WEATHERSFIELD — The Board of Education has selected Matt Glidewell to fill an unexpired term on the board with the recent death of board member Tim Gleason.

The board met in a special session Monday, where Glidewell was selected from 14 applicants who sought the position.

Superintendent Damon Dohar said Glidewell will serve through Dec. 31, 2027, and if he chooses to continue on the board, will need to run in the November 2027 general election. Glidewell serves as assistant superintendent for the Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities and holds a master’s degree in accounting and a bachelor’s degree in business.

Dohar said Glidewell has two children who attend Weathersfield schools. He also said he was very appreciative that 14 residents expressed interest in serving on the board.

Gleason served 12 years on the board and was serving 2.5 years of a current four-year term. The board held a moment of silence to remember Gleason, praising his contributions and his years of service.

Glidewell will serve his first meeting in August since the board will not have a meeting in July.

SEABORN ELEMENTARY EXPANSION

In other business, because of increased enrollment and plans to house special needs students within the district instead of at other locations throughout the county, the board approved moving forward with a 2,500-square-foot addition to Seaborn Elementary School.

Dohar said the enrollment for grades kindergarten to sixth who are housed at the school has increased, and with special education students also to be housed at Seaborn, there is a need for more space.

The $1 million project is set to begin this year and be completed at the end of the 2026-27 school year. DeSalvo Construction was hired as the project design builder.

Treasurer Steve Haynie said the addition will be at the back of the school.

Dohar said an expansion was done 12 years ago to the district, but open enrollment has led to an increase, with 940 students in the school district.

He said the additional space will be used for programs that were housed off site so district students can now stay and learn at Seaborn.

The board also hired Gabriella Sandy as an elementary music teacher at Seaborn, where she did her student teaching. Sandyy had been teaching in Liberty schools.

Also hired was Brian Earich as a high school math teacher.