[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6083098,"mediaKeyId","2935374-76e84da89ed607a23d1b3fc2549a096e","parentId",2935374,"title","Board adopts FY‑26 budget, approves facilities and E‑rate contracts; policy moved to first read","audioSeconds",145,"startMs",4230000,"endMs",4375000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2935374-76e84da89ed607a23d1b3fc2549a096e&start=4230&end=4375","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2935374-76e84da89ed607a23d1b3fc2549a096e/thumbnail_4230000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6083098/Connecticut/Board-adopts-FY26-budget-approves-facilities-and-Erate-contracts-policy-moved-to-first-read","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083098-4a3ce33826257473b24c98ec7090ddcb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138128&Signature=GO8cqTioBHr7kPLth1gl0Y2u7kHf29cBIGr9eeJUZWmzlKZXy710ASgM~e8pQtMX2K3J7TooDgjjI0W~~KrEx4Mire0Qx37J1dcxBnUG37grAebuH8f-H79lKEmMRDTjQieRpdz8-NkOQoMlDSebS4htOuyhViOwTd-BR4iI1V3rQt2XnKcWAMW4h9PbjIoTjYvU44RuRdO563Ru0tk2D3068W73GXB1XUFtIXB5IC0I1TKCqrrcO6udFhmIOT46WGeuXZqlYV3F4NbIUlbJFq8jjQIYRj03PnVh9yP4IM6HMKF3mghCA5uEtEaleQYhy4O8pCFtvDwaooWvpnjYmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","East Hartford School District","date","2025-04-09T20:39:57.197Z","article","The East Hartford Board of Education approved multiple actions at its April 7, 2025 regular meeting, including adoption of the FY‑26 budget, facilities contracts and E‑rate procurements. Several items were approved on the consent calendar with motions and second, recorded without roll‑call tallies in the meeting transcript.

Budget adoption
Tia (district staff presenting the budget) reviewed the FY‑26 request and town action. The board’s original budget request approved in December 2024 was $105,408,828; the Town later approved $104,232,894, a $1.6 million increase over the prior year (a 1.66% increase), the staff summary showed. The board moved to adopt the Board of Education FY‑26 budget; the motion carried.

Facilities contracts and plan sign‑off
Director of facilities (Jim) presented two facilities items:
- Award contract authorization: the board approved awarding a contract to Diversity Construction Group LLC to perform East Hartford Middle School gym locker room renovations after a competitive bid process. Staff reported seven bids were received and that only the middle‑school scope could be funded within the available DECD funds; the selected contractor agreed to complete the middle‑school work within budget. The facilities committee reviewed and recommended the award.
- Plan review/sign‑off: the board approved sign‑off on form SCG‑42 for the Norris Elementary School roof replacement project (state project O430253RR) so the district can move the project into the Office of School Construction Grants & Review (OSCG&R) grant review and bidding process for the coming summer.

E‑rate procurements
The board approved two E‑rate RFP awards (cost‑only selection per E‑rate rules):
- Category 1 fiber services (E‑rate funding 90%): three‑year contract awarded to Crown Castle, total cost $504,252; district share (10%) $50,425.20.
- Category 2 wireless access points (E‑rate funding 85%): contract awarded to Wally Computers for 235 access points; project total $172,370; district share $25,855.

Consent calendar and other motions
The board approved the consent calendar for the meeting (items 6–30, 32 and 33 were included), and later approved a motion to move bylaw/policy 09/2021 (time, place and notice of meetings) to a first read; board members discussed starting regular board meetings no earlier than 6 p.m. and asked staff to explore virtual participation options.

Votes and procedure notes
Most motions were recorded as \"So moved\" and \"Second\" and the chair called for \"Aye\" and \"Ayes have it.\" The transcript does not record roll‑call tallies or named movers/seconders for the motions listed above. Where named presenters provided numbers (for example, contract totals or budget figures), those numbers are included above as provided by staff. No motion was recorded as failing or tabled in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","East Hartford Board of Education Meeting - April 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The East Hartford Board of Education approved the district FY‑26 budget, awarded a middle‑school locker room renovation contract, signed off on plans for Norris Elementary roof replacement, and authorized E‑rate fiber and wireless contracts; it also moved a policy on meeting time to first read.","taxTitle","East Hartford School District, School Districts, Connecticut","taxId",64386,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6083103,"Connecticut Science Center outlines ongoing partnerships, invites district to expand hands‑on STEM programming",504,1584000,2088000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2935374-76e84da89ed607a23d1b3fc2549a096e&start=1584&end=2088","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2935374-76e84da89ed607a23d1b3fc2549a096e/thumbnail_1584000.jpg","/articles/6083103/Connecticut/Connecticut-Science-Center-outlines-ongoing-partnerships-invites-district-to-expand-handson-STEM-programming","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083103-6f1bb3f261a7bf9f7b052f81cd6d5ea6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138128&Signature=R~Q5OwlWz59UKVt1jZPOrw~amrrkxpWfSJ1-oVvtL7HFFWMQlyPCTs1M75GVGzt5ctuKMBawBOl5aOLZwupNnt-jJ5ZLQpse2COYslD4X-c51O8CT903~AcbozDqGQSJOuDnuCyJyCYCtceq6tT6RjC6Dt5xvNfrUOYslWGVeJrvnmgPs1s~1o5GFgtuhrfsFS9-m0Sj4etA0vwr2QrJWp9t5amCGXPPRZUVpQfyTsaPcMthhTnkq5L9UShs2lYXUN7uffOlIN1VZ~Ncs8JlSmd9EVt5sCk19yIDvbk8bOUghu5AyKSdXqLEhsKVxLm545SLTZhsClmh3ITQWBczhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Patty Faulds, vice president of programs and visitor experience at the Connecticut Science Center, told the board the center runs both on‑site field trips and classroom outreach and works to align activities with district curriculum standards.

\"We have a commitment to lifelong learning with an investment in science,\" Faulds said, adding the center serves tens of thousands of schoolchildren statewide and already delivers programs to East Hartford students. She said the center has delivered 24 classroom programs for the district this school year and served about 1,600 students through those programs.

Faulds described teacher professional development, family weekend invitations for East Hartford families and an annual middle‑school field trip the center provides. She also highlighted an initiative called \"This Is What a Scientist Looks Like,\" intended to broaden students' sense of who can work in STEM fields.

Superintendent Anderson and board members discussed a plan to create a science lab experience that would allow elementary students to cycle through hands‑on stations, potentially using space behind the high school. Anderson said the district hopes to have that initiative kicked off by October and that the Science Center has been an \"instrumental\" partner in planning.

Faulds left informational materials and contact cards with the board and invited members to visit the Science Center.","The Science Center described current work with East Hartford schools serving thousands of students per year, professional development for teachers, outreach and plans to support an elementary science lab initiative.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6083107,"East Hartford reviews technology infrastructure, E‑rate projects and device inventory ahead of refresh cycle",678,2062000,2740000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2935374-76e84da89ed607a23d1b3fc2549a096e&start=2062&end=2740","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2935374-76e84da89ed607a23d1b3fc2549a096e/thumbnail_2062000.jpg","/articles/6083107/Connecticut/East-Hartford-reviews-technology-infrastructure-Erate-projects-and-device-inventory-ahead-of-refresh-cycle","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083107-359d74ed18f89012bb92f8d35b121e68/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138128&Signature=SoyX6mbdKxoZUXKTAbMM9sOv0S8ocjg25h3AeJA7j~AOXvquuSaI9Yy-waLe~-2nyTYbZqss-cF4x2u4sv~nYYVyHOsL2iW1ND~BZpa50fvc9wmXKD5cmWxbmf052waNs~v10vTExc1BjKVfp4GJqVwCgEcl8N05goFY6Ju9bLzdX8J8TO5wCbFufnhxexTfVNzXO-H742EXCljDBU9HCH2mCl7eom0r71GRMSjN8H82AwirQKJgbwuBE133QhmB1E5Gwv~SW7aH~tKYwvR22QJZZ9Ch7-lLkHGIVVoSS~ClYnlUFHaByCBREpFvhwFUZnXujKBXU18r9lblgrRRAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Roberta Pratt presented the district’s technology portfolio to the board, describing infrastructure, device totals and E‑rate-funded projects the district is pursuing to sustain classroom connectivity.

\"We really start with the infrastructure and the security, that's the most important thing,\" Pratt said, describing routers, servers, wiring and the district’s 42 miles of fiber. She told the board the district manages a large device inventory, that school displays and interactive boards are in every classroom, and that summer activities include collection, refurbishment and redeployment of devices.

Assistant network administrator Joe De Leon, who was recognized earlier in the meeting, summarized day‑to‑day responsibilities: \"It's basically making sure that you have network availability 24 7. The Wi Fi works when teachers come in in the morning. The phones work.\" Pratt added that the district turns over about 7,000 devices each year for inventory and deployment and expects to deliver 800 devices for summer programs and ESY services.

Pratt described two E‑rate contracts the board later approved: a three‑year fiber services contract with Crown Castle with a total cost of $504,252 (district share 10% = $50,425.20), and a wireless access point contract with Wally Computers for 235 access points at a total project cost of $172,370 (district share = $25,855). She told the board the fiber award was approved through the E‑rate cost‑only RFP process and that both projects are reimbursable under E‑rate rules.

Pratt said the district has been accepted to a federal cybersecurity pilot program and plans vulnerability testing after summer projects finish. She noted use of ARP funds to move capital projects forward and emphasized the need to plan for a future refresh cycle of servers, storage and student/staff devices when federal relief funding ends.

During questions, a board member asked whether E‑rate funding could be sustained long term; Pratt said her consultant had not reported plans to end USAC programs but acknowledged uncertainty in federal priorities. Pratt also told the board, \"I'm not going to be here next year. I'm not going to be here this summer,\" a staffing note she raised during the update.

The board later approved contract awards and motions related to the E‑rate projects during the consent portion of the meeting.","Technology staff outlined network, device and cybersecurity projects, E‑rate-funded fiber and wireless procurements, device counts and a planned infrastructure refresh; the district also noted staffing transitions.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6083113,"East Hartford expands Farm to School program with state grants, classroom and cafeteria growth",797,767000,1564000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2935374-76e84da89ed607a23d1b3fc2549a096e&start=767&end=1564","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2935374-76e84da89ed607a23d1b3fc2549a096e/thumbnail_767000.jpg","/articles/6083113/Connecticut/East-Hartford-expands-Farm-to-School-program-with-state-grants-classroom-and-cafeteria-growth","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083113-09896dd35c20f7ad0fe15cf5c74608de/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138128&Signature=HOVA2G9OAubF4DMCpWRmjp6VYbDnrQZ4XSdzUG4Olzy3mFG2T87v0lbmtRa3vneUbyWDkhvgvsep6V2~wsK0u2Ww4~U7Zxye3uyyd1i7Eccyb55urNtXoQLtzGTyYbmM8IWy4hlTRHlRDMcnue2DjDqaql7uuKeRn3Yg6RHEFMWgOB80KBVeUeJ~nFalwnYXNIY00bJbRXPEPn9Y~mhhaei2qB4ZP0yucjtc8~1QzZekRBMRfwMOQxJ7ALJzLzWwyZI3qJxOCjKYQ1pjn7s--Lsx0CxbU7gfry6hc~e36u-W2qbEPShfV9LEBhiYaTB91XhKLgL5N2BRFfPKC3S4WA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Carolyn Pankarowitz, a registered dietitian with Sodexo for East Hartford Public Schools, told the school board the Farm to School program aims to link cafeteria offerings, classroom education and community partnerships.

\"Our hope tonight for you is to learn a little bit more about what Farm to School actually is at a broad level and to learn about how East Hartford is implementing Farm to School throughout the district,\" Pankarowitz said.

The program began about a decade ago in East Hartford, Pankarowitz said, and has grown to include school gardens, FoodCorps partnerships and a newly funded farm-to-school coordinator position. District staff told the board the coordinator post and program activities are supported by two Connecticut Department of Agriculture grants amounting to just under $125,000.

Emma Fettridge, a FoodCorps member who works in the district, said farm-to-school instruction reached students across elementary and middle grades since July 2024. \"Since 07/01/2024 the East Hartford Farm to School team has taught 266 lessons to 1,137 students,\" Fettridge said.

The district described three existing outdoor gardens and plans to expand indoor and outdoor gardening at Pitkin Elementary, Woodland School and Sunset Ridge Middle School using a Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids grant. Students have also participated in taste tests in cafeterias; Farm to School staff said they completed 32 taste tests since last summer and have tripled the number of farm partners used by the district.

Student speaker Michael Atwater, a sixth grader at Sunset Ridge Middle School, described hands-on lessons in the garden. \"Farm to School in East Hartford Public Schools has provided me with new opportunities to learn about the joy of food,\" he said.

Partners outlined classroom and cafeteria strategies: FoodCorps-led lessons, field trips (for example, to a sugar house and to Bridal Family Farm), and a district plan to use grant funds for a bulk freezer to preserve local produce for year-round use. UConn researcher Kate Zonner summarized evaluation findings from district interviews, noting benefits that included increased student familiarity with fruits and vegetables, classroom engagement and connections to STEM learning.

Farm to School staff asked the community to support the program by volunteering, attending events such as a garden bucket sale at Goodwin Elementary on May 14, and following program social media channels. The presenters provided an email contact and thanked the board for time at the meeting.

District staff did not request formal board action on the Farm to School presentation at this meeting.","District staff and partners described expansion of gardens, classroom lessons and local purchasing funded in part by two Connecticut Department of Agriculture grants totaling about $125,000 and by a Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids award.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board adopts FY‑26 budget, approves facilities and E‑rate contracts; policy moved to first read

Connecticut Science Center outlines ongoing partnerships, invites district to expand hands‑on STEM programming

East Hartford reviews technology infrastructure, E‑rate projects and device inventory ahead of refresh cycle

East Hartford expands Farm to School program with state grants, classroom and cafeteria growth