To my surprise the Torrington Board of Education has been running full speed throughout the summer. At the committee level, we have been exploring the possibility of developing a magnet or school-within-a-school option at the high school. Our focus has been in identifying the jobs of tomorrow. With a firm grasp on what those jobs might be, we can create an area of study that will specialize in those fields. This would of course be in conjunction with our core curriculum. Representatives Cook and Willis and Senator Witkos visited the board in August to discuss possible funding for this magnet option. Unfortunately, there isn't any state funding for this endeavor.
Frequent inquiries into community partnerships has paid off because we are now looking at expanding our agreement with Nutmeg. We are still in preliminary negotiations, but there seems to be strong support from both Nutmeg and TPS for an expanded partnership. Again, this is preliminary, but I'm envisioning more in-depth workshops for our students and possible TPS diplomas for Nutmeg students. This would add to the attraction of TPS and our community as a whole. The next partnership that I am interested in is with UConn Torrington. There are many students that graduate from UConn Torrington that go on to get their teaching certificate. I propose that we partner with UConn so that their students wishing to get their teaching degree can intern at our schools. In exchange, we could have a more integrated and diverse AP selection - again making TPS and our community more desirable. The pie in the sky with this option would be to have a downtown branch of the UConn Torrington campus.
I've been appointed to chair a new wellness committee. We are completely revamping the way TPS approaches healthy eating, activity and education. The committee consists of a diverse group of community professionals, parents and school administrators. This week we are going to work on writing a wellness policy. Our goal is to be the healthiest community in the state of Connecticut. With proper education, physical activity, and switching out French fries for vegetable sticks, I know that we can accomplish that task!
Vincent Merola
Board of Education
Frequent inquiries into community partnerships has paid off because we are now looking at expanding our agreement with Nutmeg. We are still in preliminary negotiations, but there seems to be strong support from both Nutmeg and TPS for an expanded partnership. Again, this is preliminary, but I'm envisioning more in-depth workshops for our students and possible TPS diplomas for Nutmeg students. This would add to the attraction of TPS and our community as a whole. The next partnership that I am interested in is with UConn Torrington. There are many students that graduate from UConn Torrington that go on to get their teaching certificate. I propose that we partner with UConn so that their students wishing to get their teaching degree can intern at our schools. In exchange, we could have a more integrated and diverse AP selection - again making TPS and our community more desirable. The pie in the sky with this option would be to have a downtown branch of the UConn Torrington campus.
I've been appointed to chair a new wellness committee. We are completely revamping the way TPS approaches healthy eating, activity and education. The committee consists of a diverse group of community professionals, parents and school administrators. This week we are going to work on writing a wellness policy. Our goal is to be the healthiest community in the state of Connecticut. With proper education, physical activity, and switching out French fries for vegetable sticks, I know that we can accomplish that task!
Vincent Merola
Board of Education
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