PJ Run for a Cause: a 5K March 28
Mansfield Public Schools is seeking input from community members and school families about the vision for the district’s five-year strategic plan update. The school district is undertaking the initiative to ensure its Mission, Vision, and Core Beliefs are still aligned with the needs of Mansfield students in long-term collaboration with the community.
The community-wide survey is important to school leaders because of the expansive partnerships Mansfield Schools enjoys. “The greater Mansfield community is critical to our District Development Plan,” says Superintendent Candace Morell. “The partnerships we maintain with our school families, UConn’s Neag School of Education and their future teachers, E.O. Smith High School, other Town departments who support our work, the volunteers of Bike Mansfield—all of these partners are invested in our students’ futures. We need to ensure all community voices are heard in how we can best serve our youth for optimal learning experiences to come,” she says.
District leaders invited teaching staff and paraprofessionals to invest a morning during recent professional development to evaluate what their goals are for Mansfield youth, what the knowledge, skills, character traits, and experiences students will need for their future, and what the district is doing to meet those needs. Lastly, the Mansfield classroom educators were asked to share what ways our schools could better prepare students for life. Select students at Mansfield Middle School and Mansfield Elementary School will participate in focus groups to also provide input on their experiences.
To reach school families and community members, Mansfield Public Schools has posted flyers and table tents with the survey link throughout Town, and will be circulating the survey through social media as well as in-person engagement with stakeholders. School leaders will be visiting the Mansfield Senior Center to share about the process.
The existing District Development Plan can be found at: https://www.mansfieldct.gov/1489/District-Development-Plans, along with Reports of Progress as presented to the Board of Education three times each year.
Assisting Mansfield Public Schools in this strategic plan update is Gabriela Stiteler, a senior associate with Great Schools Partnership, a nonprofit school-support organization that works with districts to redesign public education and improve learning for all students. After completing the stakeholder input phase, the district will begin to update the plan in cooperation with the Board of Education.
Mansfield Public Schools district leadership will complete the updated Development Plan in July, and present it to staff and the community for the school year 2026-27.
Mansfield Public Schools registration is now open for Mansfield resident families interested in enrolling their children for Kindergarten in the district for the 2026/27 school year.
Children who will be age 5 by September 1, 2026 are eligible to begin registration for Kindergarten at Mansfield Elementary School (MES). Families with children already attending the Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) program at Mansfield Elementary School do not need to register them again for Kindergarten.
This is the third year in Connecticut with the new age of eligibility that ensures students are age 5 by September 1 when school starts. “Five year olds are much better prepared, socially, emotionally, and developmentally to begin Kindergarten,” says MES Principal Kate McCoy. “Our data is proving that starting Kindergarten at age five is better for these young students in the long run. Five year olds are developmentally ready when they walk into Kindergarten,” she adds.
If a family believes that their child is ready to enter Kindergarten before the student is eligible under the state’s age guidelines, they may request a waiver. The waiver application must be completed by March 30, 2026 at 5 PM as part of the preregistration process. The waiver application is available on the Registration page of the district’s website.
Families with questions are also encouraged to reach out directly to the Mansfield Elementary School office at 860.423.1611.
Registration for Mansfield’s PreK Lottery will open April 1.
Dear Mansfield Families,
As I write this, I find myself reflecting on what a remarkable winter this has been! To date, our region has seen total seasonal snow accumulations exceeding thirty inches. Our students have embraced the winter weather, enjoying cross-country skiing and plenty of snow fun on our playgrounds. Many students have shared that they have never experienced this much snow before!
I am deeply appreciative of the collective efforts of our Town of Mansfield Facilities and Department of Public Works (DPW). Together, these teams have coordinated to move mountains of snow from our schools and ensure that roads are safe for bus travel. Attending to the needs of our community during significant snow events—such as the past two storms—is no easy task. Their tireless work allows our schools to open as soon as possible while keeping both staff and students safe.
In light of the recent multi-day closures, I want to share with our community the factors that guide these decisions. The choice to close school due to inclement weather is never made lightly, nor is it made independently. Because Ashford, Willington, and Mansfield all feed into our regional high school, we work collaboratively with these districts and other neighboring superintendents to ensure alignment. In addition, we rely on input from a variety of partners, including our contracted meteorologist, M&J Transportation, and the DPW.
The safety of Mansfield students and staff is our top priority. Road conditions play a significant role in our decision-making. Slick roads—particularly on back roads and hilly terrain—directly impact bus travel. When storms produce significant snowfall, such as the recent blizzard, DPW often requires additional time to properly clear side streets and ensure roads are navigable for buses.
Following the February 23rd blizzard, DPW crews worked more than 30 consecutive hours to keep roads passable. DPW and Mansfield’s Facilities Department are also responsible for clearing sidewalks and parking lots at our municipal and school facilities. While they made tremendous progress, school parking lots were not fully cleared until Tuesday morning. For example, Mansfield Elementary School requires a fleet of contracted trucks to remove accumulated snow. The sheer volume of snow from the blizzard required additional cleanup time, and without that work completed, bus travel would have been challenging at best.
The decision to close again on February 25th was based primarily on the timing and rate of snowfall. Snow was falling so quickly that road crews could not keep up, resulting in slick conditions throughout the morning commute window. Operating the three tiers of transportation for high school, middle school, and elementary school takes approximately 3.5 hours. Whether we ran on time or with a delay, transportation would have been significantly impacted. Our bus fleet cannot operate safely on snow-covered, icy roads, and we determined that conditions did not support safe travel for students and staff.
We understand that school closures can be disruptive for families. Please know that each situation is carefully evaluated with regional collaboration and real-time information from our partners. Ultimately, our responsibility is to ensure students and staff can travel to and from school safely.
In closing, “Think Spring!” In just four short weeks, we welcome the new season and all of the wonders it brings.
In Partnership,Candace Morell
Superintendent of Mansfield Public Schools
Mansfield Public Schools is seeking input from community members and school families about the vision for the district’s five-year strategic plan update. The school district is undertaking the initiative to ensure its Mission, Vision, and Core Beliefs are still aligned with the needs of Mansfield students in long-term collaboration with the community.
The community-wide survey is important to school leaders because of the expansive partnerships Mansfield Schools enjoys. “The greater Mansfield community is critical to our District Development Plan,” says Superintendent Candace Morell. “The partnerships we maintain with our school families, UConn’s Neag School of Education and their future teachers, E.O. Smith High School, other Town departments who support our work, the volunteers of Bike Mansfield—all of these partners are invested in our students’ futures. We need to ensure all community voices are heard in how we can best serve our youth for optimal learning experiences to come,” she says.
District leaders invited teaching staff and paraprofessionals to invest a morning during recent professional development to evaluate what their goals are for Mansfield youth, what the knowledge, skills, character traits, and experiences students will need for their future, and what the district is doing to meet those needs. Lastly, the Mansfield classroom educators were asked to share what ways our schools could better prepare students for life. Select students at Mansfield Middle School and Mansfield Elementary School will participate in focus groups to also provide input on their experiences.
To reach school families and community members, Mansfield Public Schools has posted flyers and table tents with the survey link throughout Town, and will be circulating the survey through social media as well as in-person engagement with stakeholders. School leaders will be visiting the Mansfield Senior Center to share about the process.
The existing District Development Plan can be found at: https://www.mansfieldct.gov/1489/District-Development-Plans, along with Reports of Progress as presented to the Board of Education three times each year.
Assisting Mansfield Public Schools in this strategic plan update is Gabriela Stiteler, a senior associate with Great Schools Partnership, a nonprofit school-support organization that works with districts to redesign public education and improve learning for all students. After completing the stakeholder input phase, the district will begin to update the plan in cooperation with the Board of Education.
Mansfield Public Schools district leadership will complete the updated Development Plan in July, and present it to staff and the community for the school year 2026-27.
Dear Mansfield Families,
As I write this, I find myself reflecting on what a remarkable winter this has been! To date, our region has seen total seasonal snow accumulations exceeding thirty inches. Our students have embraced the winter weather, enjoying cross-country skiing and plenty of snow fun on our playgrounds. Many students have shared that they have never experienced this much snow before!
I am deeply appreciative of the collective efforts of our Town of Mansfield Facilities and Department of Public Works (DPW). Together, these teams have coordinated to move mountains of snow from our schools and ensure that roads are safe for bus travel. Attending to the needs of our community during significant snow events—such as the past two storms—is no easy task. Their tireless work allows our schools to open as soon as possible while keeping both staff and students safe.
In light of the recent multi-day closures, I want to share with our community the factors that guide these decisions. The choice to close school due to inclement weather is never made lightly, nor is it made independently. Because Ashford, Willington, and Mansfield all feed into our regional high school, we work collaboratively with these districts and other neighboring superintendents to ensure alignment. In addition, we rely on input from a variety of partners, including our contracted meteorologist, M&J Transportation, and the DPW.
The safety of Mansfield students and staff is our top priority. Road conditions play a significant role in our decision-making. Slick roads—particularly on back roads and hilly terrain—directly impact bus travel. When storms produce significant snowfall, such as the recent blizzard, DPW often requires additional time to properly clear side streets and ensure roads are navigable for buses.
Following the February 23rd blizzard, DPW crews worked more than 30 consecutive hours to keep roads passable. DPW and Mansfield’s Facilities Department are also responsible for clearing sidewalks and parking lots at our municipal and school facilities. While they made tremendous progress, school parking lots were not fully cleared until Tuesday morning. For example, Mansfield Elementary School requires a fleet of contracted trucks to remove accumulated snow. The sheer volume of snow from the blizzard required additional cleanup time, and without that work completed, bus travel would have been challenging at best.
The decision to close again on February 25th was based primarily on the timing and rate of snowfall. Snow was falling so quickly that road crews could not keep up, resulting in slick conditions throughout the morning commute window. Operating the three tiers of transportation for high school, middle school, and elementary school takes approximately 3.5 hours. Whether we ran on time or with a delay, transportation would have been significantly impacted. Our bus fleet cannot operate safely on snow-covered, icy roads, and we determined that conditions did not support safe travel for students and staff.
We understand that school closures can be disruptive for families. Please know that each situation is carefully evaluated with regional collaboration and real-time information from our partners. Ultimately, our responsibility is to ensure students and staff can travel to and from school safely.
In closing, “Think Spring!” In just four short weeks, we welcome the new season and all of the wonders it brings.
In Partnership,Candace Morell
Superintendent of Mansfield Public Schools
Call for Artists: Mansfield Arts Advisory Committee Juried Exhibition
Mansfield, CT – The Town of Mansfield Arts Advisory Committee is pleased to announce a call for artists for its upcoming Juried Art Exhibition, which will be held from April 11 – May 30, 2026 at the Mansfield Community Center in Mansfield, CT.
This exhibition is open to artists aged 18 and older residing in Tolland and Windham counties. College and university students within these counties are also eligible to apply.
Both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) works will be considered for the exhibition. 3D works must not exceed 30 pounds in weight and should be no larger than 14 inches deep, 12 inches wide, and 24 inches high. For 2D works, the maximum size allowed is 18 inches by 24 inches, with a weight limit of 15 pounds. All 2D pieces must be framed, wired, and ready to hang upon submission.
Four awards will be presented in the juried exhibition, including first, second, and third place awards, which will be selected by the jurors. Additionally, a People’s Choice Award will be determined by public vote at the Mansfield Community Center.
Artists can apply either online or in person. For online applications, artists must register through the online portal using Activity Number #499000 – A for the Juried Art Show. Once registered, they will receive an email with a link to submit their application. If any issues arise with the submission link, artists should complete the form sent to them and email it to Artsadvisory@mansfieldct.org. Those who prefer to apply in person can register and fill out the application on-site. They must also provide photos of their submitted artwork, which can either be brought in person or emailed with details including the title, medium, and size of each piece.
The entry fee is $15 per artist and is non-refundable. Online registration includes a small convenience fee. Artists are also required to complete an Artist Consent Form, which is available on the back of the application and is preferably completed online. The submission deadline is Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
We encourage local artists to take advantage of this exciting opportunity to showcase their work and contribute to our vibrant creative community. For more information or any questions, please contact Artsadvisory@mansfieldct.org. Join us in celebrating local art!
Click here to make a donation to the Parks and Recreation Fund.
Our sincerest thanks to you for your generosity!
Click here to stay up to date with Town Council discussions related to Mansfield Parks & Rec and the Mansfield Community Center. Next meeting, Monday, November 23rd.
Click here to review the letter from Parks and Recreation Director, Curt Vincente, updating on the department services during the COVID-19 pandemic, and discussing Parks and Recreation Fund needs.
Click here to review the 2019-2020 Parks and Recreation Fund Issue Paper.
Limit of two (2) boxes (bank box sized) of books can be donated per household.
Please do not donate any textbooks, magazines, VHS or cassette tapes, or any items in bad/damaged condition (i.e. moldy, dusty, broken, incomplete). They will be thrown out.
The Friends of the Mansfield Library accept the following items:
For more information, visit the Friends of the Mansfield's website: friendsmansfieldlibraryct.org
ABCmouse is the most comprehensive early learning curriculum available online! With your FREE Family Account, you’ll have access for up to three children to more than 10,000 highly engaging Learning Activities, over 850 lessons, and much more.
Remote access is available to Mansfield library cardholders. Click here to access ABCmouse from home.
Free for all to use in the library. Click here to access ABCmouse from within the library.
Ready to garden? We have seeds for you! The Seed Library offers a variety of fruit, vegetable, herb & flower seeds.
The Mansfield Seed Library is now open! Stop on in and select some seeds. Try something new or select your favorites. Vegetable, herb and flower seeds are available. There are also “Pollinator Pathway” seeds available to help out our community pollinators.
Don’t forget we also have tools to check out for all your gardening needs! From soil testers and gardening hand tools to rakes and shovels we have all you need to help you get your garden started. We also have a canning set and food dehydrator to preserve your harvest.
Our mission is to help nurture a thriving community of gardeners and seed savers. In addition to providing access to free seeds, we hope to help support gardeners and seed savers, from beginner to expert, through the process of growing, harvesting, and seed saving.
For additional details call the Mansfield Public Library at 860-423-2501.
Please visit this link for a complete listing of road closures in the Storrs/Mansfield area. This sheet is updated for closures due to road repairs, downed trees or wires etc....During storms, this sheet is updated regularly so check in often.
The Town of Mansfield winter parking ban is now in effect beginning November 1st. Per Mansfield’s Motor Vehicle & Parking Ordinance, Section 182-3, “No motor vehicle shall be parked on any public highway under the jurisdiction of the Town of Mansfield, or in any area designated as a municipal parking area, between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m., from November 1 through April 15; or at all times when there is any accumulation of snow or ice on said highways or parking areas.”
This includes the on-street parking in Downtown Storrs including Storrs Road, Dog Lane, Elsie Marsh Way, Royce Circle and Wilbur Cross Way. On-street parking during winter storms must not impede traffic or snow removal. Cars that are found to violate the parking ban or impede plowing operations will be towed.
The Town of Mansfield Department of Public Works requests that bicycle owners refrain from leaving bicycles on sidewalks or the Town Square during snowstorms or overnight. The cooperation of motorists and cyclists will aid the Public Works staff in their efforts to maintain clear roadways and sidewalks through the winter.
If you have any questions, please call the Public Works Department's Administrative Office at 860-429-3331.
Mansfield Public Schools is seeking input from community members and school families about the vision for the district’s five-year strategic plan update. The school district is undertaking the initiative to ensure its Mission, Vision, and Core Beliefs are still aligned with the needs of Mansfield students in long-term collaboration with the community.
The community-wide survey is important to school leaders because of the expansive partnerships Mansfield Schools enjoys. “The greater Mansfield community is critical to our District Development Plan,” says Superintendent Candace Morell. “The partnerships we maintain with our school families, UConn’s Neag School of Education and their future teachers, E.O. Smith High School, other Town departments who support our work, the volunteers of Bike Mansfield—all of these partners are invested in our students’ futures. We need to ensure all community voices are heard in how we can best serve our youth for optimal learning experiences to come,” she says.
District leaders invited teaching staff and paraprofessionals to invest a morning during recent professional development to evaluate what their goals are for Mansfield youth, what the knowledge, skills, character traits, and experiences students will need for their future, and what the district is doing to meet those needs. Lastly, the Mansfield classroom educators were asked to share what ways our schools could better prepare students for life. Select students at Mansfield Middle School and Mansfield Elementary School will participate in focus groups to also provide input on their experiences.
To reach school families and community members, Mansfield Public Schools has posted flyers and table tents with the survey link throughout Town, and will be circulating the survey through social media as well as in-person engagement with stakeholders. School leaders will be visiting the Mansfield Senior Center to share about the process.
The existing District Development Plan can be found at: https://www.mansfieldct.gov/1489/District-Development-Plans, along with Reports of Progress as presented to the Board of Education three times each year.
Assisting Mansfield Public Schools in this strategic plan update is Gabriela Stiteler, a senior associate with Great Schools Partnership, a nonprofit school-support organization that works with districts to redesign public education and improve learning for all students. After completing the stakeholder input phase, the district will begin to draft changes to make updates to the plan, in cooperation with the Board of Education.
Mansfield Public Schools district leadership will complete the updated Development Plan in July, and present it to staff and the community for the school year 2026-27.
Dear Mansfield Families,
As I write this, I find myself reflecting on what a remarkable winter this has been! To date, our region has seen total seasonal snow accumulations exceeding thirty inches. Our students have embraced the winter weather, enjoying cross-country skiing and plenty of snow fun on our playgrounds. Many students have shared that they have never experienced this much snow before!
I am deeply appreciative of the collective efforts of our Town of Mansfield Facilities and Department of Public Works (DPW). Together, these teams have coordinated to move mountains of snow from our schools and ensure that roads are safe for bus travel. Attending to the needs of our community during significant snow events—such as the past two storms—is no easy task. Their tireless work allows our schools to open as soon as possible while keeping both staff and students safe.
In light of the recent multi-day closures, I want to share with our community the factors that guide these decisions. The choice to close school due to inclement weather is never made lightly, nor is it made independently. Because Ashford, Willington, and Mansfield all feed into our regional high school, we work collaboratively with these districts and other neighboring superintendents to ensure alignment. In addition, we rely on input from a variety of partners, including our contracted meteorologist, M&J Transportation, and the DPW.
The safety of Mansfield students and staff is our top priority. Road conditions play a significant role in our decision-making. Slick roads—particularly on back roads and hilly terrain—directly impact bus travel. When storms produce significant snowfall, such as the recent blizzard, DPW often requires additional time to properly clear side streets and ensure roads are navigable for buses.
Following the February 23rd blizzard, DPW crews worked more than 30 consecutive hours to keep roads passable. DPW and Mansfield’s Facilities Department are also responsible for clearing sidewalks and parking lots at our municipal and school facilities. While they made tremendous progress, school parking lots were not fully cleared until Tuesday morning. For example, Mansfield Elementary School requires a fleet of contracted trucks to remove accumulated snow. The sheer volume of snow from the blizzard required additional cleanup time, and without that work completed, bus travel would have been challenging at best.
The decision to close again on February 25th was based primarily on the timing and rate of snowfall. Snow was falling so quickly that road crews could not keep up, resulting in slick conditions throughout the morning commute window. Operating the three tiers of transportation for high school, middle school, and elementary school takes approximately 3.5 hours. Whether we ran on time or with a delay, transportation would have been significantly impacted. Our bus fleet cannot operate safely on snow-covered, icy roads, and we determined that conditions did not support safe travel for students and staff.
We understand that school closures can be disruptive for families. Please know that each situation is carefully evaluated with regional collaboration and real-time information from our partners. Ultimately, our responsibility is to ensure students and staff can travel to and from school safely.
In closing, “Think Spring!” In just four short weeks, we welcome the new season and all of the wonders it brings.
In Partnership,Candace Morell
Superintendent of Mansfield Public Schools
Mansfield Launches Initial Sessions Seeking Public Input on Facilities Planning for the Senior Center, Community Center, and Town Hall
The Town of Mansfield, in partnership with EDM Studio, will host a series of public engagement sessions to gather community input on the future of key municipal facilities, including the Mansfield Senior Center, Mansfield Community Center, and Audrey Beck Municipal Building (Town Hall).
The next public session will be held at the Mansfield Senior Center on Wednesday, March 25, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM. The Senior Center is located at 303 Maple Road. A subsequent session will be held the week of April 6 at the Mansfield Community Center, located at 10 South Eagleville Road.
The planning process is focused on evaluating long-term options for several key municipal facilities, including the future of the Municipal Services Campus – home to the Mansfield Community Center and Town Hall – as well as the Mansfield Senior Center. For the Audrey Beck Municipal Building (Town Hall), concepts under consideration include both renovation of the existing facility and potential replacement on its current site. For the Senior Center, options being explored include replacement at its current location or relocation to the Municipal Services Campus through a potential expansion and integration with the Community Center.
The Town of Mansfield is advancing its Municipal Services Campus Master Plan in partnership with EDM Studios, thanks in part to a $250,000 Community Investment Fund grant previously awarded to support this initiative. The campus, which currently includes the Audrey Beck Municipal Building (Town Hall) and the Mansfield Community Center on South Eagleville Road, is central to the town’s efforts to create modern, efficient, and accessible municipal facilities that meet the community’s needs now and in the future.
In addition to broader public engagement sessions, EDM Studios is conducting interviews and focus groups with Mansfield’s volunteer boards and commissions, including the Council on Aging, the Recreation Advisory Committee, and the Arts Advisory Committee. During the week of March 30, residents of Glen Ridge, Juniper Hill Village, and Rolling Hills will have the opportunity to share their input. Additional engagement opportunities are planned throughout the spring, including pop-up events and interactive tabling at community gatherings where residents naturally come together. Details about these opportunities will be shared as they are finalized, ensuring everyone has a chance to contribute to shaping the future of Mansfield’s municipal facilities.
“The in-depth stakeholder and community engagement phase of this Facilities Master Planning project underscores our commitment to meeting the needs of all our residents,” says Ryan Aylesworth, Mansfield Town Manager. “Ensuring our facilities promote the wellbeing of our aging residents remains a top priority, we are equally focused on designing facilities that serve people of every age—families, young adults, and future generations. This planning effort gives us the opportunity to imagine how our municipal spaces can best support our community ten, twenty, or more years from now. We sincerely hope residents will share their input, helping us shape a vision that benefits everyone and aligns strongly with the community’s values and long-term planning,” he adds.
EDM Studio was selected through a competitive process to help lead this work for Mansfield. Established in 1988, EDM Studio is an architecture and engineering design firm located in Unionville, CT. Their project experience includes designing multiple prestigious municipal, educational, and commercial campuses across New England.
For immediate release
POC: Ryan Aylesworth, (860) 429-3336, ext. 5
March 12, 2026
Town Manager Ryan Aylesworth will present his proposed budget for fiscal year (FY) 2026-27 to the Town Council on March 23 to lead off the budget development process for the Town of Mansfield.
The Mansfield Town Council’s schedule of budget review meetings for the fiscal year 2026/27 is available on the Town of Mansfield website at https://www.mansfieldct.gov/169/Budget-Information. All presentations and documents will be posted there through the budget review process. too.
Please note these important dates:
· Proposed Budget Presented at Regular Town Council Meeting
o March 23, 2026, 7:00 PM, Council Chambers, Audrey P. Beck Municipal Building
· Public Information Sessions on the Budget
o March 26, 2026, 6:00 PM, Council Chambers, Audrey P. Beck Municipal Building
o May 7, 2026, 6:00 PM, Council Chambers, Audrey P. Beck Municipal Building
· Public Hearing on the Proposed Budget
o April 6, 2026, 6:00 PM, virtual - Zoom
· Region #19 Budget Referendum
o May 5, 2026 – Polls are open from 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM. All Mansfield districts vote at the Audrey P. Beck Municipal Building.
· Annual Town Meeting
o May 12, 2026, 7:00 PM, Mansfield Middle School Auditorium
Bring your sensitive documents to the Transfer Station on Saturday, March 28, 2026 from 9 am to 12 pm. Documents will be shredded on site. The charge is $3.00 for a medium-sized box (12” x 10” x 17”) but it is fine to bring paper in bags or different sized boxes. We will charge accordingly. Please bring cash or checks. There is no limit on quantity.