 million. Regional School District 13 covers Durham and Middlefield. The vote comes after years of debate over how to address declining en-
Mary Daugherty Abrams, surrounded by family, holds granddaughter Rose Thomas, 2, in her seat in the Senate, Wednesday, Jan. 9. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal
rollment. The new configuration effectively closes John Lyman Elementary School, deemed the most logical choice due to the building’s condition. “The issue has been very well vetted See Schools, A2
Chinese partnership to begin with student visit By Bailey Wright Town Times
Regional School District 13’s new international partnership will begin with a weeklong visit from a group of high school students from Ningbo, China this fall. Coginchaug Regional High School Principal Brian Falcone was joined by high school See China, A5
Lawmakers encouraged by opening speeches By Mary Ellen Godin and Mike Savino Record-Journal staff
HARTFORD — Gov. Ned Lamont’s calls for innovative solutions and collaboration during two speeches Wednesday, Jan. 9 drew mostly applause from lawmakers. Lamont, sworn in as Connecticut’s 89th governor, said during
his inaugural and State of the State addresses that now is the time for “bold” ideas to move the state forward.
dress to the General Assembly. “It will be easy to vote ‘no,’ but I have a responsibility to get us to ‘yes,’ and we only get there by working together.”
He also urged lawmakers to work together on Connecticut’s Leaders from each party said Labiggest problems, most notably a mont’s remarks demonstrated a budget deficit of roughly $1.7 bil- desire to work collaboratively. lion in the next fiscal year. “We see D.C. right now, and “The budget vote will be a tough there’s a bunch of political leadone, no doubt,” he said in his ad-
See Reaction, A8
Regional School District 13 Superintendent of Schools Kathryn Veronesi signs a memorandum of understanding for a new partnership with an administrator from Tongji High School while visiting Ningbo, China in December. The partnership is expected to begin this fall with Tongji High School students visiting Coginchaug Regional High School. Photo courtesy of Brian Falcone