Menzo says he’ll focus on Wallingford 100 goal

As published in the Record Journal Wednesday January 9, 2013

By Eric Vo
Record-Journal staff

WALLINGFORD - In an effort to bring more businesses to town, School Superintendent Salvatore Menzo spoke with the Economic Development Commission on Monday night about the school system and what he hopes to accomplish in the future.

“Education is an important part to the community,” said Joseph Mirra, chairman of the commission. “Businesses are always asking about the education system.”

Menzo said the school system is focusing on the “Wallingford 100” project, an initiative to achieve a 100-percent high school graduation rate.

“If our students aren’t graduating high school, there’s a likelihood of community violence and community crime; less likely for students to vote; less likely students will be able to afford health insurance and less likely for students to be productive citizens,” Menzo said. “With that 100 percent graduation rate, it increases the likelihood that Wallingford grows economically.”

High school students now need to complete 23 credits in order to graduate. Like most school systems, students spend a set amount of time in a class on one subject and move on to the next class.

Menzo said he wants to get rid of that system and make high schools more “project based.” Students would engage in authentic learning, including internships with businesses, so they would be better prepared for life after graduation.

“When you get to work, you don’t work in 42-minute segments,” he said. “Every 42 minutes, a bell doesn’t ring and you move onto another cubicle.”

One opportunity involves Holo-Krome, a local manufacturing company, where students can become interns and learn about that line of work. The internship not only provides students with hands-on experience, but it also allows them to see what is available to them if they don’t go to college, Mirra said.

“There’s a lot of good things in Wallingford: local government, low taxes and a good education,” said Mark Gingras, a commission member. “We need to be able to tell this (to businesses).”