Connan steps down from Naugatuck school board

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By Andreas Yilma, Staff Writer

Glenn Connan

NAUGATUCK — Board of Education member Glenn Connan resigned from the elected position this month.

Connan, a 44-year-old Republican, has served on the board for nine years, including as vice chairman and secretary.

The school board July 14 accepted his letter of resignation. In the letter, Connan stated he is moving out of Naugatuck to be closer to his job. He is the vice president and chief financial officer for the Midwestern Connecticut Council of Alcoholism. He works out of Derby.

“Glenn was a valuable member of the Board of Education for many years and he will be missed, especially his knowledge of finance and budgeting,” board Chairman Jeff Litke said. “We thank him for his service and appreciate all that he has done for the students in Naugatuck”

Connan, who has lived in Naugatuck for 17 years, said the board has made significant progress improving schools and being fiscally responsible during his time on the board. He said the board delivered for the taxpayers, children and staff.

“I think we made a tremendous improvement in our schools in the last several years,” Connan said.

The board will appoint someone to fill the vacancy until the 2021 municipal elections.

“We all want to have an engaged board member that would do the best job possible,” Superintendent of Schools Christopher Montini said.

The borough’s charter doesn’t specify that Connan’s replacement has to be a Republican. Officials said that the state requires minority party representation and the board can’t have more than six members from one party. Counting Connan, the board had five Republican members.

“I’m for the best person, either Republican, Democrat or unaffiliated,” said Mayor N. Warren “Pete” Hess, a Democrat who sits on the school board.

School officials will publicize the vacancy and interview candidates.

The board shouldn’t exclude anyone from interviewing based on their political affiliation, Montini said.

“We have lots of active parents,” Montini said. “I could reach out to some of the principals and see if there are parents that are active already that might want to go from volunteerism to more public service and make it a little more official with the board.”