Politics & Government

Superintendent's Last Day will be January 31

Before leaving, Jeffrey Villar will present the Board of Education with a budget for the next fiscal year.

 

The Board of Education on Thursday unanimously approved a motion that Jeffrey Villar's last day as superintendent of schools for Rocky Hill would be Jan. 31, 2012, following an hour-long discussion in executive session at a special meeting. The board also authorized the business manager to compensate Villar for any unused vacation days at his per diem rate.

Villar is leaving to become school superintendent in Windsor. That town's Board of Education also held a special meeting this week and voted to hire Villar as the . Villar told Patch that he chose the Windsor superintendent job because he wanted to work in a .

Find out what's happening in Rocky Hillwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

By staying until Jan. 31, it will allow Villar the ability to present his budget to the Board of Education. Villar previously told Patch in the budget has been accomplished and he has already met with the heads of the schools and the staff in the Central Office.

Villar made $160,973 this past year in Rocky Hill and was given a three-year, $185,600 per year contract with Windsor. He has 107 days of sick leave left with Rocky Hill.

Find out what's happening in Rocky Hillwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Rocky Hill school board Chairwoman Raffaella Calciano-Coler said the board would spend the next week or so looking for an interim superintendent. The interim superintendent could be a retired superintendent or a current administrator.

"Our first focus is getting an interim superintendent," Calciano-Coler said.

The board will then focus on finding a replacement for Villar. The first step for the board will be selecting a consultant. The Superintendent Search Committee will be lead by school board member René “Skip” Rivard and will consist of board members, students, parents, teachers and staff.

While the school board debated in executive session, Villar reflected on his time in town and how he “would strongly miss Rocky Hill.” 

“I won’t trade the last four years for anything,” he said. “If I were able to rewind the clock and do it all over again, I would. I don’t regret a second. I enjoyed my time in Rocky Hill.”

Villar said he was proud of how, under his tenure, the school system integrated technology into classroom instruction, reorganized the curriculum and trained "teachers on how to use student assessment to drive their instruction.”

“I think those things are the seeds for real positive growth in Rocky Hill,” he said.

When Villar arrrived in Rocky Hill, the school system was 85th in the state in per pupil expenditure and is now at 114.

"But, our performance didn't drop," he added. "I think quality education costs money, but it's not all about money. It is how you use your resources."

Villar said he regrets being unsuccessful in getting a referendum passed to renovate the schools in Rocky Hill.

“It’s a dire need for this community,” Villar said. “I am going to work on that until my last day here. That is a pressing need.”

Calciano-Coler also handed out the committee appointments at the special meeting. The committees and who will lead them are as follows:

  • Facilities - Brian Dillon
  • Policy - Ronald Robbins
  • Curriculum - Frank K. Morse
  • Joint Facilities - Rivard
  • Finance - Maria Mennella
  • Personnel and Negotiations - Rivard
  • Capital Regional Education Council Representative - Dilip Desai

The Technology Committee has been combined with the Curriculum Committee and the Transportation Committee will be held when there is a need for a hearing, Calciano-Coler said. The Joint Facilities Committee, which was started by the mayor, is expected to remain.


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