Jack Testani brings a ‘holistic view’ to the Monroe Board of Education

MONROE, Conn. — Superintendent Joseph Kobza must make difficult choices, doing more with less in a climate of rising costs and a budget crunch going into next year. One proposal, unpopular among many parents, is to close the STEM Academy and move the eighth grade from Jockey Hollow to Masuk High School, so staff resources can be shared within the same building.

However, Jack Testani, who was recently appointed to finish fellow Republican and former chairman David Ferris‘ term on the Board of Education, supports the idea.

“With just that one change, the superintendent maintained close to $1 million in savings,” Testani said during a recent interview at Starbucks. “The path of least resistance is creating more efficiencies. Whether it’s on the municipal side or the Board of Education side.”

Testani said he wants to avoid eliminating programs by finding more efficiencies within school operations, along with more alternative sources of revenue. One of his suggestions is to see if Chromebooks could be donated by a local corporation and or if grants are available.

“As a supporter of education, I don’t want to see any programs, freshmen sports or any cuts to the existing allocation of funds,” Testani said. “My goal would very much be: is there a better or more efficient way to allocate the $2 million the first selectman gave to benefit everyone?”

Testani and his wife, Suzanne, have two grown sons, Alex, 35, and William, 30, and a total of five grandchildren. The couple moved to Monroe nearly two years ago, but not before Testani gained experience serving in several roles in municipal government while living in Trumbull and Fairfield.

In Trumbull, where the couple raised their children, Testani served on the Board of Finance, was chairman of the Police Commission and was elected to the Town Council.

Most recently, in Fairfield, then first selectwoman, Brenda Kupchick, asked Testani to run for the Board of Finance and he was elected to a six year term. But he did not finish it before moving to Monroe in October of 2024.

Through his connection with Monroe First Selectman Terry Rooney, Testani soon got back into public service.

“I’ve been a big supporter of Terry Rooney for years and we talked about my experience in municipal government,” Testani recalled. “In addition to my government experience, I have a bachelor of science degree in education from Central Connecticut State University.”

Testani, who grew up in Fairfield, had taught at Southington High School for a time before going into corporate sales, business development and training new employees. He is currently president of new business at ICON International Inc., a firm assisting businesses with media strategies and financial solutions. Testani has been with the company for 25 years.

Aside from having taught in Southington, Testani had taught a class of 15 students in a GED course at Trumbull High School. “It was a rewarding experience,” he said.

Getting involved

After Testani spoke to the first selectman about the open seat on the Monroe Board of Education, the Monroe Republican Town Committee’s Vacancy Committee interviewed Testani about his qualifications. Then the Monroe Town Council’s Legislative and Administrative Committee interviewed and recommended him to the entire council for a vote.

The Town Council unanimously approved of Testani’s appointment on Feb. 9.

“Jack Testani brings decades of experience in municipal government and is a great addition to the Board of Education,” Rooney said. “Jack has leadership experience in municipal finance and understands district challenges related to unfunded state mandates and the lack of State ECS funding that affects annual budgeting. His critical thinking and creativity in finding new ways to reduce financial burdens, while maintaining quality standards will be valuable in the Board of Education position.”

The formula for divvying up money from the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grant among municipalities has not been changed for 13 years. This is one of the issues Testani said he wants to look into.

“It has to be approached from a holistic perspective,” he said. “There has to be a reason why. We have to work with legislators and the governor to perhaps have an increase in Monroe’s share of the ECS and take any other grant opportunities there are to enhance the school budget.”

Testani said the main cost driver of the Board of Education budget is salaries and benefits, accounting for about 85 percent. When annual increases are factored in, he said it raises the entire town budget.

“The bottom line is you’re never going to make everybody happy, so in negotiations there has to be a line you won’t cross to make sure budgets are reasonable,” he said of working with the teachers union. “I’m still trying to figure out what that is. I’m still open to suggestions, but in the end I would vote for what I think the town overall will accomplish.”

As a new board member, Testani said he has been doing a lot of listening at meetings. “Educational responsibility is something I would want to develop as a board member,” he said.

Testani said he realizes the town’s budgetary constraints and wants to bring his background in municipal government and education, and his financial experience from the business world to the board. Chairman Dennis Condon recently appointed him to the school board’s Communication Committee.

“I agree with Terry Rooney’s goal of keeping Monroe affordable and taxes reasonable,” Testani said. “I would like to accomplish a better understanding of what the Board of Education is trying to accomplish with better communication.”

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