LYME/OLD LYME — At its final meeting of the academic year, which was held virtually June 3, the Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) Schools Board of Education (BOE) said farewell to six long-serving teachers with a combined service of over 150 years. Each of the teachers was leaving to start their retirement.
Mile Creek Principal Kelly Enoch said Nancy Sparaco’s 35-year teaching career had been “a calm and soothing presence” in both of the schools — Mile Creek and Center — in which she’d worked, adding, “The students adore Nancy.” In reply, Sparaco commented that she was grateful to have spent “all 35 years ” in Lyme-old Lyme Schools, noting she was going to miss, “each fantastic, elastic brain ” of her students.
Introducing Connie Price, Lyme School Principal Jim Cavalieri said she was consistently “a worker bee” throughout her 34-year-career and noted she had deservedly been named Teacher of the Year back in 2001. Noting that “she didn’t raise the bar … she set the bar,” he wished price well in her new life in
Ohio. Price responded that she felt “honored and privileged to teach at Lyme Consolidated,” and that she had “learned so much”
Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School (LOLMS) Principal Mark Ambruso commented that World Language teacher Pam Russell “has not looked back in her 30 years” at LOLMS while “she has taught literally thousands of students French and Spanish.” Mentioning the numerous foreign trips on which she has taken students, Ambruso noted Russell is a, “warm demander … and her legacy will live on.” Russell responded saying it was “bitter-sweet to leave’ and noting that, “since March has been the biggest learning experience in my career.”
Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School Assistant Principal Noah Ventola spoke about School Psychologist Myra Gipstein, who has been with LOL Schools for 20 years. He said, “a thread of kindness, compassion and sensitivity” followed her everywhere and that her “dedication was exceptional.” Gipstein said effusively, “I have never worked with such amazing people … this place was just what I was looking for. I will miss you all.”
Enoch spoke again, this time about Wendy Zito, who she described as having given her students over her 24 years teaching in Mile Creek, “a sense of wonder in the world around them,” and that, “she treats them with such respect.” On a personal note, Enoch added, “I have really appreciated how often she has made me laugh.” Zito replied, “They [the students] teach me. I just give them the tools to be the best that they can be.” She added, “It has been a privilege working with such dear, supportive colleagues … and now the next adventure begins!”
Finally, LOLHS Principal James Wygonik introduced John McGannon noting he had taught at the high school for 17 years and was chair of the World Language Department. He mentioned that
Mcgannon had taken students on “multiple trips to faraway locations” and had also brought the Amnesty International Club to the school with a personal passion that had successfully, “provided students with a voice.” Sporting a broad smile, Wygonik said, “The Lyme-Old Lyme family is losing its favorite crazy uncle!”
McGannon responded, “It’s been a great 17 years. No two days have been the same. It’s been a real honor,” adding, “There’s a buzz about this place.” Describing the LOL Schools system as a whole, he said, “It’s a family … I’ll miss you.”
“I want to thank all of you [the retirees] for what you have brought to our school,” said board chair Diane Linderman. “You have truly made Lyme-Old Lyme what it is. We appreciate and applaud the dedication you all have to our schools; we will miss you and wish you the best.”
Alongside congratulating the retirees, the BOE also took a moment to honor this year’s Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) Student Leadership Awards presented to two students from the high school. These awards are given every year to high school students throughout the state, who are recognized as having excellent leadership skills, inside and outside of the classroom. Principal Wygonik congratulated Ray Doll and Emily Balocca as the students selected to receive these awards and listed their respective numerous achievements.
In the wake of the recent retirees, Superintendent Ian Neviaser reported there has been significant progress in hiring. The BOE has recently hired a new kindergarten teacher and first grade teacher at Mile Creek School, third and fourth grade teachers for Lyme Consolidated, a world language teacher at the middle school, and new math and world language teachers at the high school.
In terms of getting back to school in the fall, Neviaser also mentioned that he is currently creating a Distant Learning Committee: a mixture of both staff, students and teachers to help create a plan for when school is back in session this fall. The committee will work on creating a plan for both distant online learning as well as in-person schooling.
Neviaser noted that the BOE was recently denied a reimbursement for funding for the high school gymnasium’s refinishing project but that things will still move smoothly with a projection to finish by late September of this year.
Lastly, the BOE unanimously approved a proposed resolution to help phase out the use of fossil fuels within the schools.
This resolution, although not a mandatory ruling, is in line with the school’s plan to become a greener school by 2030. The district has already started making strides by installing solar panels and promoting recycling initiatives as well as using LED lighting.
“Climate change unites all of us,” said Rebecca Waldo, a member of the Sustainability Committee. “The 2030 100 percent Clean Energy Resolution is achievable: a guiding principle for being the kind of change we want to see in the world, for thinking globally and locally, and for protecting the planet for next generations.”