Superintendent Danielle Belizzi presented Wallingford Public Schools' annual report for the 2024'25 school year at the Sept. 29 board meeting, highlighting stronger grant activity, workforce development programs and graduation statistics that reflect state reporting changes.

Belizzi said the district accepted more than $91,543 in donations during 2024'25 and secured 11 competitive grants totaling just over $1 million, up from seven the prior year. She summarized highlights from district priorities (academic growth, wellness, staff development and community partnerships) and pointed to an expanded focus on workforce development and career pathways: internships, job shadows, ASTE paid placements and apprenticeship training are now reported in the annual document as required by state guidance.

Belizzi presented graduation rates for the class of 2024: Lyman Hall at 90.3% and Sheehan at 94.0%. Board members and staff explained those figures reflect, in part, a larger number of students who remain in school for transition services (the state's extended transition age increased in recent years), and that those students may receive diplomas after additional transition years; they therefore temporarily reduce the traditional four‑year graduation rate in the state report. Staff also noted other factors cited in the meeting: some students leave to pursue work or small businesses before completing a diploma, some enroll in adult education programs, and COVID-era disruptions affected cohorts that appear in recent graduation statistics.

The annual report also summarized personnel and retention data. For the 2023'24 school year the district reported an overall teacher retention rate of about 92.8% (teachers who remained employed in the district and in education), versus a statewide figure cited around 93.2% for the same period. The report listed hiring activity (26 new teachers and one new principal in the prior year) and enumerated collective bargaining and contract activity across several staff groups during the year.

Belizzi and other presenters summarized maintenance and capital work completed in 2024'25, including renovations that allowed the district's adult education program to occupy new Fort Fairfield space, tennis court replacements at both high schools and boiler replacements at several buildings; technology purchases cited in the report included teacher laptops, Chromebooks and interactive displays.

Board discussion included questions about underlying causes for any changes in graduation rates and the district's use of grants to support special education and trauma‑informed supports. Special education staff said the district was awarded a Special Education Expansion Grant (roughly $279,627 cited at the meeting) and a codified learner engagement and attendance program grant (about $150,000) to support attendance and outreach teams. Staff said one grant will be used to purchase wheelchair‑accessible playground equipment and sensory playground improvements for two schools and to support other special education services; another grant is designed to sustain family outreach and attendance supports earlier codified by the state.

Superintendent Belizzi said the district filed the annual report with the mayor's office and town hall ahead of the statutory deadline and that the document will be available to the public.

Sources: Superintendent Belizzi's presentation of the Wallingford Public Schools annual report at the Sept. 29 meeting and remarks from special education staff and board members.