How the Board of Education put results over politics
When two Republicans, including the chair, suddenly resigned from the eight-member Greenwich Board of Education (BOE) a few weeks ago, the last-minute vacancies just before the start of school threatened to reopen the kind of partisan dispute that has surrounded previous BOE vacancies. Instead, under acting chair Sophie Koven, a Democrat, the six remaining members came together to establish a bipartisan transparent process for filling the two vacancies before the Board’s fall schedule began—prioritizing the needs of Greenwich students and schools.
Turning disruption into collaboration
The circumstances were anything but ideal when the Republican members announced their immediate resignations without the customary notice or transition period provided for major municipal roles. In public governance, sudden gaps in leadership often create chaos. But as acting chair, Koven recognized that her primary obligation was clear: exercise leadership, honor her fiduciary responsibility, and ensure the Board fulfilled its legal duty to return to full strength without unnecessary delay.
Resolved to avoid partisan friction, Sophie took a collaborative approach. The remaining board members — four Democrats and two Republicans — developed a plan to accept letters of interest and résumés, review submissions, interview candidates and vote on appointments. The timeline and selection process were publicly discussed and approved unanimously.
The timing added another challenge. Board members interrupted summer schedules to hold four extra meetings in two weeks, at a time when the board doesn’t normally meet at all. By August 31, just over three weeks after the resignations became effective, the six remaining members voted unanimously for two highly qualified Republican appointees with experience in areas including law, construction, facilities, and procurement. The new board members were able to attend the first official board meeting of the year on September 3, only 27 days after the prior Republican board members resigned.
“It was very smooth and I think we ended up with excellent members,” reflected Republican BOE member Paul Cappialli. “I want to thank you specifically,” he said to Ms. Koven, “and Karen (Krause), as well as the rest of the team…”
A bluprint for good governance
This process did more than just fill two empty seats on a dais. It re-established a blueprint for how local government should function. When the process is fair and transparent, political tension gives way to consensus.
Now, with a full, bipartisan Board back in place, our community can look forward with confidence to what truly matters: supporting students and strengthening our local schools. Sophie Koven and the Board deserve immense credit for guiding us through a difficult turn and putting our kids and community first.
The 25th Anniversary of September 11
We remember.
We remember the strip of burnt earth outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania; the twisted, smoking fuselage beside the Pentagon; and the plume of carnage shrouding lower Manhattan.
3,000 lives taken. More since. Thousands more injured.
And the unimaginable grief.
We remember the courage, valor and heroism of the first responders and ordinary citizens who ran toward the horror to help.
And we remember the following hours and days when a nation came together. Strangers helped strangers. Communities drew close. An unspoken unity enveloped the country.
Twenty-five years later, remembering becomes a promise to honor those lost, support those who still carry the wounds, and defend the values our attackers sought to destroy.
Remembering calls us to strive to regain the precious national unity that lightened those dark days, to know we have more in common than that which divides us, and to understand we can peacefully disagree and still come to consensus together.
Twenty-five years ago, the world changed.
May our remembrance of that day and the ones that followed guide us toward a better future.
We remember.
What we’re reading
We were glad to see some good news for Connecticut electricity customers: the State Bond Commission has approved a second round of funding to help lower the public-benefits portion of residential electric bills through at least next spring, while the state works on a longer-term solution.
So far in 2026, average residential electric bills for Eversource and United Illuminating customers have fallen about 18%, thanks to lower public-benefits costs and reduced supply rates that took effect July 1.
As Gov. Ned Lamont put it, the state is taking an “all-of-the-above approach” to making electricity more affordable and reliable for Connecticut ratepayers.
Read more about Connecticut’s efforts to lower electricity bills.
Rising consumer costs are the subject of Selectwoman Rachel Khanna’s newsletter this week. Read it here.
Action Calendar
September 11. Remember.
Gather for 25th Anniversary Remembrance ceremonies honoring the victims of that fateful day when Greenwich lost 32 of its own:
- 8:30-10:30 a.m., Cos Cob Park, 22 Sound Shore Drive
- 6:30 p.m., Glenville Firehouse, 266 Glenville Road
September 11. Coffee with Khanna.
September 13. Campaign kickoff picnic.
For an afternoon of food, conversation, and community, meet local, state and federal leaders, connect with neighbors, and help us build critical momentum for the upcoming election. Click here to sign up and purchase tickets. 12 noon–3 p.m., Clambake Area, Greenwich Point Park, Old Greenwich.
September 15. Learn.
Volunteers wanted, no experience needed. Join us in our new headquarters to help elect our Democratic team. Click here to RSVP. We meet the same time and the same place every Tuesday: 4–7 p.m. at Campaign Headquarters, Venture X, 200 Pemberwick Road, 2nd Floor.
September 16. Celebrate.
Celebrate Mexican Independence Day at Town Hall with a flag raising and reception. 10:00 am, 101 Field Point Road
September 23. Learn.
Join a conversation with Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas to learn the latest on voting in Connecticut 4-5 p.m., Greenwich Town Hall Meeting Room.
September 23. Join us.
Greenwich Democrats meetings are open to all Democrats in town. Join us at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Meeting Room at Greenwich Town Hall Meeting Room, 101 Field Point Road.
| Volume 5, Number 11 • September 10, 2026 |
| Paid for by the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee. |
| Greenwich Democratic Town Committee P.O. Box 126 Greenwich, CT 06836 |