Torrington school board appoints interim finance director

TORRINGTON – After acquiring more than $100 million in grants while serving as grants manager for the Board of Education for 12 years, Donna Labbe is stepping into a new role.

On Wednesday, the Board of Education appointed Labbe as interim director of finance. She has been helping fill the gap since Scott Petruzzelli left the position recently, Board Co-Chairman Edward Corey said. Labbe will fill the role until the end of the school year, when the board will hire someone on a permanent basis.

Corey said Labbe has the required credentials for the finance director position, knows the district and budget well, and came with an excellent recommendation from Superintendent Michael Wilson.

“Donna has been a key part of our finance and budgeting process for several years,” Corey said. “We on the board are familiar with her work and work ethic, and think she’ll do an outstanding job. We couldn’t be happier to have her in this new role.”

Labbe is certified to do finance with the state Department of Education, Wilson said. Before taking the grants manager position, she worked with other organizations in the city and has 20-plus years of experience. He said Labbe is always willing to help wherever she is needed and keeps students at the center of all her decisions.

“She’s amazing. We are very fortunate to have her in this position,” Wilson said. “She’s someone who’s the true definition of trust and integrity, and cares about all that she comes in contact with, and takes her job and her role very seriously.”

Labbe said the skills she developed as grants manager transfer easily to finance director, adding she is “thrilled” with the new role.

Before taking a position with Torrington public schools, she worked with EdAdvance on an early childhood grant. Through that effort, she linked with the city school system, working as a consultant and partner on grants that benefited young children. Labbe said her efforts in the Torrington community date back to 2006.

“It was a natural progression. I was managing the grants for over a decade, (acquired) over $100 million in grants in that period,” she said. “I honestly love to stretch a dollar and I love to help people, so the two just coalesce.”

Labbe noted the city district’s central office has a great team of professionals who have stepped up to ensure kids thrive.

“We have such a well-oiled machine,” she said.