Montville — Monday morning marked the return to the classroom for students here. Here’s what students and their families should know about the town’s schools as the new academic year begins.

New Faces in the District

While some school districts in the area have struggled to retain their staff, Montville was not one of them. The district opened the year nearly fully staffed, Superintendent Laurie Pallin said, despite receiving two resignations over the summer.

“We are extremely pleased with the skills and expertise of our new employees, and our students will be greeted by enthusiastic and eager new staff members,” Pallin said.

Gregory Gwudz was hired in July to lead Leonard J. Tyl Middle School as its new principal alongside new assistant principal Marceline Dillon. Kenneth Daniewicz was hired to be the new assistant principal at the high school where he will work with new Athletic Director Timothy Dilweg.

Pallin added that the district also hired 23 certified teachers along with a number of paraprofessionals, classroom monitors, secretaries, technology staff members, and bus drivers. It is the first time in years the bus garage is fully staffed, she said.

Social-emotional learning

Pallin detailed how social-emotional learning (SEL) ― learning focused on mindset, attitudes and feelings ― will be enhanced throughout the district.

“All teachers will again be encouraged to align at least one of their two annual goals to their students’ social and emotional learning,” Pallin said.

Oakdale and Mohegan Elementary Schools will implement the RULER program to join Murphy Elementary, which began the program several years ago. RULER, developed by Yale University, is described as a systemic approach to SEL that focuses on recognizing emotions, understanding the causes and consequences of emotions, labeling emotions, expressing emotions in accordance with cultural norms and social context and regulating emotions with helpful strategies.

She said the middle school will implement the Second Step curriculum, which is a an approach to SEL that includes ways to learn outside of the classroom. At the high school, Pallin said substance abuse counseling is now offered four days a week at both the high school and middle school.

Increased Security Measures

Pallin said all schools will have armed security personnel at some point during this academic year. Currently, the Board of Education is working on the policy needed before the School Resource Officers (SROs) and School Safety Officers (SSOs) can be stationed in schools.

She said three Montville police officers will serve as SROs and join the existing staff of five SSOs.

The district has used grant funding to redesign the entrances to the high school and the Palmer Building, adding additional cameras and shatter-proof window-film will be installed with plans to improve the security of the door access systems.

Facility Renovations

Pallin said the district has worked with the Town Council to identify $8 million of school capital improvements. Thirty-year-old Tyl Middle School needs its original roof and boiler replaced as does the track and tennis courts at the high school.

On a smaller scale, Palmer School will have roof work done, Mohegan Elementary will have its windows replaced and Murphy Elementary will get a new fire alarm panel.

Residents will vote to approve funding for the projects in a referendum vote on Nov. 8.

k.arnold@theday.com