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Sharon Board approves shared .5 art/.5 French position, accepts resignations and adopts policy updates
Summary
At a hybrid meeting Oct. 20, the Sharon Board of Education voted unanimously to create a shared half-time art/half-time French teaching position, accepted two staff resignations, approved a suite of second-reading policies and moved several administrative items to November.
The Sharon Board of Education voted unanimously Monday to create a shared .5 Art/.5 French teaching position, accept two resignations and approve second readings of multiple district policies during a hybrid meeting that began at 6:03 p.m. and adjourned at 7:24 p.m.
The board, which met both in person and virtually, accepted resignations from Dallas Speranzo and Madeleine Stern "with regret," and approved on motion the new combined part-time position after Superintendent Melony Brady-Shanley "explained the positions," the board minutes show. Principal Carol Tomkalski, addressing the consent agenda, said there were "not at this time" any surprises related to the items presented.
Why it matters: The creation of the .5 Art/.5 French position is a staffing change that affects course offerings and scheduling at Sharon School District and signals a district decision to maintain both visual-arts and world-language instruction within a constrained staffing environment. The board also adopted a set of Beliefs, Focus Areas and Assessment Standards for 2025–26 as an interim working document; Superintendent Brady-Shanley said she will finalize the document, share it and place it on the November agenda for incoming board members, adding that "The document is a working document and can be updated or changed at any time."
Board action and context Philip O’Reilly introduced the agenda change to add an Administrative Recommendation for French/Visual Arts; Nancy Hegy Martin seconded the motion, and the board approved the change unanimously. After taking the consent agenda, the board moved on to personnel matters and the staffing proposal. Superintendent Brady-Shanley provided the explanation of the shared position and answered board questions before the vote.
The board also approved, on second reading, several district policies including: Connecticut School Climate Regulations (5131.911(a)), Medical (Palliative) Use of Marijuana (5131.601(a)), Students with Special Health Care Needs (5141.25(a)), School Safety: Preparation, Response, and After Action (5142(a)), and library-related policies (6161.12(a)/1312.3; 6161.13/1312.4; 6161.14/1312.5). The board carried the policy motion on Philip O’Reilly’s motion with Nancy Hegy Martin seconding; the minutes record the motion as "carried unanimously." The agenda item about school lighting was tabled to November.
Votes at a glance - Add Administrative Recommendation for French/Visual Arts to agenda (remove Written Communication Tuition Student Request): mover Philip O’Reilly; second Nancy Hegy Martin; outcome: carried unanimously (SEG 003). - Accept consent agenda: mover Anne Vance; second Kathleen Visconti; outcome: carried unanimously (SEG 003). - Accept resignations of Dallas Speranzo and Madeleine Stern: mover Anne Vance; second Nancy Hegy Martin; outcome: carried unanimously (SEG 003). - Approve .5 Art / .5 French shared position: mover Philip O’Reilly; second Nancy Hegy Martin; outcome: carried unanimously (SEG 003). - Approve Sharon Board of Education Beliefs, Focus Areas and Assessment Standards 2025–26 as amended: mover Kathleen Visconti; second Anne Vance; outcome: carried unanimously (SEG 003–004). - Accept second reading of listed policies (5131.911(a); 5131.601(a); 5141.25(a); 5142(a); 6161.12(a)/1312.3; 6161.13/1312.4; 6161.14/1312.5): mover Philip O’Reilly; second Nancy Hegy Martin; outcome: carried unanimously (SEG 005). - Adjourn: mover Philip O’Reilly; second Nancy Hegy Martin; outcome: carried unanimously at 7:24 p.m. (SEG 005).
What was not decided or remains for later The school lighting item was explicitly tabled to the November meeting; the minutes do not include further detail on timing, scope or funding. The Beliefs/Focus document was adopted as a working document to be finalized and re-shared; the board did not indicate final, permanent adoption pending further review. The Assistant Superintendent’s survey was added to the November agenda for further discussion.
The board’s next steps include Superintendent Brady-Shanley finalizing the working Beliefs/Focus document for review by incoming board members and the November consideration of the tabled school lighting item.
