Avon High Re-Accreditation Push Requires Calendar Tweak

AVON, CT — Avon High School students will have an abbreviated day later this month, a move being made in deference to what could be a long-term win for AHS.

Avon school officials are currently seeking re-accreditation with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), a Massachusetts-based accreditation agency that analyzes educational institutions throughout the area.

As a result, the Avon Board of Education Oct. 18 unanimously voted 8-0 to make Wednesday, Nov. 30, a half day to aid in the process with NEASC.

According to NEASC, Avon High's accreditation runs out in 2025.

The process for re-accreditation is lengthy and tedious, requiring action years in advance.

Avon Superintendent of Schools Bridget Carnemolla said at the last school board meeting that school officials knew this was necessary, adding a second day after the new year will also need to be reduced to a half day.

She said the lengthy re-accreditation process with NEASC is something school officials have been in the midst of for the last two years.

"Now we are into the year and we have to complete some additional work for the self-study that the high school does," Carnemolla said of the process.

She said a second half day will be required and it could be decided by the school board as soon as next month.

The added half day is only for the high school, she said.

Accreditation is seek as key to a school because it creates minimum standards of excellence for any institution of education.

Non-accredited schools are seen as being less in terms of quality than accredited schools.

For more information on NEASC and the accreditation process, click on this link.

For the minutes of the Oct. 18 Avon Board of Education meeting, click on this link.