Tolland Board discusses adding second SATSA officer, directs superintendent to seek funding

The Tolland Board of Education on Sept. 24 discussed adding a second SATSA officer — a school security, attendance, truancy, school avoidance and homelessness position — and directed Superintendent Dr. Willett to look for funding sources, including multiyear grants, to support the role. The board did not vote to hire; members instead asked the superintendent to pursue options and return with details. Dr. Willett described the current SATSA officer as districtwide and said the position provides transportation for families in unstable housing situations, supports home visits and helps investigate truancy and residency questions. “This officer was used extensively last year and extensively this year for special transportations for students in a variety of situations, homelessness, but also, sometimes if we have a student who would require 40 or $50,000 transportation, for an outplacement or an expulsion or whatever, this is provided by our SATSA officer and it saves us much more than what we spend on that,” Dr. Willett said. Board members expressed broad support for an additional officer but raised questions about where ongoing funding would come from, given recent cutbacks to staff and programs. Trustee Brian and others asked whether a grant could fund the position for multiple years so the district would not incur an unsustainable recurring operating cost. Dr. Willett described the formal process he would use if the board directed him to proceed: he would complete a WFPA (within-fiscal-year position action) that includes identifying a funding source and return to the board with a request if a sustainable option is found. Several board members emphasized the officer’s non‑law‑enforcement functions, including accompanying social workers on visits, transporting families whose children are considered homeless and helping with Tier 3 truancy interventions. Trustee Jaden pressed for caseload context and whether current coverage limits SATSA effectiveness; Dr. Willett said expanding to two assignments split by grade band (K–5 and 6–12) would materially increase the district’s capacity for Tier 3 work. Board members also flagged potential downstream effects if an internally promoted employee filled the role and another vacancy had to be backfilled. The board asked Dr. Willett to seek multiyear funding opportunities — for example, grant sources — and report back; he said he would do so and that he would not hire a discretionary position without subsequent board approval. No formal hiring action or appropriation was approved at the meeting.