At a special meeting July 20, 2025, the Western Connecticut Board of Education authorized the acting superintendent to appoint an impartial hearing officer as needed for the 2025–26 school year to preside over due-process hearings regarding residency, expulsion and special education.

Tina, a district staff member, told the board the appointment is an annual administrative action intended to ensure the district can quickly engage an impartial hearing officer if a hearing is required before the start of the school year. "Just quickly, the purpose of this meeting as we do every year, this is an annual meeting for us to appoint an impartial hearing officer in the event that we need, to engage our hearing officer in any situations, in the district," she said.

A board member read a motion that would "authorize the acting superintendent and or superintendent to appoint an impartial hearing officer as needed for the 2025, 2026 school year to provide due process hearings regarding residency, expulsion, and special education in accordance with applicable state and federal regulations." Another board member seconded the motion. The board approved the motion by voice vote; the transcript records all present replying "aye," and no opposing votes were recorded.

The board did not specify a named individual at the meeting; the motion delegates authority to the acting superintendent or superintendent to make appointments on an as-needed basis. No additional details on selection criteria, contract terms or compensation for the hearing officer were provided in the meeting record.

With no other agenda items, the board adjourned after the vote.