Of the 20 meetings scheduled for the current academic year, two were canceled and a further two failed to field a quorum.

The board approved the meeting schedule for 2009-10. Patricia Perry, chair pro tem, noted that the number of meetings was cut back to 17.

Meanwhile, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Sippy thanked the voters who came out to support education in the May 6 referendum.

He said that the personnel changes reflected in the budget would be worked into the operating plan over the summer months to have everybody in place when the new school year opens.

Kindergarten enrollment continues to increase, he reported, and there may be a fourth section at Pomperaug Elementary School by fall. And speaking of which, the summer holidays will continue into September with first day of school on September 3.

Dr. Kenneth Paddyfote, Middlebury, gave thanks for the budget's loss in Middlebury by a mere 59 votes. "The best result ever in all eternity."

He thanked the professional groups who made concessions in order to bring in a budget with 1.11 per cent impact, and lamented the organizations "who sat back and did nothing."

Kathy Gatzendorfer, an eighth grade mom, spoke up in praise of the class "Grad" trip to Washington, D.C., a huge controversy earlier in the season.

She commented on its benefits to the children's appreciation of the country's history and tradition, bringing the history text books to life. She urged the board to re-instate a budget line for next year's eighth grade graduating class.

The big news of the night was announcement of the end-of-an-era resignation of Richard "Rich" Gusenburg, principal of Long Meadow School.

After 32 years of "devoted service" to the Region, he is particularly appreciated for his work on the building projects that culminated with Long Meadow Elementary School which is regarded, universally, as the jewel in the Region's crown.

Mr. Gusenburg was not at the board meeting, but his praises were sung and his leaving lamented. But, as he explained to Voices next day, he has served out the requisite number of years to qualify for retirement.

He is resigning from Region 15 but not retiring from education, and in the new academic year he will join Region 16 as assistant superintendent and interim business manager.

He will be working with his friend and Region 15 colleague James Agostine, former Pomperaug High School principal, who is now the Region 16 Superintendent of Schools.

Looking back to 1977 when he first joined Region 15, Mr. Gusenburg served as assistant principal and teacher at Pomperaug Elementary School.

That year, the building was so over-crowded that second grade classes were held on the third floor of the Town Hall, in the space now occupied by the Land Use departments.

For music and art classes, the children walked back to the elementary school, rain or shine or snow. During all of this, artist David Merrill was working on his two-storey-tall mural in the north lobby of the Town Hall, depicting Southbury memorabilia.

The Pomperaug High School building was under construction, and what is now Rochambeau was the town's high school, with 700 students.

In 1979, Mr. Gusenburg moved on as principal at Middlebury Elementary School.

Mrs. Perry, whose son was taught by Mr. Gusenburg in that Town Hall classroom and whose granddaughter is now a student at Long Meadow, paid tribute to his achievements as a builder.

Appropriately, one of his tasks at Region 16 will be to take the lead on building a new elementary school in Prospect.

Speaking of Long Meadow, he allowed to pride "in what we've done there. The environment is positive, the children are smiling, and the teachers are happy."

The board also paid tribute to the service of more than 40 years of Robert DeLong, who is also retiring as Custodian IV, Pomperaug High School.