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Colchester Public Schools
127 Norwich Avenue, Suite 202
Colchester, CT 06415
Daniel P. Sullivan, III Jessica L. Kuckel
Phone (860) 537-7208 Phone (860) 537-7268
Superintendent of Schools Assistant Superintendent
dsullivan@colchesterct.org jkuckel@colchesterct.org
December 19, 2024
Dear Students, Staff and Families:
I am writing to provide you with an update following the special Board of Education meeting held
on Wednesday, December 18, 2024. The purpose of this meeting was to update the community
on the proposed Hayward Academy for Public Service (the magnet school) at Bacon Academy,
and to offer the public another opportunity to voice their thoughts and concerns about the
initiative.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Board of Education voted to postpone any decision
regarding the magnet school proposal until mid-January. This will allow additional time for
information sharing and community input, ensuring that all perspectives are considered before a
fully informed decision is made.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who participated in the meeting, both
in person and virtually. We especially appreciate the respectful and thoughtful nature of the
discussion, as well as the insightful questions raised regarding this important initiative. We
understand that many members of our community wish to learn more about the specifics of the
magnet school before forming an opinion. With that in mind, we are committed to further
engaging with the community in the following ways:
1. ParentSquare Communication Group:
We will establish a communication group on ParentSquare specifically for community
members who do not have children currently enrolled in the district. This group will allow
participants to receive updates on district events, meeting announcements, newsletters,
and community surveys. If you know someone who would like to subscribe, they can
sign up using this link: Community member.
2. PTO Meeting at CES:
District administrators and staff involved in the Hayward Academy for Public Service
project will attend the PTO meeting at Colchester Elementary School (CES) on January
6, 2025, at 6:00 PM. We invite all members of the community to attend and learn more
about the proposed magnet school.
3. Meeting at WJJMS:
District administrators and staff involved in the Hayward Academy for Public Service
project will host a meeting at William J. Johnston Middle School (WJJMS) on January 8,
2025, at 7:00 PM. We invite all members of the community to attend and learn more
about the proposed magnet school.
4. BA Parent Forum:
District administrators and staff involved in the Hayward Academy for Public Service
project will attend the BA Parent Forum meeting at Bacon Academy (BA) on January
13, 2025, at 6:00 PM. We invite all members of the community to attend and learn more
about the proposed magnet school. Please note that this meeting has been rescheduled
from January 6th to January 13th in order to accommodate this full meeting schedule.
5. Community Surveys:
The district will administer surveys regarding the proposed magnet program to ensure
that we hear from as many members of the community as possible.
We recognize the significance of this decision and are committed to making it as transparent
and inclusive as possible. We look forward to continued dialogue with all members of our
community as we work together to explore and potentially expand educational opportunities in
our community.
Thank you again for your interest in our schools and support of our students.
Sincerely,
Daniel P. Sullivan, III
Superintendent of Schools