City Council Approves Carbone-Pandiani for BOE Replacement

Updated Monday, 7:52 p.m.

The Meriden City Council unanimously approved city Republicans' appointment of Kim Carbone-Pandiani (R) to the Board of Education seat being vacated by Kevin Scarpati (R) at its meeting Monday night.

"It's been such a positive response both in the council and the public," Republican Town Committee Chair Daniel Brunet said of Carbone-Pandiani's selection.

Meriden Republicans chose Carbone-Pandiani on Sunday night after a round of interviews with four finalist candidates. Scarpati, who has served on the board for two years of his four year term, filed his letter resigning from the board Monday night after being elected an At-Large City Councilor in the Nov. 8 2011 election.

"I was really flattered to be considered – and I know there were some other people who were very qualified (that were) interested," Carbone-Pandiani, 48, said prior to the meeting. "I'm pretty plugged into schools – I've got two kids in the school system, and I've paid attention for years and years. Parental involvement is everything."

Carbone-Pandiani has a 16-year-old and a 14-year-old both at Platt High School as well as an almost 2-year-old son. She serves on the city's School Building Committee, which is overseeing the coming overhaul of both Platt and Maloney High Schools. She is also a Board Member of local non-profit Meriden Children First.

Carbone-Pandiani worked in the education department of Connecticut Computer Service in Plantsville for 19 years, leaving the role when she had her youngest child. She previously ran for the Board of Education in 2003 and lost.

She is slated to serve out the rest of Scarpati's 4-year term, which ends in 2013.

Original Story, Monday 4:30 p.m.

Meriden Republicans have chosen Kim Carbone-Pandiani as their replacement for Kevin Scarpati on the city's Board of Education, as Scarpati moves to his new role as an At-Large City Councilor. The City Council will vote on the selection at tonight's meeting, Republican Town Committee chair Daniel Brunet said Monday afternoon.

Carbone-Pandiani is well-known in Meriden for her involvement in child- and education-oriented programs. She is currently a member of the city's School Building Committee, and a Board Member of local non-profit Meriden Children First.

Carbone-Pandiani has three children, and according to her biography on the MCF website, her two oldest children attend Meriden Public Schools. She is a lifelong resident of Meriden, and according to Brunet, has been active in the local Republican party for about a decade. She could not be reached by phone prior to the publishing of this article. 

Carbone-Pandiani was chosen by the Republican Town Committee's Executive Board Sunday night at 9:30 p.m., following interviews of four finalists by the board members, plus current Republican BOE members Rob Kosienski and Scott Hozebin.

"All four finalists were good – it wasn’t easy," Brunet said. He declined to name the other candidates. "She came very well-prepared and well-versed in Board of Ed activities and affairs. She’s a well-rounded candidate."

Scarpati will submit his resignation at tonight's meeting, according to Brunet, to make way for Carbone-Pandiani's appointment. He expects city councilors to approve the nomination Monday night.