Board adopts FY‑26 budget, approves facilities and E‑rate contracts; policy moved to first read

The East Hartford Board of Education approved multiple actions at its April 7, 2025 regular meeting, including adoption of the FY‑26 budget, facilities contracts and E‑rate procurements. Several items were approved on the consent calendar with motions and second, recorded without roll‑call tallies in the meeting transcript.

Budget adoption Tia (district staff presenting the budget) reviewed the FY‑26 request and town action. The board’s original budget request approved in December 2024 was $105,408,828; the Town later approved $104,232,894, a $1.6 million increase over the prior year (a 1.66% increase), the staff summary showed. The board moved to adopt the Board of Education FY‑26 budget; the motion carried.

Facilities contracts and plan sign‑off Director of facilities (Jim) presented two facilities items: - Award contract authorization: the board approved awarding a contract to Diversity Construction Group LLC to perform East Hartford Middle School gym locker room renovations after a competitive bid process. Staff reported seven bids were received and that only the middle‑school scope could be funded within the available DECD funds; the selected contractor agreed to complete the middle‑school work within budget. The facilities committee reviewed and recommended the award. - Plan review/sign‑off: the board approved sign‑off on form SCG‑42 for the Norris Elementary School roof replacement project (state project O430253RR) so the district can move the project into the Office of School Construction Grants & Review (OSCG&R) grant review and bidding process for the coming summer.

E‑rate procurements The board approved two E‑rate RFP awards (cost‑only selection per E‑rate rules): - Category 1 fiber services (E‑rate funding 90%): three‑year contract awarded to Crown Castle, total cost $504,252; district share (10%) $50,425.20. - Category 2 wireless access points (E‑rate funding 85%): contract awarded to Wally Computers for 235 access points; project total $172,370; district share $25,855.

Consent calendar and other motions The board approved the consent calendar for the meeting (items 6–30, 32 and 33 were included), and later approved a motion to move bylaw/policy 09/2021 (time, place and notice of meetings) to a first read; board members discussed starting regular board meetings no earlier than 6 p.m. and asked staff to explore virtual participation options.

Votes and procedure notes Most motions were recorded as "So moved" and "Second" and the chair called for "Aye" and "Ayes have it." The transcript does not record roll‑call tallies or named movers/seconders for the motions listed above. Where named presenters provided numbers (for example, contract totals or budget figures), those numbers are included above as provided by staff. No motion was recorded as failing or tabled in the transcript.