District’s Technology Director Resigns

By Jeff White

Henryk Michnowicz, the director of information technologies for the Newtown school district, has resigned, effective Friday, March 10.

Mr Michnowicz has been hired by an area banking institution to help setup a virtual banking infrastructure, Superintendent of Schools John Reed said this week.

Mr Michnowicz came to Newtown in 1994 after working for a brokerage house in Boston. He brought with him an expertise in networks, taking the lead in the development of the school district’s comprehensive technology network.

Since his arrival, Mr Michnowicz—along with fellow technology supervisors Steve Stevens, Carmella Amodeo, Colleen Cox and Steve Dawson—has elevated the school system’s technology capabilities to levels that have won recognition from the state’s Department of Education. Connecticut’s education authority cited Newtown as one of two model school districts for technology implementation in the state last fall.

Currently, the technology team is in the middle of several projects, in addition to their constant monitoring of the district’s system. Most significant is the push to revamp old computers and place them into classrooms. The team is currently stockpiling old 486 computers at the middle school, and installing special hardware that will enable the used computers to run as fast as today’s high tech models. 

Dr Reed said this week that school officials have met with the technology team—specifically Mrs Amodeo, who is acting operations manager—to develop a list of priorities that the district wants “wrapped up” by Mr Michnowicz’s departure.

Dr Reed said that the district is already reviewing applications to fill Mr Michnowicz position. As of Wednesday, he has received 13 resumes, with the hopes of doubling that number before making a final decision.

Mr Michnowicz’s departure leaves the technology team operating at half strength, with three positions currently unfilled, including once vacancy created by a leave of absence. Dr Reed said that he did not feel any programs or service would suffer immediately due to the lack of personnel in the technology department, and that he hoped Mr Michnowicz’s position would be filled in the next 30 days.

Mr Michnowicz could not be reached for comment this week.

The superintendent late Wednesday recognized the efforts and services Mr Michnowicz gave the district in bringing its technology program to levels other towns envy. “Certainly he has been the person who has helped us,” Dr Reed remarked. “A major part of his job was to help us make the right decisions, and I think that he has done that. It’s very hard to look out over the horizon and see what’s coming in technology, [and] a part of his job [was to] have that kind of understanding.”