[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6202339,"mediaKeyId","3787441-9eed5bb8335313e6c1e6b311e91c9354","parentId",3787441,"title","Anna Reynolds renovation wraps up; John Wallace project set to begin, officials say","audioSeconds",261,"startMs",4617000,"endMs",4878000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3787441-9eed5bb8335313e6c1e6b311e91c9354&start=4617&end=4878","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3787441-9eed5bb8335313e6c1e6b311e91c9354/thumbnail_4617000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6202339/Connecticut/Anna-Reynolds-renovation-wraps-up-John-Wallace-project-set-to-begin-officials-say","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6202339-94dc9a398306809b8c8e04be6d6f1092/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135938&Signature=KjqitRYY30qMLmINyOg79exSRZ5ICO5nXcSL~dbrxdPmUmLeTZGEBoy5nIp0E8g~wGVGUJvfEdOMiOVwmQQVNW7L0NbYDLpNEoCnFYmjF6DQeCocJ3OqUygmTvClsDjwYqDXaPyvpIPjZU0X35LCotHsvHhvquHztYNXoCqSXTbEsOsb5-1U1sfFmYkPML~D~1Cb66owzZ6DlMyCCDfjkKuJVsQ78z6ZTTbBoSPAI6Qls9f4b4y9g6MmckRVKESwSbrPP1v56t8orgriunznDMqc6tL45XfSCYUfF~iH5L25-3Vfd-Rbtujh1aEXEAJ1rc9XAL0tNkqjt~ebZan~1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-13T00:24:27.24Z","article","The Anna Reynolds Elementary renovation is nearing final commissioning and the John Wallace project is set to begin this summer, building committee chair Steven Woods told the Newington Board of Education on June 11.

Woods said contractors are finishing air‑conditioning and heating adjustments at Anna Reynolds and that commissioning should be complete within days. He credited careful project management and contingency planning with restoring items that had been previously value-engineered out of the project while staying substantially under earlier worst-case cost scenarios.

Woods listed items restored or added back to the Anna Reynolds project: a new front canopy (roughly $250,000 including design fees), a courtyard playground (about $130,000), additional computers and displays (roughly $55,000 in computers and $67,000 in ViewSonic screens), courtyard landscaping and a new infield system for a softball field ($80,000), security lighting ($30,000), and other furniture and equipment—totaling approximately $800,000 in additional features funded from contingency savings and contract efficiencies.

He described a major construction challenge in one classroom wing where an unexpectedly poor slab required an innovative ‘floating floor’ solution that reduced remediation estimates from roughly $1.5–$2 million to under $250,000. Woods thanked the construction manager (Newfield Construction), the district business office and custodial staff for coordination on an occupied‑building renovation.

Woods said John Wallace’s project is a simpler scope with rooftop HVAC units and that it is starting under budget; he estimated an 18‑month timeline for completion and said the committee expects to begin heavy work after school is out for the summer. The committee reported it had leveraged earlier savings and avoided major value engineering on the Wallace project.

Board members and administrators praised committee members, construction managers and district staff. The board did not take a formal vote; the update was informational. Woods also recognized longtime Business Manager Lou for his role in project oversight as Lou prepares to retire.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","NPS BOE Meeting - (6/11/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","Building committee chair Steven Woods told the board that the Anna Reynolds renovation is nearing commissioning and that the committee was able to restore multiple value-engineered items; John Wallace work will start this summer and is currently under budget.","taxTitle","Newington School District, School Districts, Connecticut","taxId",51980,"location","Connecticut","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6202342,"Board approves 35¢ lunch price increase after district warns program could lose $150,000 without action",3483,7711000,11194000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3787441-9eed5bb8335313e6c1e6b311e91c9354&start=7711&end=11194","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3787441-9eed5bb8335313e6c1e6b311e91c9354/thumbnail_7711000.jpg","/articles/6202342/Connecticut/Board-approves-35-lunch-price-increase-after-district-warns-program-could-lose-150000-without-action","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6202342-5cc5efa7a50f30df05675257d64947a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135938&Signature=IRQyRk2vwR0aOdyYFdUzR-ORi3elC~kc8qJJzdGm47PfyB9fCtdfTLkmjBtRBeH-t-zQPetW16ImQdWI1zEP55cjclR4Sgn1hWT0krXU~F-qzDKUw82wwTFlOOXTHl6xW4JWcVy6lOJ9aOiriKazkbKavT7OIirFHemIMoUM-TplZBUK1icdnlUg5km3~o6~aKsSZVum7yhcI39V5pkt6Mgkypi1~ZTh4efaaT2WjpaE2Ku9wdmTY-7m8Eac~2d44hSkb1734BaLrsJc-FP38y8SNDZz5at2SMXrFdeYSQUqs4dEynyT4DBOuMzGW6H824pOpoB87~S5Ud6JytbuBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newington Board of Education voted on June 11 to increase paid school lunch prices by 35¢ for the 2025–26 school year, after Food and Nutrition Services Director Dana (last name not provided) told the board the program faces substantial revenue declines since federal universal meal funding ended.

Dana told the board the program is projecting an annual operating shortfall of roughly $150,000 if paid prices remain unchanged and that a 35¢ increase would generate about $63,000 in additional revenue. She said participation dropped sharply when universal free meals ended and the district is serving roughly 5,340 fewer paid lunches per day compared with the universal period, reducing federal and state reimbursement dollars tied to participation.

“Additional funding ended 06/30/2023,” Dana said during her presentation, citing the loss of pandemic-era reimbursements. She also described the statutory requirement in Section 205 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 to minimize the price gap between paid and free-reimbursed meals; the district’s paid/pricing gap was 79¢ at middle and high school and $1.29 at elementary schools as presented.

Dana presented three price scenarios — 25¢, 35¢ and 50¢ increases — and recommended 50¢ as the option most likely to maintain a fully self-supporting program and avoid another immediate increase the next year. Board members discussed trade-offs between austerity for families and preserving the program’s cash reserves; Business Manager Lou (surname not stated) explained that the lunch operation has reserves remaining from the pandemic period but that allowing reserves to deplete would leave the program vulnerable if equipment fails or participation falls further.

Board member Timothy Newton moved the 35¢ increase and the board approved the motion by roll call. Recorded responses during the roll call in the meeting transcript show multiple members voted in favor while Board member Anastasia Yap voted no; the motion carried.

The board also heard that no student would be denied a meal: Superintendent Bramlett (name as stated in the meeting record) said the district will continue to ensure meals for children in need. Dana said the district will continue free breakfast for reduced-eligible students, work with local farms where practicable and pursue grants when available. She listed menu expansions already introduced — plant-based options, teriyaki salmon and local produce partnerships — and said the program will continue outreach to families with unpaid lunch balances (about $5,600 on the books at the time of the meeting).

Board members asked for additional data on food waste and menu acceptance and suggested the district pursue local-farm partnerships and grant opportunities to offset costs. The board’s action sets new lunch prices for the coming school year; administrators and staff will monitor participation and finances and report back if further changes are required.

Speakers quoted or named in the meeting included Dana (Food and Nutrition Services director), Business Manager Lou, and Board member Timothy Newton (mover).","The Newington Board of Education voted to raise paid lunch prices by 35¢ for 2025–26 after the district's food services director said rising costs and the end of pandemic-era reimbursements left the lunch program projecting a $150,000 shortfall without a price increase.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6202347,"Elizabeth Green forms parent equity team to address achievement and discipline gaps",223,3537000,3760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3787441-9eed5bb8335313e6c1e6b311e91c9354&start=3537&end=3760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3787441-9eed5bb8335313e6c1e6b311e91c9354/thumbnail_3537000.jpg","/articles/6202347/Connecticut/Elizabeth-Green-forms-parent-equity-team-to-address-achievement-and-discipline-gaps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6202347-f1983d014c9ced26cc441d30de2baf67/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135938&Signature=JvKhYPRLTtxRGL0TSeLvf3h4z0Rxg7ce-dl5EHqhuyBhXGAuVLi47hG4MgpD5dWErd1HWZDnD1JG7mIZQcxz1BCKLqoL8yHGvEiov33OTPrfbIkKaH-OxGjZSYhQn7n4whaRX8sfvcBZecCJBqZE2rz6Rd3UXbUOZpZxRLtWiaQQzsLWuellf311yevCN7Ej1Jyvx2DEtCc3HesnEeLwCLUFE24QQf9RLDu7p9Umj0VCXkQbcnKzR0a4680npKASHjmY-TCeJq1X1RCoSs68-2he3FfqTgVAByeu3ywczezlPwBens6qu-fVHgZ2I48p49IQKLoJ5iNul5BDfRxMcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Principal Ryan Duran told the Newington Board of Education on June 11 that Elizabeth Green Elementary School has formed a parent equity team that meets roughly every six weeks to advise staff on attendance, discipline and instructional engagement for all students.

Duran said he created the committee after analyzing school data showing a widening gap in reading and attendance between white students and students of color. “I started thinking, what can we do to address this?” he told the board, describing an inclusive team of parents, staff and upper‑grade students who meet to surface barriers and recommend classroom and family supports.

Parent Kate Dwyer described why she joined: “I wanted to be reinforced not only to my children, but to all the children in this community that it does not matter where you’re from. You are all important,” she said. Dwyer said the group’s conversations have been “vulnerable” and have helped the school turn parent suggestions into classroom-level practices.

Another parent, Betsy Ruiz, said the effort helps families better understand how the school supports diverse learners. “Having these honest conversations — the stereotypes and assumptions I’ve made — that was the important piece for me to participate,” Ruiz said, noting the team’s role in outreach around cultural events and student leadership activities.

Duran said the team has already broadened participation and produced practical next steps: parent-to-parent communication, advisory conversations with upper-elementary students, and follow-up to improve attendance and classroom engagement. He said two parent members will continue similar work with other neighborhood schools next year and that the team will expand as interest grows.

No board action was required. Board members praised the initiative and asked Duran to return with periodic reports on results. The principal said the team will prioritize student voice, parent outreach and targeted classroom supports and will coordinate with central office staff in the coming school year.

Speakers and administrators presented this as a standing, school-level advisory body intended to strengthen family engagement and reduce disparities in outcomes across student groups.","Elizabeth Green Elementary principal and parents described a new parent equity team that brings families, staff and students together to address attendance, discipline and achievement gaps; the committee will meet regularly and broaden parent engagement in school planning.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Anna Reynolds renovation wraps up; John Wallace project set to begin, officials say

Board approves 35¢ lunch price increase after district warns program could lose $150,000 without action

Elizabeth Green forms parent equity team to address achievement and discipline gaps