Schools

Retired Berlin High School Principal Will Run For Board Of Education

Synnott and six others have taken out petitions seeking spots on the board.

 

Retired Berlin High School Principal George Synnott is among seven residents to take out petitions seeking to fill the four vacant spots on the Board of Education.

All four incumbents, President Gary Brochu, Kristin Campanelli, Cindy Kobus and Jeff Cugno will all seek re-election. Charles Paonessa, who has run unsuccessfully for Town Council in the last two years and has also taken out a petition.

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Synnott said he thinks he has a lot to offer.

"I have 41 years of professional experience in education," said the father of two. "When I retired I had a feeling that I still had more to give. I think I have something to offer and have some experience.

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"I'm a citizen in this community and I like to do as much as I can to help the kids and the teachers. I also want to help shape programs and policies while being fiscally responsible. We all pay taxes in this town, me included, so it is a fine balance between having the best policies and programs for the kids and the teachers while keeping in mind the tax burden on the residents."

Synnott's son is a junior at Berlin High School and his daughter is a sophomore at UConn.

Since his retirement, Synnott has done some teaching at Central Connecticut State University and also works in two different jobs. He works for the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) as assistant director of unified sports, a program in partnership with the Special Olympics, which provides programs for middle and high school athletes. He also works for the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) in a cohort of retired principals who work with the administrators of high priority schools.

"I am working with the administration of a high school in Hartford and I love the inner city and the school has great administrators and a great principal, they are just having some issues with test scores and other things but it has been a great experience."

This Thursday, candidates who turn in the proper paperwork will find out their position on this November's ballot.

 


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