Meriden City Councilor and Democratic State Senate candidate Dante´ Bartolomeo today congratulated the Meriden Public School system on the selections of John Barry Elementary and Roger Sherman Elementary as part of two critical statewide education-based initiatives. John Barry Elementary was selected by the State to take part in a new pilot program for Connecticut’s K-3 Literacy Initiative and Roger Sherman Elementary was chosen as a site for a new Family Resource Center.
Governor Dannel Malloy, Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman and Commissioner of Education Stephan Pryor announced the five statewide schools selected earlier today to take part in the K-3 Literacy Initiative, which will introduce a new reading intervention program in each of the chosen schools.
“The selection of John Barry Elementary and Roger Sherman Elementary is a major victory for Meriden’s students,” Bartolomeo said. “This serves as a testament to the effectiveness of Meriden’s public school system and I congratulate our Board of Education and
Superintendent Mark Benigni on this achievement. I thank the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Commissioner of Education for their leadership and commitment to Meriden in selecting our schools to take part in these initiatives.”
The K-3 Literacy Initiative was created as part of this year’s education reform bill and allocates $1.77 million in funding to hire one literacy coach and four reading interventionists in each of the five schools. Each school will implement new instructional practices, individualized academic interventions based on student needs and data monitoring strategies to improve literacy instruction. John
Barry Elementary was chosen as part of a competitive application process that included school-site interviews.
“This pilot program will play a valuable role in helping our young students improve their literacy skills and better prepare them for the academic challenges they will face in the years to come,” Bartolomeo said. “I am excited by the positive impact this will have on our community both now and in the future.”
Connecticut’s Family Resource Centers are located in public school buildings and promote comprehensive community-based systems that provide family support and child development services. The Center at Roger Sherman Elementary will be the third in a Meriden school, joining
Centers currently operating in John Barry Elementary and Ben Franklin Elementary. Bartolomeo’s colleague on the City Council, Cathy Battista, was instrumental in the City’s application for the new Roger Sherman Center. Battista currently serves as director for both existing Centers and plans on being director at Roger Sherman as well.
"I have long been an advocate for the benefits of Family Resource Centers in our public schools, and the introduction of a new Center in Meriden will be a most welcome addition to our community and the families whose children attend school at Roger Sherman,” Bartolomeo said. “The introduction of this Center and others statewide demonstrates Connecticut’s commitment to the importance of family in early childhood development.”
The Democratic nominee for the 13th District State Senate seat, Bartolomeo currently serves as liaison to Meriden’s Board of Education as part of her duties on the City Council. She previously served on the Board’s Full Day Kindergarten committee, which sought to expand Meriden’s full day kindergarten pilot program throughout the City’s elementary schools. Bartolomeo was also a member of Nathan Hale Elementary school’s Parent Teacher organization from 2004 to 2010, serving as Co-President from 2007 to 2009.
