On Tuesday, Sept. 22, the Hamden Board of Education held their first meeting since the start of the 2021-22 school year.
Not long after the start of the meeting, Chairman Arturo Perez-Cabello called for an executive session where the board would discuss the biggest topic of the night: the contract renewal for Hamden School District Superintendent Jody Goeler.
After an hour and twenty-nine minutes of executive session, the board returned with an unanimous decision to renew Goeler’s contract. Details of that contract have not yet been announced.
Board of education trustee Christopher Dauer said the reason the executive session took so long was due to the board reviewing nine pages of accomplishments Goeler has achieved since starting as superintendent in June 2014.
Dauer also noted the greatest achievement of Goeler has been his ability to lead the district through the pandemic while ensuring the safety of all Hamden Public Schools students and staff.
“The fact that I have been at a complex, dynamic, diverse urban-suburban district for seven years and still have the board of education’s support,” said Goeler in reference to his proudest accomplishment.
In reference to getting back to work, Goeler expressed excitement.
“Completing the work we’ve started, around racially balancing our schools and having more of our schools more diverse and representative of all of Hamden, as well as as continuing to move the needle of student cognitive engagement and student’s overall academic, social, and emotional success,” said Goeler.
Following the announcement of Goeler’s contract renewal, Cenergistics, Hamden Public Schools partner in energy consumption reduction, recognized the district for their achievement in lowering their carbon footprint.
Representatives from Cenergistics shared that the Hamden School District has reduced their energy use by twenty-five percent per square foot since partnering with Cenergistics in 2018.
This reduction in energy usage has resulted in the district saving $1.7 million since the partnership began.
Before the meeting ended, Goeler shared a report on the different concerns he has for the district in the near future.
His first topic of discussion was an update on Hamden Public School’s COVID-19 numbers. Last week there were seven positive cases throughout the district.
Hamden is currently one of the many school districts with 10 to 14 daily COVID-19 cases on average, as per the government of Connecticut’s tracker.
Goeler said he attends weekly meetings with the Connecticut Department of Health to stay updated on all the latest news and statistics of COVID-19.
Hamden School District currently has 850 vaccinated staff members. The district also has 28 staff members who are religiously or medically exempt from the vaccine, but must provide weekly negative test results.
Assistant Superintendent of Schools Gary Highsmith noted that all staff was supposed to submit proof of vaccination or request for exemption by Sept. 14, 2021. However, over 200 staff members have not reported back to the district with an answer.
“Nobody is escaping getting vaccinated or tested, there’s no in-between.”
Assistant Superintendent Gary Highsmith
Highsmith says another email went out on Tuesday, Sept. 21, stating that any staff member who does not respond with either proof of vaccination or request for exemption by 12:00 p.m. on Sept. 22, will face disciplinary action.
Highsmith said staff who show up to school next week who have not responded to the district’s vaccination request will be sent home without pay. “Nobody is escaping getting vaccinated or tested, there’s no in-between,” said Highsmith.
The last concern Goeler brought to the board’s attention was the possibility of bus shortages due to bus drivers refusing to cooperate with the vaccine mandate.
Goeler stated students most affected by this bus shortage include athletes as well as students in the Special Education program.
Goeler assured the board that they will come up with a solution to deal with this issue, and is currently working with other superintendents in the area as well as “First Student” transportation services to make sure no student is deprived of proper transportation.
The next board of education meeting will be held October 12, in the boardroom at 60 Putnam Ave, Hamden, CT 06517. Additional information can be found at the Hamden Board of Education’s website.