The South Windsor Board of Education welcomed Miguel Proano as its ninth member following the resignation of Eleia Poma. Proano assumed his position on Monday, Sept. 16.
Proano was originally drawn to South Windsor for its school system. In 2018, he and his family packed up their life in Manchester and set out for a new adventure. In searching for a new place to call “Home”, they “had explored other schools, other communities, other towns explored magnet schools, and then it ultimately came down to South Windsor,” Proano explained.
The deciding factor for Proano’s move to South Windsor was the town’s exceptional school system, which he described as “a no-brainer”.
Proano first ran for the Board of Education in 2019, coming in as the runner-up after a strong campaign. This year, following Poma’s resignation, the Board needed to fill the open seat and looked no further than Proano to take on the role.
The Board of Education has remained an incredibly unified group who all, despite their party affiliation, have the same goal in preserving the curriculum of South Windsor Schools while also keeping in mind various issues that a large school district has. Proano states he didn’t “go into it with the mindset of something needs to be fixed”.
In an interview with The Prowl, Proano discussed his approach to addressing challenges within the community and schools as a board member. Rather than seeking to fix specific issues, he emphasized the importance of supporting the existing system.
“What are the challenges /current concerns with our system, and how can I as an individual board member, and we as a collective board, support the school system and administration?” Proano commented.
According to CT Insider, in the past nine years, the South Windsor School District population has risen by 21.6 % each year and is estimated to grow another 12.4% by the end of 2033. One of the growing concerns within the South Windsor Board of Education is the rapid expansion within the schools. Despite the continued increased growth, Proano states that “one of the things I support and will continue to advocate for is the success of our curriculum and the success of our school system in spite of such growing numbers.”
Proano has an eleven year old daughter and an eight year old daughter, who both attend South Windsor Schools. One thing that sets him apart is his involvement within both the school system and community. One of Proano’s main goals is to “make sure the educational success of every family in South Windsor is represented” since his family is also directly impacted by the South Windsor School District.
Proano can best be described as a down-to-earth, genuine person making him a promising addition to the Board.
