FAIRFIELD — Michael Testani’s commute is about to get a bit shorter, after he was employed by Fairfield Public Colleges to guide the district as superintendent.
The information comes simply greater than a month after Testani, who lives in Fairfield, signed a three-year contract extension with Bridgeport, the place he was serving as superintendent of colleges.
Fairfield Board of Schooling permitted Testani’s hiring with a 8-1 vote throughout a particular assembly on Wednesday.
Testani mentioned he was excited and honored to be Fairfield’s subsequent superintendent.
“I’ll serve this group effectively,” he mentioned on the assembly. “I’ll give 110 p.c of my efforts on behalf of all youngsters and households right here in Fairfield Public Colleges. I’m really blessed right here tonight.”
Vice Chair Nick Aysseh mentioned Testani would serve from Nov. 1, 2022 to Oct. 31, 2025 and the phrases of his employment shall be set in a written contract. He added that begin date could also be delayed by a couple of weeks.
“I’m thrilled to be again right here tonight to vote on our new superintendent,” Aysseh mentioned. “After I ran for my second time period, I didn’t suppose it will contain hiring one other one. That being mentioned, I’m extraordinarily optimistic and energized at what I consider Mr. Testani will carry to Fairfield Public Colleges.”
Aysseh mentioned he believes Fairfield college students, employees and households want a robust organizational chief to navigate the following 5 years — with its newly adopted district enchancment plan — and somebody who is aware of easy methods to handle a big district to take advantage of out of each greenback within the funds. He mentioned Testani match the invoice.
Testani will have the ability to assist the district consider present and future instructional initiatives, Aysseh mentioned, noting he was impressed with Testani’s interview.
“He believes in assembly the wants of each scholar, and dealing inside a accountable funds,” he mentioned. “He’s already a resident of Fairfield and invested in our group and the success of Fairfield Public Colleges.
BOE member Bonnie Rotelli mentioned Testani checked key bins throughout his interview with the board, together with demonstrating an actual ardour for the scholars he can be serving.
“Mike’s coming into this function with examined expertise, a powerful origin story and a vested curiosity as a Fairfield resident,” she mentioned.
BOE Chair Christine Vitale mentioned the board employed Cooperative Academic Service out of Trumbull to assist them conduct the superintendent search. The agency hosted focus teams and performed a survey to get suggestions from residents and develop an government profile that the board used to assist them within the search.
In an electronic mail, a consultant of CES mentioned Testani was chosen from a pool of 9 candidates from 4 states that included superintendents, central workplace personnel and school-level leaders.
Fairfield’s former superintendent Mike Cummings introduced in March that he was leaving the function on June 30 to take a part-time superintendent job in Pomfret. Since then, Stephen Tracey has served as interim superintendent, a publish he has held in Fairfield earlier than.
Cummings was employed in 2019 for the district’s high spot, beating out 22 different candidates to exchange former Superintendent Toni Jones. His contract was set to run out on June 30 of 2023. His wage in 2021 was $237,460.
Testani’s wage has not been launched but for Fairfield.
In Bridgeport, his new three-year contract, which was permitted in July, included assured raises in its second and third years. The vote got here after Testani agreed to forfeit three weeks of trip time and different advantages in alternate for stripping out a clause within the employment settlement that requires the superintendent to dwell throughout the metropolis limits.
In keeping with a duplicate of that contract obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media, Testani would have been paid a base wage of $275,000 and a $5,000 annuity contribution subsequent yr, matching his present compensation. He would have then been offered a 2 p.c increase within the second and third years of the settlement, which might have resulted in June 2025.
Bridgeport Board of Schooling Chair John Weldon mentioned Testani submitted his resignation instantly following the Fairfield vote. Weldon mentioned Testani’s final day shall be Nov. 23, per his contract.
“I’m upset to be dropping him,” he mentioned. “His institutional data from being with the district for the final 23 years is a major loss on the government stage and he leaves very large footwear to fill. Nevertheless, I’m additionally comfortable for him that he’s advancing in his profession and can acquire new expertise as Superintendent of Fairfield Public Colleges. I want him nothing however the perfect in his new function, and have mentioned that to him personally.”
Bridgeport’s faculty board is ready to create a search committee at its Monday assembly and begin the method to exchange Testani, Weldon mentioned.
“I’m hopeful that particular person shall be chosen by the point of Mr. Testani’s departure, although it’s possible they might not begin work for an additional three to 6 months afterward, as they must give their very own faculty system correct discover, possible 90 days,” Welon mentioned. “As soon as a successor’s begin date is thought, we’d deal with the difficulty of retaining somebody on an interim foundation.”