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STATE OF CONNECTICUT
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
December 24, 2024
Daniel P. Sullivan, III
Superintendent
Colchester Public Schools
127 Norwich Avenue, Suite 202
Colchester, CT 06415
Dear Superintendent Sullivan,
I am writing to confirm a stay of the Hayward Academy for Public Service (HAPS) magnet
school for school year (SY) 2025-26 based on the Colchester Board of Education’s (BOE)
decision at the special meeting on December 18, 2024 to postpone further action relative to the
HAPS magnet proposal until mid-January to allow for further community engagement. While we
support the Colchester BOE’s efforts to engage community input, the timing of the board’s
action poses a challenge for prospective applicants and, therefore, it is necessary to hold
implementation of the magnet school for SY 2025-26. The Connecticut State Department of
Education (CSDE) will discontinue any further messaging regarding HAPS as part of the current
application cycle for SY 2025-26.
The CSDE remains committed to working with Colchester to determine the appropriate next
steps for the HAPS magnet school opportunity and will look for a final position from the board
by March 31, 2025 in order to proceed with potential planning for SY 2026-27.
If you have any questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out to
Shola Freeman at 860-713-6532 or via email at Shola.Freeman@ct.gov.
Thank you for your continued cooperation and partnership.
Sincerely,
Keith M. Norton
Chief Strategic Planning Officer
SF:sf
cc: Charlene M. Russell-Tucker, Commissioner of Education, CSDE
Charles Hewes, Deputy Commissioner of Education, CSDE
Jessica Brunetti, Chief of Fiscal/Administrative Services, CSDE
P.O. BOX 2219 | HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06145
An Equal Opportunity Employer
Roger Persson, Chief of Fiscal /Administrative Services, CSDE
Ajit Gopalakrishnan, Chief Performance Officer, CSDE
Robin Colombo Cecere, Director of School Choice, CSDE
Shola Freeman, Bureau Chief, CSDE
Leah Greiner, Education Consultant, CSDE
Meliha Korkutovic, Education Service Specialist, CSDE
Kelly Mero, Education Consultant, CSDE
Kendra Shakir, Education Consultant, CSDE
David Twedt, Education Consultant, CSDE
Jessica Kuckel, Assistant Superintendent, CPS
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