State names receiver

HARTFORD and WINSTED — Robert Travaglini has been named as the receiver for Winchester Public Schools by Commissioner of Education Dianna Wentzel. The appointment was announced in a press release sent by the State Department of Education on Saturday, Aug. 1.

Travaglini will oversee the day-to-day operations of the school district and will assume all rights and duties of the Winchester Board of Education.

According to the press release, Travaglini holds a bachelor’s degree in clinical psychology and music performance education from San Francisco State University. He has earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Central Connecticut State University and a sixth-year diploma in executive leadership from the University of Connecticut. 

Travaglini has served as the senior director for the state’s TIME Collaborative, which included working with several Alliance Districts throughout the state.

In 2012, as part of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s education reform initiatives, the Winchester school district was identified as an Alliance District, being one of the lowest performing districts in the state. Travaglini has also served as a former director of music for Torrington High School.

In an interview on Monday, Aug. 3, Kelly Donnelly, director of communications for the state’s Department of Education, said that the state is still in the process of working out a transition plan in order for Travaglini to assume his duties.

“The state state said he had to be appointed by Aug. 1, but it did not say when a receiver was going to take power,” Donnelly said. “Travaglini will have an office in Winsted, but we are not sure where yet. We’re assuming that it will be at the school district’s central office.”

Donnelly added that Travaglini will have a series of meetings with the public, but nothing has been scheduled.

Travaglini could not be reached for comment for this story.

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