Wethersfield superintendent outlines entry plan, proposes central-office reorganization; board approves two motions

Jeff Whibbey, the newly appointed superintendent of Wethersfield School District, used his first public board meeting Tuesday to outline an entry plan, announce a month-long universal free-lunch transition from the state, and propose a cost-neutral reorganization of central-office roles.

Whibbey told the Board of Education he will share a monthly “superintendent's informational update” summarizing department items and school-level accomplishments. “I placed into the packet what I'll be calling the superintendent's informational update,” he said. He said he will visit every school beginning the students' first day, Thursday, Aug. 28, starting with a brief stop at Wethersfield High School at 7:25 a.m.

The superintendent said the state Department of Education issued a 30-day transition period on Aug. 14 that will allow the district to provide universal free breakfasts and lunches for all students during September with state reimbursement. He also reported that, as of the morning of the meeting, the district had filled all certified-staff positions for the start of the school year and welcomed 18 new teachers on Aug. 18 plus 11 hires who joined midyear.

Whibbey presented an administrative letter on school safety and crisis-response drills to standardize terminology and scheduling. The letter asks principals to schedule required drills on the 20th of each month but allows principals to…