Weston Board accepts donations, hires new principal, approves generator and discusses HVAC funding and school-climate policy

The Weston Board of Education conducted routine business at its March 17 meeting after an extended public-comment period. Board members approved several gifts and personnel actions, accepted the consent agenda, approved a financial update for February and authorized replacement of a failed backup generator at Weston Intermediate School.

Donations and gifts: The board accepted multiple PTO donations. Actions recorded in the meeting included acceptance of a $1,500 donation from the Weston Middle School PTO for an author visit; acceptance of two custom-logo entry rugs donated by the WISP PTO valued at $2,100; and formal approval of a $27,000 donation from the Weston Intermediate School PTO to create a WIS innovation lab in the former computer lab space. A later recognition item noted an additional $900 gift from WISP PTO for three school-distinction banners. All donation motions passed on voice votes.

Personnel and hiring: The board accepted resignations and a retirement notice in the consent agenda and approved four new hires. The board publicly acknowledged the upcoming retirement of Shelley McConnell at the end of the school year after 25 years of service supporting multilingual learners, and it approved the hiring of new staff including a Mandarin Chinese teacher and other support staff. Jennifer D'Amico was announced and approved as the next principal of Weston Intermediate School, effective July 1, 2025; D'Amico addressed the board after her selection.

Finance and operations: The board approved the February 2025 financial update on a motion moved and seconded during the meeting. Finance staff reported a projected deficit for fiscal 2025 but noted possible state-level reimbursements tied to legislative surplus distributions that could reduce the shortfall. Board members were briefed on fiscal 2026 budget adjustments: a $146,000 increase in salaries and benefits due to identified changes; reductions in pension and health-insurance costs ($35,000 and about $48,000 respectively); and a net reduction in special-education tuition expense of about $704,000 tied to students returning from out-of-district placements and an offsetting increase in settlement costs of $293,000 (net PPS reduction roughly $261,000).

Generator and capital projects: The board approved the recommended contract to replace the failed Weston Intermediate School backup generator. Tower Electric won the bid and the contract price reported in the meeting packet was $73,916, to be paid from a non-lapsing account. The motion to approve the generator purchase passed on a voice vote.

The board also discussed the North House (Hurlbut) HVAC project. Preliminary engineering guidance and industry estimates presented at the meeting put expected total project costs roughly between $2.0 million and $2.3 million, above the district’s current $1.7 million budget estimate. Staff said they will request design proposals and that, if funding is secured in time, the district could award construction contracts by January 2026 for a summer-2026 start; if not, the project could slip into fiscal 2027. Board members and finance staff said they were exploring funding paths including special appropriations and potential town support.

Policy: The board conducted a first read of a state-required safe-school-climate policy (the KAPE/KABE-recommended model referenced in the meeting) with forms that allow anonymous reporting. Board members discussed how the new policy consolidates existing bullying and related procedures and noted the policy is effective in Connecticut July 1, 2025; the board will consider a second read and vote next month.

What passed (selected votes at a glance): - Approval of minutes from Feb. 24, 2025 — motion passed (voice vote). - Approval of minutes from March 4, 2025 special meeting — motion passed; one board member abstained because they were not present for that meeting. - Acceptance of donation from Weston Middle School PTO ($1,500) — approved. - Acceptance of donation from WISP PTO ($2,100) — approved. - Acceptance of donation from Weston Intermediate School PTO ($27,000) — approved. - Acceptance of consent agenda (resignations, hires, retirement announcement) — approved. - Approval of February 2025 financial update — approved. - Approval of WIS backup generator bid to Tower Electric ($73,916) — approved.

Ending: The board set its next regular meeting for April 21, 2025, and staff said they will return with the second read of the safe-school-climate policy and a district action plan regarding antisemitic incidents.