Winchester, CT Board of Education - Bishop, Mocarski, Rylander

01/12/2026

Here is the agenda for the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, January 13th. It is in the Hicks Room at Town Hall, 7:00pm

01/03/2026

A moisture study of Pearson School’s 26 year old roof, well beyond its expected 20 year lifespan, shows areas of wet insulation (highlighted in red). This image was presented by Dr. Luby at the December 9 Board of Education meeting.

An additional presentation on the roof condition and projected costs is expected at the January 13 meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Hicks Room at Town Hall. Following that presentation, the Board of Education will vote on whether to advance the project to the Board of Selectmen, who would then determine if it moves to a town referendum.

Community members are encouraged to attend in person or watch the January meeting via livestream.

01/03/2026

Summary of the December 9, 2025 Board of Education Special Meeting (I apologize for the delay)

The Board of Education held a special meeting on December 9, 2025, at Town Hall with all members present. The meeting opened with a student showcase featuring Pearson School fifth graders, who presented their learning on the Maya, Inca, and Aztec civilizations, demonstrating strong understanding of early cultures, social structures, and innovations.

The Board approved minutes from three November meetings, all with minor spelling corrections. No public comments were made.

Communications and Reports
Board Chair Kurt Werner reminded the community that budget season is approaching and encouraged public engagement. Student representatives highlighted upcoming school events and shared academic updates across Pre-K through sixth grade classrooms. The Superintendent reported on school activities, including drone competitions, evaluation of Pearson School’s aging roof (separate post with moisture study photo to follow), exploration of preschool expansion opportunities, and progress in the budget development process.

Informational updates were provided on enrollment, attendance trends, staffing changes, and the monthly budget summary. Discussion of the American Mural Project partnership was postponed to a future meeting.

Board Committees and Membership
The Board of Education formally established its committees and appointed chairs, all approved unanimously:
• Budget and Finance Committee
Chair: Kurt Werner
Members: Elinor Bishop, Shane Centrella, Carol Kijek, Jonathan Morhardt, Frank Oliveri, Christine Rylander, Joseph Santoro, and Kurt Werner
• Teaching and Learning Committee (formerly Curriculum Committee)
Chair: Elinor Bishop
Members: Elinor Bishop, Joseph Santoro, Christine Rylander, Shane Centrella, and Jonathan Morhardt
• Policy and By-Laws Committee
Chair: Jonathan Morhardt
Members: Jonathan Morhardt, Christine Rylander, and Frank Oliveri
• Gilbert School Committee (Negotiations Committee)
Chair: Kurt Werner
Members: Jonathan Morhardt, Carol Kijek, Christine Rylander, Shane Centrella, and Kurt Werner

Action Items
The Board unanimously adopted three policies related to Board budget procedures, IDEA fiscal compliance, and school activity funds. The Board also approved the closure and reestablishment of school-related bank accounts with updated titles and authorized signers requiring dual signatures.

Closing
Elinor Bishop recognized the district’s Head of Maintenance for his contributions during a recent school tour. The meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m.

12/08/2025

Regular Board of Ed Meeting tomorrow at 7pm, in the Hicks Room at Town Hall.
We will be creating committees and voting on the chairs for our committees.
There is also a student performance and very insightful student reports!

11/21/2025

We’re thankful for Connecticut’s teachers, librarians, and community leaders who educate and empower residents to participate in their communities. Knowledge is the foundation of engagement! Expand yours by learning ways to tap into your at https://ow.ly/Bma450XllST Use the hashtag to see all our posts in this series. So much to be thankful for!

We’re thankful for Connecticut’s teachers, librarians, and community leaders who educate and empower residents to participate in their communities. Knowledge is the foundation of engagement! Expand yours by learning ways to tap into your at https://ow.ly/Bma450XllST Use the hashtag to see all our posts in this series. So much to be thankful for!

11/20/2025

Minutes from the special meeting held on 11/13 at 6:00pm:

Wi******er Public Schools
Board of Education Special Meeting
Pearson School Library
November 13, 2025
6:00 p.m.
MINUTES
Meeting Facilitators: Kurt Werner, BOE Chairperson and Julie Luby, Superintendent
Board Members Present: Elinor Bishop, Shane Centrella, Carol Kijek, Jonathan Morhardt, Frank Oliveri, Christine Rylander, Joseph Santoro, and Kurt Werner.
Board Members Absent: Nora Mocarski
I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:03
A. Pledge of Allegiance
B. Roll call (Kurt Werner and Jonathan Morhardt were present for the walkthrough and left at 6:30. Shane Centrella arrived at 7:10pm)
II. INFORMATION ITEMS
A. Pearson Facility Needs: Building walk - The BOE members were guided through Pearson School, looking at areas of need.
B. New Board of Education Member, State Required Training - Training was provided by Nick Caruso from CABE and focused on the roles and responsibilities of BOE members.
III. ADJOURNMENT

11/20/2025

Minutes from the special meeting held on 11/11 at 7:00pm

11/20/2025

Minutes from the special meeting held on 11/11 at 6:30pm

11/20/2025

Hi everyone! We are in the process of rebranding this page to serve as a source of information.
We will be posting agendas for the upcoming meetings, and also share the minutes from each meeting.
Thank you for your support, we are honored to be representing our students and community.

11/06/2025

Fresh Faces. Strong Skillsets. New Energy. This was the highest Democratic voter turnout in the history of Wi******er/Winsted. And our winning candidates hit record high vote counts. Thank you to everyone who supported our campaign. We’re ready to roll up our sleeves and do the hard work for our community. We won’t let you down.