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Governor Lamont Announces Connecticut Interstate Fire Crew Deploys To Fight Wildfires in Montana [[link removed]]

Posted on August 8, 2023

Sixteen members of the Connecticut Interstate Fire Crew deployed from Marlborough to Montana early Tuesday morning on a mission to assist with wildfire response.

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(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that sixteen members of the Connecticut Interstate Fire Crew (CIFC) mobilized early this morning from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) Eastern District Headquarters in Marlborough to fight wildfires in Montana.

The crew represents the latest team of personnel and resources sent from Connecticut to assist with national and Canadian wildfire response. Their flight departed from Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks. During the multi-week deployment, the crew will primarily work in western Montana.

“Interstate compacts are critical in times of emergency, providing lifesaving resources to our friends in need when a crisis occurs,” Governor Lamont said. “The Connecticut Interstate Fire Crew is comprised of an amazing group of people who are dropping everything at a moment’s notice to travel hundreds of miles away and provide assistance. They embody the finest of what our small but mighty state offers. I thank them for their heroic service.”

“Our brave firefighters once again make Connecticut proud as they head far from home to help battle wildfires, this time in Montana’s Rocky Mountains,” DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said. “We are so grateful for their selfless courage as they take time away from friends and family. We wish them and all the responding firefighters well and look forward to their safe returns.”

The CIFC members who deployed include 12 people from Connecticut, among them three full-time DEEP staff members. The remainder of the crew is composed of volunteers from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York. A Connecticut crew member is also supervising the administrative and financial responsibilities for the deployment. The Connecticut firefighters deployed are from the following towns:

Cheshire Coventry East Berlin Enfield Lebanon Milford Norwich Stratford Tolland

DEEP’s Forestry Division coordinates the CIFC, for which it maintains a roster of agency staff members and private individuals, many associated with local fire departments, who have been certified to fight forest or wildfires. Crew members must complete a rigorous training program and participate in an annual physical work capacity test and refresher training. CIFC crewmembers have also assisted Canada in the provinces of Quebec [[link removed]] and Nova Scotia [[link removed]] this year.

Connecticut maintains this firefighting capability to participate in a reciprocal aid program operated by the U.S. Forest Service. Under this program, trained personnel from other parts of the nation are available to assist Connecticut in the event of a fire emergency or other natural disaster in return for the support of Connecticut personnel when needed. All state agency expenses directly associated with these deployments are 100% reimbursed to the state by the U.S. Forest Service.

For more information about the CIFC, visit [[link removed]].

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Governor Lamont and Commissioner Russell-Tucker Announce Expansion of Connecticut's Free School Meals Program [[link removed]]

Posted on August 7, 2023

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker today announced plans to expand Connecticut’s free school meals program for the 2023-2024 school year, enabling more students to receive access to nutritious breakfast and lunch at no additional cost to them or their families.

Under the plan, $16 million of funding the state received from the American Rescue Plan Act will be invested into the program. Funds will be utilized to support the provision of meals at no cost in the following ways:

All students in non-Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools participating in the federal School Breakfast Program (SBP) will be able to receive breakfast meals at no cost, including day students within residential childcare institutions. Approximately 114 districts participating in the SBP are eligible to receive this funding serving an estimated 177,243 eligible students. Students who are eligible for reduced-price meals in non-CEP schools participating in the federal National School Lunch Program (NSLP) will be able to receive lunch at no cost, including day students within residential childcare institutions. Approximately 128 districts participating in the NSLP are eligible to receive this funding, serving an estimated 13,197 eligible students.

The investment results from collaborative advocacy between the Governor’s Office, the Connecticut State Department of Education, legislative leaders, and strategic school nutrition partners.

“This investment ensures that each student begins their day with a nourishing meal, fostering learning and growth,” Governor Lamont said. “Additionally, removing the family portion of the cost of lunch for students eligible for reduced-price meals means more money in their pockets for other essential needs. By ensuring access to nutritious meals, we empower our students to excel academically and in all facets of life.”

“I commend Governor Lamont and our legislative leaders for placing priority on the continuation of free breakfast and school-lunch subsidies for Connecticut’s students,” Commissioner Russell-Tucker said. “Student health status, including physical health and student achievement, are directly connected. The research clearly shows that eating a nutritious and well-balanced breakfast improves concentration, alertness, and comprehension; results in fewer mistakes; assists with faster completion of math problems; results in better performance on standardized tests; and improves speed and memory on cognitive tests.”

Reimbursements to districts for meals served will be provided based on the approved eligibility status of each student – i.e., whether they quality for free, reduced-price, or paid meals.

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Governor Lamont and Commissioner Russell-Tucker Announce Recipients of School Mental Health Specialist Grants [[link removed]]

Posted on August 3, 2023

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker today announced the release of $15 million in funding for 72 school districts across Connecticut to support the hiring and retention of school mental health specialists for the 2024, 2025, and 2026 school years.

Awarded under the Connecticut State Department of Education’s School Mental Health Specialists Grant program, the grants for each district range from $25,150 to $120,000 in each of the first two years and 70% of that amount in the third year. The competitive grant program is utilizing funding the state received from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). This is the second of three rounds of grants aimed at increasing the number of mental health workers in schools that are being administered by the state using ARPA funding.

“Every child deserves essential support for behavioral health services, and through the release of these grants we are able to assist more school districts in hiring mental health workers,” Governor Lamont said. “Making these resources available in schools is a way we can easily and directly connect children and teens with the support they require.”

“The Connecticut State Department of Education is excited to unveil the new School Mental Health Specialists Grant program, which prioritizes our students’ well-being – a foundational element to student success,” Commissioner Russell-Tucker said. “This funding will enable schools to hire dedicated school mental health professionals, ensuring students have the vital support they need. With this investment we are building a safer, nurturing environment where students can excel academically, socially, emotionally, and physically. Together, let’s forge a stronger, healthier future.”

Grant awardees will be required to attend a training this month and complete the compliance documents for the use of ARPA funding. A notification for the training will be sent to the grant awardees.

Connecticut State Department of Education’s School Mental Health Specialist Grant Recipients for 2024, 2025 and 2026

Lead applicant

Award for 2024

Award for 2025

Award for 2026

Total grant award

Andover School District

$43,750

$43,750

$30,625

$118,125

Ansonia School District

$120,000

$120,000

$84,000

$324,000

Area Cooperative Educational Services

$120,000

$120,000

$84,000

$324,000

Bloomfield School District

$88,422.03

$88,422.03

$61,895.42

$238,739.48

Bozrah School District

$81,585

$81,585

$57,109.50

$220,279.50

Bristol School District

$60,000

$60,000

$42,000

$162,000

Canterbury School District

$59,517.91

$59,517.91

$41,662.53

$160,698.34

Canton School District

$40,000

$40,000

$28,000

$108,000

Cheshire School District

$60,000

$60,000

$42,000

$162,000

Columbia School District

$62,000

$62,000

$43,400

$167,400

Common Ground High School District

$88,562

$88,562

$61,993.40

$239,117.40

Coventry School District

$45,815

$45,815

$32,070.50

$123,700.50

Cromwell School District

$60,000

$60,000

$42,000

$162,000

Darien School District

$47,020

$47,020

$32,914

$126,954

East Haddam School District

$50,150

$50,150

$35,105

$135,405

East Lyme School District

$120,000

$120,000

$84,000

$324,000

East Windsor School District

$46,869

$46,869

$32,808.30

$126,546.30

Easton School District

$62,500

$62,500

$43,750

$168,750

Ellington School District

$120,000

$120,000

$84,000

$324,000

Fairfield School District

$60,000

$60,000

$42,000

$162,000

Granby School District

$120,000

$120,000

$84,000

$324,000

Great Oaks Charter School District

$90,732

$90,732

$63,512.40

$244,976.40

Groton School District

$86,000

$86,000

$60,200

$232,200

Highville Charter School District

$60,000

$60,000

$42,000

$162,000

Integrated Day Charter School District

$71,500

$71,500

$50,050

$193,050

Interdistrict School for Arts and Comm District

$110,337

$110,337

$77,235.90

$297,909.90

Jumoke Academy District

$120,000

$120,000

$84,000

$324,000

Killingly School District

$60,000

$60,000

$42,000

$162,000

Lebanon School District

$77,694.14

$77,694.14

$54,385.90

$209,774.18

Ledyard School District

$60,000

$60,000

$42,000

$162,000

Madison School District

$60,000

$60,000

$42,000

$162,000

Marlborough School District

$65,743.60

$65,743.60

$46,020.52

$177,507.72

Montville School District

$85,448

$85,448

$59,813.60

$230,709.60

New Hartford School District

$60,000

$60,000

$42,000

$162,000

Newington School District

$120,000

$120,000

$84,000

$324,000

Norwich Free Academy District

$49,406.50

$49,406.50

$34,584.55

$133,397.55

Old Saybrook School District

$70,012

$70,012

$49,008.40

$189,032.40

Orange School District

$92,505

$92,505

$64,753.50

$249,763.50

Plainfield School District

$60,000

$60,000

$42,000

$162,000

Preston School District

$51,800

$51,800

$36,260

$139,860

Putnam School District

$60,000

$60,000

$42,000

$162,000

Redding School District

$85,600

$85,600

$59,920

$231,120

Regional School District 05

$68,211

$68,211

$47,747.70

$184,169.70

Regional School District 06

$120,000

$120,000

$84,000

$324,000

Regional School District 10

$42,187.50

$42,187.50

$29,531.25

$113,906.25

Regional School District 13

$110,500

$110,500

$77,350

$298,350

Regional School District 14

$60,000

$60,000

$42,000

$162,000

Regional School District 19

$61,052

$61,052

$42,736.40

$164,840.40

Scotland School District

$89,000

$89,000

$62,300

$240,300

Shelton School District

$87,411

$87,411

$61,187.70

$236,009.70

Sherman School District

$71,789.86

$71,789.86

$50,252.90

$193,832.62

Simsbury School District

$120,000

$120,000

$84,000

$324,000

Sterling School District

$103,460

$103,460

$72,422

$279,342

Stonington School District

$42,500

$42,500

$29,750

$114,750

Stratford School District

$46,267

$46,267

$32,386.90

$124,920.90

Suffield School District

$67,664

$67,664

$47,364.80

$182,692.80

The Bridge Academy District

$60,000

$60,000

$42,000

$162,000

The Gilbert School District

$119,160

$119,160

$83,412

$321,732

The Woodstock Academy District

$60,000

$60,000

$42,000

$162,000

Thompson School District

$118,461

$118,461

$82,922.70

$319,844.70

Tolland School District

$61,256

$61,256

$42,879.20

$165,391.20

Vernon School District

$119,631

$119,631

$83,741.70

$323,003.70

Voluntown School District

$25,150

$25,150

$17,605

$67,905

Wallingford School District

$39,448

$39,448

$27,613.60

$106,509.60

Waterbury School District

$120,000

$120,000

$84,000

$324,000

Westbrook School District

$78,000

$78,000

$54,600

$210,600

Wethersfield School District

$120,000

$120,000

$84,000

$324,000

Willington School District

$80,373

$80,373

$56,261.10

$217,007.10

Wilton School District

$115,963.68

$115,963.68

$81,174.58

$313,101.94

Winchester School District

$70,000

$70,000

$49,000

$189,000

Windham School District

$60,000

$60,000

$42,000

$162,000

Windsor Locks School District

$60,000

$60,000

$42,000

$162,000

Read on CT.gov [[link removed]]

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