Schools

Will Amity Board of Ed Honor Supt. John Brady?

Superintendent's support of the arts did not go unnoticed, yet some contest the recognition.

 

The Amity Board of Education recently discussed changing the name of the Amity High School auditorium to honor Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Brady who is retiring at the end of the school year.

Bethany First Selectman Derrylyn Gorski said that years ago, when her daughter was in high school, sports were the most important programs in the schools.

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“The schools didn’t do very much to support the arts,” Gorski said. “Dr. Brady really made a difference. Now a kid can choose the arts or sports, or both.”

Among the supporters, the Bethany Board of Selectmen voted in favor of renaming the auditorium the Dr. John J. Brady Center for the Performing Arts, but the five Orange members of the Amity Board of Ed rejected the idea and publicly stated they would not support it, according to a resident who attended to last Amity Board meeting.

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"They probably are protesting the fact that we are getting 'killed' on the Amity school budget," she said.

Supporters quickly penned and distributed a petition in favor of re-naming the auditorium to recognize Brady for his years of service, but mainly "re-establishing The Arts at Amity."

The petition is expected to be presented to the Amity Board at Monday's meeting, at which time they most likely will discuss and possibly vote on it.


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