Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Votes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves minutes, personnel report, student liaison and multiple finance change orders
Summary
The New Haven Board of Education voted to approve minutes, accept personnel changes including retirements, adopt a student liaison proposal and authorize several finance change orders, including expanded payment authority for snow-removal invoices.
The New Haven Board of Education voted to approve several routine and substantive items in a meeting that included public comment, committee reports and debate over contractor performance.
The board approved the minutes for Feb. 24, 2025, and Feb. 28, 2025. It also approved the superintendent’s personnel report, which the superintendent highlighted included retirements of long-serving staff members.
The board voted to adopt a student culture and climate liaison proposal submitted by student representatives and supported by the superintendent and governance committee. The motion was moved by Dr. Benitez and seconded by Sarah Downer; the board voted in favor and the motion passed.
On finance and operations items, the board approved a package of items including one memorandum of understanding, one agreement, two amendments, two purchase orders and a change order (listed in board materials as 8.06/807). Later the board approved a separate set of change orders (8.01 through 8.05). During discussion of the second set, members raised concerns about snow- and ice-removal performance during recent storms. The board approved raising the not-to-exceed threshold for snow-removal invoices to allow payment of vendor invoices up to the new limit without further board action; the board’s roll-call vote on that motion recorded Ms. Downer voting no and one member absent; other members voted yes and the motion carried.
Votes at a glance - Approve minutes (02/24/2025): approved (roll-call; unanimous among members present) - Approve minutes (02/28/2025): approved (roll-call; unanimous among members present) - Approve superintendent personnel report (includes retirements): approved (several yes votes; two abstentions recorded during the roll call) - Approve student culture and climate liaison proposal (motion by Dr. Benitez): approved (roll-call; majority yes) - Approve finance package including MOU, agreement, amendments, purchase orders and change order 8.06/807: approved (roll-call; majority yes) - Approve change orders 8.01–8.05 and adjust snow-removal not-to-exceed threshold to permit payment of invoices up to the new limit: approved (roll-call; Ms. Downer voted no; one member absent; motion carries)
The superintendent and staff noted they will pursue contractual remedies where vendor work was not completed to satisfaction. The board’s approvals expand the district’s ability to pay invoices up to newly authorized thresholds while staff pursue follow-up and legal review where service gaps occurred.
Ending: The board closed with committee reports and announced upcoming meetings and events.
