Community Calendar

Regular Board of Education Meeting 

October 5, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. in the Board of Education Conference Room at Center School

LIVE STREAM OF MEETING:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF2_W7yYtFwx067Ici9776Q/live 

I. Call to Order 

II. Approval of Minutes 

1. Special District Meeting of September 7, 2022 
2. Regular Meeting of September 7, 2022 

III. Visitors 

1. Preschool Students 
2. Unified Sports Team Recognition 
3. Recognition of Teacher of the Year and Employee of the Year 
4. Report from Student Representatives 
5. Public Comment
   While in person public comment is still acceptable, those wishing to make public comment virtually  may use the following Zoom link: https://region18.zoom.sus/j/87635839590; Meeting ID: 876  3583 9590; +16465588656,,83527766795# US (New York). Those choosing this option will be  required to follow the same expectations for those making public comment in person. After being  recognized by the chairperson, participants must state their name and place of residence before  making their comments to the Board. 

IV. Correspondence 

V. Administrative Reports 

1. Superintendent’s Report
2. Business Manager’s Report

VI. Educational Presentation 

1. Report on Results of Annual State Achievement Tests (SAT, AP, SBAC and NGSS) 

VII. Chair and Committee Reports (Facilities, Finance, Communications, Policy, LEARN, LOL Prevention  Coalition)

VIII. New Business 

1. LOLHS Field Trip Request 
2. Setting of Graduation Date for Class of 2023 
3. Budget Process Timeline 
4. Appropriation to the Reserve Fund for Capital and Nonrecurring Expenditures
5. Policy Review 
6. Childrearing Leave Request 

IX. Old Business 

1. Closing of LOLHS Project

X. Executive Session

XI. Adjournment

OLD SAYBROOK — On Friday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 16, at 3 p.m., Salt Marsh Opera presents a double bill at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center — ‘The Kate’ — in Old Saybrook.

It’s all about family dynamics in Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini and Trial by Jury by Gilbert & Sullivan. These one-act comedies by two of opera’s most famous composers are sure to be sold, out so reserve your tickets soon.

Gianni Schicchi, Puccini’s only comedy, is a laugh-out-loud farce about the Donati Family and the passing of their not so dearly beloved patriarch, Buoso Donati. The family fortune hangs in the balance as each member of the family looks to bend the late Buoso’s will to their advantage with the help of the conniving Gianni Schicchi.

In Gilbert and Sullivan’s Trial by Jury, the hijinks move into the courtroom when a jilted bride and her philandering groom battle it out in divorce court in this slightly updated production of the G&S classic.

Purchase tickets at this link for Friday and this link for Sunday.

OLD SAYBROOK — On Friday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 16, at 3 p.m., Salt Marsh Opera presents a double bill at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center — ‘The Kate’ — in Old Saybrook.

It’s all about family dynamics in Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini and Trial by Jury by Gilbert & Sullivan. These one-act comedies by two of opera’s most famous composers are sure to be sold, out so reserve your tickets soon.

Gianni Schicchi, Puccini’s only comedy, is a laugh-out-loud farce about the Donati Family and the passing of their not so dearly beloved patriarch, Buoso Donati. The family fortune hangs in the balance as each member of the family looks to bend the late Buoso’s will to their advantage with the help of the conniving Gianni Schicchi.

In Gilbert and Sullivan’s Trial by Jury, the hijinks move into the courtroom when a jilted bride and her philandering groom battle it out in divorce court in this slightly updated production of the G&S classic.

Purchase tickets at this link for Friday and this link for Sunday.

LYME/OLD LYME — Setting the Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) Schools Building Referendum on Tuesday, Nov. 8 — the same day as the state elections — has, in Old Lyme First Selectman Timothy Griswold’s words (sent via text), been, ” … very complicated with, I believe, five lawyers working out the details.” Those details were required to be filed with the State of Connecticut today.

Griswold went on to explain, “Electors will vote on the candidates by ballot and on the school referendum question (yes/no ballot) in the same room,” but, “Qualified voters who are not electors may vote only on the referendum question in a separate room.”

Lyme Selectman John Kiker similarly confirmed by text, “… regular voting will be in [Lyme] town hall and the referendum voting will be in the [Lyme Public] library.”

Lyme-Old Lyme Schools Superintendent Ian Neviaser noted by email that Lyme-Old Lyme Schools are sending out a Fact Sheet to all Lyme and Old Lyme residents and property owners next week, which, along with additional information on the referendum, will help to clarify the difference between ‘electors’ and ‘qualified voters.’

The Fact Sheet explains that an ‘elector’ is any registered voter in either Lyme or Old Lyme.

It then goes on to state that, “A qualified voter who is not an elector is any citizen of the United States of the age of 18 years or more who, jointly or severally, is liable to the Town of Lyme or Town of Old Lyme for taxes assessed against him or her of not less than $1,000 on the last completed grand list of the Town, or who would be so liable if not entitled to an exemption under subdivision (17), (19), (22), (25) or (26) of Section 12-81 of the Connecticut General Statutes, and is not an elector (registered voter) of the Towns of Lyme or Old Lyme.”

This difference between the two is significant as qualified voters (who cannot vote in the state elections in Lyme or Old Lyme because they are registered to vote elsewhere) must by state statute physically vote at a location at least 75 ft. from that of registered voters.

Therefore, in Old Lyme:

• ‘Electors’, i.e., registered voters, will vote in both the state election and on the school building referendum in the LOL Middle School Gym.
• ‘Qualified voters’ (who are not electors) will vote solely on the LOL Schools Building Referendum in the LOL Middle School Cafeteria.

Meanwhile in Lyme:

• ‘Electors’, i.e., registered voters, will vote in both the state election and on the LOL Schools Building Referendum at Lyme Town Hall.
• ‘Qualified voters’ (who are not electors) will vote solely on the LOL Schools Building Referendum in the Lyme Public Library.

Regarding the unusual need for two polling locations in both Lyme and Old Lyme, Griswold stressed, “The Registrars must man and equip the two separate voting locations in each town,” noting, “The school will be responsible for the costs related to the school referendum.”

The ballot question for the LOL Schools Building Referendum will read as detailed below and and then ask for a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ response.

“Shall the resolution appropriating and authorizing bonds in the amount of $57,555,000, of which it is expected that an estimated $9,775,000 shall be reimbursed by the State of Connecticut, for the planning, design, demolition, construction, renovation, equipping and furnishing of Mile Creek School, Center School, Lyme Consolidated School and Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School and related costs, be approved?“

Two public meetings will be held in advance of the $57.6 million LOL Schools Building Referendum on respectively Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. at Lyme School, and Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. at Mile Creek School.

Polls will be open in both towns on Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information on the referendum from LOL Schools, visit https://www.region18.org/district-information/referendumwww.region18.org, email [email protected] or call 860-434-7238.

OLD LYME — This Friday, Dec. 2, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., the public is invited to join a group of “Members with Cameras” from the Lymes’ Senior Center when they host an Opening Reception for a show of their photographs. The show will be held in Old Lyme’s Memorial Town Hall on Lyme St. These folks have been learning techniques related to expanding and enhancing the use of phones as cameras from long-time photographer, exhibitor, and instructor Fred Verillo. Choosing a subject and then improving it with photographic editing apps are just a few of the topics that have been covered in Verillo’s workshops. All are welcome to the free reception. Refreshments will be served.

DEEP RIVER, CT. — Cappella Cantorum will return to John Winthrop Middle School (JWMS, Deep River, CT) for the 2022-2023 season after a two-year absence.  Rehearsals are in full swing for the upcoming winter concert, Vivaldi’s Gloria and Other Holiday Favorites, to be performed Sunday, Dec 4, at 3 p.m. at JWMS.  Mark your calendar to join this musical celebration of the holidays.

Music Director Simon Holt will conduct, and the featured soloists are mezzo-soprano Rachel Abrams and bass-baritone Christopher Grundy. The chorus will be accompanied by pianist Patrice Newman and the Cappella Cantorum Orchestra.

Ticket prices are $15 for students, $30 for adults and $35 at the door. Tickets may be purchased in advance through any chorus member, on the Cappella Cantorum website through the link below, or by calling 860-532-0454.

This year marks the 53rd season of Cappella Cantorum, which was founded in Jan. 1970. The group has built a close partnership with the Region 4 School District for more than 30 years where Cappella can be found rehearsing at JWMS on Monday evenings and performing in the school district’s auditoria. Cappella has also donated acoustic sound shells to enhance the JWMS auditorium stage.

When COVID hit Connecticut in early 2020, Cappella Cantorum halted rehearsals that were already underway at JWMS and canceled its May concert. From Sept. 2020 to April 2021, the group hosted a popular Zoom series to help singers stayed connected and continue learning about music-related topics.

With the availability of COVID vaccines and improved treatments, the group began to plan its return to in-person singing for Fall 2021. However, changing state COVID guidelines made it difficult for Region 4 to allow community groups in school facilities, so Cappella rehearsals were moved to Trinity Lutheran Church in Centerbrook for the 2021-2022 season.

“We were so pleased to be coming back to JWMS for our rehearsals,” said Carol Cherry, President of Cappella Cantorum.“ Returning to John Winthrop is one step closer to normal for all of us.”

Cappella Cantorum is the premiere, non-auditioned, community choral group of the Connecticut Shoreline and Lower Connecticut River Valley. Its primary purpose is to give singers of all ages the opportunity to learn, perform, share, and enjoy great choral music. In addition to twice yearly concerts, the group promotes music education and appreciation through summer singing programs, vocal training workshops, Messiah Sing & Listen events, and other events open to the public.

Cappella Cantorum has no audition requirement and welcomes people of all ages who like to sing and want to expand their music knowledge and skills. This opportunity renews again on Monday, Jan 9, 2023, when you can register and join Cappella for their first rehearsal as the singers and administration prepare for their spring concert scheduled for Sunday, April 4, 2023, 3pm, at JWMS. Rehearsals are generally held at 7 p.m. on Monday nights in JWMS.

For more information, visit cappellacantorum.org or call 860-532-0454.

OLD LYME / OLD SAYBROOK — The Old Lyme Town Band (OLTB) under the direction of Richard Chiappetta, gives two holiday concerts this season. The first was on Sunday, Dec.11, and the second is on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m., when the band will perform at The Kate, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook. Tickets for this concert are $8 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under, and can be purchased online at this link or at the door. Numbers for the performance at ‘The Kate’ include Farandole by Georges Bizet, which is not a seasonal piece but rather an exciting work that builds in speed and volume in all sections until the end and Lo, How A Rose E’r Blooming, a Christmas carol and Marian hymn of German origin, which is hauntingly beautiful. Those who have attended OLTB concerts in the past may remember the festive sounds of Hanukkah, a festive medley. A Very Merry (Minor) Christmas was written by the OLTB Director based on the tune of O come O come Emmanuel, but in a minor key. And who doesn’t love the OLTB’s closing number, Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride … and by the way, we hear they do a great whip-crack! The band welcomes new members of all ages, from talented middle-school students to seniors, without audition when rehearsals begin again in January. The band rehearses at Christ the King Church in Old Lyme on Mondays from 7 to 9 p.m. Visit the band’s website at http://www.oldlymetownband.com or speak to any band member to add your name to the band’s mailing list.