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Southington school board picks replacement for seat

SOUTHINGTON — The Southington Board of Education has named resident Cory Freeman as its newest member to fill a recent opening with the resignation of longtime board member Albert Haberstroh.

Freeman was named to the board seat at Thursday’s meeting, which was held online because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Freeman, who was the only board member seated at the school where the board usually meets, will fill the seat through December 2021 and if he chooses to serve a new term will need to run in the November 2021 general election.

“I appreciate being named to this spot and will try my best to do whatever I can for the school, the kids and the community,” he said.

Board President Betsy Dunn said Freeman was the only person to apply for the opening. She said he is involved with the school district and has children at elementary school.

Haberstroh resigned from the board to fill an opening on the Trumbull County Educational Service Center Governing Board. Haberstroh will fill the remainder of the term of Don Bishop, who died in February. He will still represent Southington schools on the Trumbull Career and Technical Center board.

“We know at the ESC he will continue to do everything he can for the students and education,” Dunn said.

In other business, school officials discussed what has been taking place since schools were closed March 13 by orders of Gov. Mike DeWine.

Superintendent Rocco Nero said all schools, families and society have been going through “very trying times” and that school administrators are available by phone or email for families with questions and concerns.

He said staff and students have been moving in the right direction with the new technology for learning.

“There is a lot of unknowns. We should have answers about education and the rest of the school year by the end of next week. I want our seniors to know we think about them every single day. We will have a plan, whether we return or not, concerning graduation. That is very important to us at this time,” Nero said.

Nero said school officials have decided the last nine-week grading period will be pass/ fail and not count toward a student’s grade-point average.

“We do not want to hurt any student’s GPA for their class rank due to the circumstances,” he said.

Nero and high school principal Robert Kujala and elementary principal Lori Hall have coordinated getting food and coursework to students while school buildings are closed. Paper packets were provided to younger students and Chromebooks and online lessons were provided for older students.

“Everyone has worked very hard to provide a remote learning education for the students the best we can. There has been a major retooling of how we provide learning, It has been a big undertaking to deliver the paper packets to students over three days. The students, especially the younger ones, were excited when they saw the school van and us delivering their packets,” Kujala said.

Completed packets are dropped off on different days at the school and placed in designated boxes.

“We will see what the governor decides, but, no matter what, we will take care of our seniors,” Kujala said.

Ellen Cornwell, high school teacher and teacher union president, said as senior class adviser, she has been in contact with the seniors.

“They have been staying as positive as they can be,” Cornwell said.

Hall said staff was able to adjust to the online learning quite quickly.

“We are in contact with family and students every day. The families have learned so quickly how to adapt to this remote learning. This has been overwhelming for everyone. We want to do what we can to make it as easy for the students and their families as we can,” Hall said.

Dunn, who is a teacher in Lakeview schools, said when schools do reopen, they will not be the same

“There are many unanswered questions. Not sure what will happen next for education but when we go back it will be a new normal and not exactly the way things were. The buildings may be closed, but learning is still taking place,” she said.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com

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