Wethersfield board announces next superintendent; assistant superintendent to depart, district outlines building and staffing steps

The Wethersfield Board of Education announced at its April 8 meeting that Jeffrey Whibbey will serve as the district's next superintendent, and the board discussed transition steps, district staffing shortages and progress on a school building master plan.

Board communications opened with Mr. Emmett, a district staff member, telling the board that “Mister Jeffrey Whibbey will serve as the next superintendent of schools,” and that Whibbey has begun meeting with district staff as part of a planned transition. The board said it expects a meet-and-greet for the new superintendent in May.

The announcement came alongside news that Assistant Superintendent Sally Distoli will leave the district effective June 30 to become executive director of Odyssey Charter School in Manchester. Mr. Emmett said Distoli has led curriculum and instruction work and that her departure is a “bittersweet” development for the district.

Why it matters: the district described current central-office capacity as “thin,” noting an open human-resources role and a business manager on leave. Mr. Emmett told the board administrators have been covering day-to-day operations and said some future hires are posted but will be moved forward only after town funding is confirmed.

Board members also heard an update on the proposed building project. John Weiner, chair of the building committee, reported the committee has adopted a full master-plan recommendation to send to the board and town council. Mr. Weiner said preliminary cost estimates from Downs Construction and design partner TSKP will be discussed at a building-committee meeting the following day and presented to the board at its May 13 meeting, when the board expects to adopt the master plan and related educational specifications for referral to town council and, later, a referendum.

Mr. Emmett said the district is working with an enrollment firm (identified in the meeting as NASDAQ) on the enrollment study required for a state grant application; he said the district is assembling grade-level data back to 2020–21, and plans to submit a grant application ahead of the state deadline of June 30.

The board handled one action item: a motion by board member Liz Walters to cancel the regular June 10 board meeting (the night of high-school graduation). The motion was seconded and approved; the chair called for “Aye” with no opposition or abstentions recorded.

Board members also noted several near-term scheduling items: a townwide budget hearing on April 21 and a joint meeting with town council on May 1 to discuss budget line items and the town allocation expected by May 15.

Ending: The board set May 13 as the next major date to receive the building master-plan presentation and said the newly selected superintendent will be available for a public meet-and-greet at that meeting.