Charter panel presses schools chief on board vacancy rules
Other Committee · Meeting of January 14, 2026
New Canaan charter panel flags a legal conflict over how fast school board vacancies must be filled. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Losi told the Charter Review Commission's "group one" subcommittee that the charter's 90-day window for the Board of Education to fill a vacant seat clashes with a state statute allowing only 30 days, after which the first selectman could make the appointment instead.
Losi said the district's attorneys advised following the 30-day rule during a recent vacancy despite the charter's longer deadline. The panel also debated draft language comparing elected and appointed boards, with Commissioner Joe warning the document was "beginning to adjudicate the case" in favor of appointments, while Commissioner Angela said she "tried to draft this so that it is neutral in tone." Data discussed showed roughly 75 percent of New Canaan's boards and commissions are appointed rather than elected.
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Source: the Other Committee meeting of January 14, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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