[{"_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",6225876,"mediaKeyId","3527376-f61aca757eab6619de78f4cd6d1f34d5","parentId",3527376,"title","Wethersfield Board approves $67.47 million operating budget; members flag lack of elementary school security guards","audioSeconds",349,"startMs",3511000,"endMs",3860000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3527376-f61aca757eab6619de78f4cd6d1f34d5&start=3511&end=3860","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3527376-f61aca757eab6619de78f4cd6d1f34d5/thumbnail_3511000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6225876/Connecticut/Wethersfield-Board-approves-6747-million-operating-budget-members-flag-lack-of-elementary-school-security-guards","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225876-dee7073939ca7e146b5b729a29ecd7d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770818543&Signature=hZkeyDa3pSLEhOKFboWdYbkbE43vXfutu46yTBv9vrthNfHq0KzhsS9nfxNDk3L-m7LW295ZEriGC0nOrWaspJW5l5aa3-FUVxqLFXi8NTBGrF-6FmKb1~wF57ocJXKABl5WoS4oUDV3hS2dxeOMGtimSl1Abir5UC0kd-msJBTPJUsfkR1bmX-9lNONTzWkV5jsFP5x758Le2NdmV-YRKbKUCUtki0~92t~EnFS4ll5ERgcD7a-gEUvRLMvf-B4hi0q-wWC0ZXktU5tB2zA7QaqWKTdSbZl9nBLquOL~JcBtcBCWLDH-435dYAQ8tQEJ1~f52AB6PLEciyiVfUjXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wethersfield School District","date","2025-05-27T15:07:45Z","article","The Wethersfield Board of Education on a motion approved an operating budget of $67,468,339 for the 2025–26 school year.

The board approved the budget after discussion about what the approved amount will and will not cover. Superintendent Michael Emmett told the board, “We certainly did not get everything we were looking for. However, we are able to save all of our positions, including the social work position.” He also said the district plans to use remaining funds to continue the ACAP program, roll out Agile Minds math for grades 7–12 and to “bring in a part time speech pathologist or a contract to provide speech and language services for our preschool” to start preschool support.

The budget vote followed several members’ objections that the town funding fell short on specific safety and staffing requests. “I am concerned that we were not able to get any security guards for our schools,” said Board member Marjorie during discussion, noting the district had sought security coverage for elementary schools in addition to existing coverage at the middle and high schools. Board member Matt and others framed the shortfall as part of broader local funding limitations and the town’s need to weigh taxpayer capacity; Matt said the town council “gave us what they felt was responsible” amid competing resident priorities.

Board discussion recapped other funding context: the board increased its overall request year over year but said most of the added dollars go to salary and benefits. Officials also cited structural constraints in state-level education funding and local tax-base limitations that reduced available town contributions. The superintendent and finance committee said the district will manage with the approved budget and hope to end the fiscal year with a surplus for later allocation.

The motion to approve the operating budget carried on a voice vote; board members present voted to approve and no recorded abstentions were noted.

Looking ahead, board members urged earlier engagement with town leaders in future budget cycles so school priorities (including personnel and safety requests) can be built into town deliberations sooner.

Notes: the board previewed other action items tied to the budget, including applications for grants that require town-council actions and a pending date (June 16) when the town council will set a referendum date tied to the school building project.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting - May 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Wethersfield Board of Education approved a $67,468,339 operating budget for the 2025–26 school year.","taxTitle","Wethersfield School District, School Districts, Connecticut","taxId",53310,"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},6225861,"Advisory school building committee reports grants work ahead of June 16 town council date",34,5310000,5344000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3527376-f61aca757eab6619de78f4cd6d1f34d5&start=5310&end=5344","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3527376-f61aca757eab6619de78f4cd6d1f34d5/thumbnail_5310000.jpg","/articles/6225861/Connecticut/Advisory-school-building-committee-reports-grants-work-ahead-of-June-16-town-council-date","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225861-746c40405c64c2fb6e2d3552e0db46a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770818543&Signature=hc8wr7sgA4vBS0KBGc6-HyVcKdVxTTnoI6suc2XvHezJyzw1V-X63ZQriaYCmw4ftm2BDmSFODGLT6Vk4xKxqLE18aGGtk-3PL2TwnRxPrM9MrqqhMEOKm4ByXzDmf2f22wp-xoDj2e7kBZCfKNKlF29-hh8IUdSskixnQn4kuVUHuHj25~zMLMp~y6SseHRgxJBYH0pOImaBZuV2-L-lvR3Sc-u3LsmWG53fGqbyuSuP0345OC7gys8FuKKVi8C88JNg1-ZpB3N1znc7UP5KJyUo~N-ikA11ccdXVTBLwv5anyC-LhxNoIXaOHvWtioPuixJksWpsXe2cv4RvZjnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wethersfield Board of Education received an update from the Advisory School Building Committee on the district’s school‑building work and related grant applications.

Committee member John reported that the town council approved motions that allow the superintendent to apply for grants tied to the school-building project and that “a lot of work [is] going into that, obviously, leading up to June 16, which is the big day where town council will set the referendum date.” The committee said grant application work is in progress and that the advisory committee will reconvene after the council sets the referendum date.

No formal board action was taken during the update; the item was presented as an informational report. The update framed the timing and dependencies for pursuing grant funds and for moving the project to the public referendum stage.","The board’s advisory school building committee said town-council approvals now allow the superintendent to apply for grants, and noted June 16 as a key date when the council will set the referendum date tied to the school building project.",{"_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},6225866,"Board approves Youth Voices Count survey for grades 7–12; presenters say data supports prevention grants",390,3980000,4370000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3527376-f61aca757eab6619de78f4cd6d1f34d5&start=3980&end=4370","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3527376-f61aca757eab6619de78f4cd6d1f34d5/thumbnail_3980000.jpg","/articles/6225866/Connecticut/Board-approves-Youth-Voices-Count-survey-for-grades-712-presenters-say-data-supports-prevention-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225866-a845ef981e14f0133c53ee680da9b809/orig.mp4?Expires=1770818543&Signature=WFVSllTC3Q9xYUO-nK8R-lVdKlDyl82WpHL5OBj2YYjRZLTOC3wgAzK42RAlEDrmgQFnvVVnQMQioGbH02ucb0kkeRNR79XvwGukPuB-w75HpUln4vxEG4wJxMdV-CBB6asmh3vY9qc7PaO~tfE5cLx7Y3qHSGuipG5Dn9I7amUQ8tyrPELiH62D9VTx558yXEiNV-c6Q8Glmfil~0vHcSYGvHwthGhZmzWhfjxaXc5CcMhgLUKkyVQvuiFzYlLhTvsBUHOGwMaN3g7gGu7o8PfsCNXREtqfqnTax6Vlw5I~gaRIsg8G~cClFrhxLbIQ4KUdeF8jqO~O4ieJ91Ltkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wethersfield Board of Education voted to administer the Youth Voices Count survey to students in grades 7–12 during the 2025–26 school year.

Carissa Peckrell, the town’s prevention coordinator, told the board the survey is grant funded and “provides really great data for us. It is a grant funded, survey that we give, but it also provides prevention efforts through the Drug Free Communities grant.” Bonnie Smith, who works with the survey program, said the Youth Voices Count is offered statewide and is used to help communities plan services: “Our survey, Youth Voices Count, is offered throughout the state of Connecticut and now West Virginia.”

Board members said they find the district‑level and longitudinal data helpful for understanding youth needs and for supporting grant applications. Trustees noted earlier survey cycles showed patterns (for example, a post‑2020 peak in anxiety and depression that has since moderated in aggregate data) and said the local results are useful for designing prevention and peer‑messaging programs.

The motion to approve administration of the Youth Voices Count survey passed by voice vote. School and town staff said they will share aggregate results with the board and community partners and will use the data to inform prevention programming and future grant proposals.","The board approved administering the Youth Voices Count survey for the 2025–26 school year for grades 7–12. Presenters from town prevention services said the grant‑funded survey supports local prevention planning and grant applications including Drug Free Communities funding.",{"_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},6225871,"Board approves sweeping set of new curricula and textbooks, adds definitions in health unit for clarity",928,4372000,5300000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3527376-f61aca757eab6619de78f4cd6d1f34d5&start=4372&end=5300","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3527376-f61aca757eab6619de78f4cd6d1f34d5/thumbnail_4372000.jpg","/articles/6225871/Connecticut/Board-approves-sweeping-set-of-new-curricula-and-textbooks-adds-definitions-in-health-unit-for-clarity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225871-25a599ad67f0eff97570ed80c09ecc5b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770818543&Signature=LK7ZKmTxDzBmiq9sC7W05dTbLQWn035DsjE-Px5BWKIxn7oqyFlWEQTZQmWJV73~r0bHu4t2~OU3kL0buWpR9B2LqLV5~wkINbmwF9kV9ZRIlV2QSmO1tLpIsCrxqqW~~86tqxIqGcDmb6uOw8GTAGMcUpBl4R1BJ1h~q5UaR0JjH2vGk3ReVCO2S9SWZ80OGcJpxP4KnhxWhwPdmaKLrXgSupCMSBZINQujwEzdIDakezoFdofexGHIQ3B44GQVGp8U14zxsDrySriQZQSfcgGslxEKgxmfqB362Yhq0IJ5H0MgDJkjtQHLPghkgfwdmkwpeCdGYkwCpzuidgxX7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wethersfield Board of Education approved an extensive slate of new curricula and textbook adoptions covering middle- and high-school courses, electives and early-college options.

The approvals included new health curricula for grades 6–8; anatomy and physiology; meteorology; multiple theater courses (theater and performing arts, Shakespearean studies, CCSU CETH 110 Introduction to Theater as an early-college option); advanced video production; video game development; electronic music production; conceptual crafts; French I at the middle‑school level aligned to year‑one expectations; general music; English language arts for grades 7 and 8; and several textbook adoptions including a CCSU personal-finance text, a UConn digital text for popular music and a textbook selected for AP U.S. Government and Politics.

Board members and curriculum staff described many of the new offerings as hands‑on and student‑driven. “I think it's self explanatory, but again, you know, it's hands on and a lot of fun,” a board member said about the new electives. The board also highlighted the district’s partnerships with Central Connecticut State University and UConn to offer early‑college courses and reduced-cost options for students.

During discussion of the health curriculum, a board member asked that definitions be added to Unit 3 (physical health and puberty) so parents and students share the same language. The board member noted requested definitions for terms including “cisgender,” “transgender,” “gender non‑binary,” “gender identity,” and “gender expansive” and said the change was intended to give parents clearer information and reduce ambiguity about classroom language.

All motions for curriculum and textbook adoption were approved by voice vote after committee review by the student programs and services committee. Several board members praised the breadth of offerings — especially technical and arts electives they said will increase student engagement and provide career‑relevant skills.

Staff noted that many of the courses are one‑semester electives and some carry early‑college credit through CCSU or UConn partnership programs. The board directed administrators to finalize scheduling and public information so families can review course descriptions and opt‑in where applicable.","The board approved a series of new high‑school and middle‑school courses and textbook adoptions, including health grades 6–8, anatomy and physiology, meteorology, theater programs, video production, video game development and music production. Board discussion added definitions of gender terms in the health curriculum to give parents clearer","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Wethersfield Board approves $67.47 million operating budget; members flag lack of elementary school security guards

Advisory school building committee reports grants work ahead of June 16 town council date

Board approves Youth Voices Count survey for grades 7–12; presenters say data supports prevention grants

Board approves sweeping set of new curricula and textbooks, adds definitions in health unit for clarity