The Norwalk School District Policy Committee completed a third reading Thursday of a draft fundraising regulation, with members saying the document is close to final and laying out steps for implementation.

Chairman Carpio opened the discussion by telling committee members they would "review and possible action on the fundraising regulation. This is our 3rd read through." Ralph Valenzizi, a member of the Board of Education cabinet, summarized edits made after a second PTA survey and conversations with PTOC representatives, saying the district removed language that could be read as requiring PTAs to "sponsor" outside crowdfunding and clarified that "any fundraising group must apply in writing to central office and receive prior approval before starting any crowdfunding." Valenzizi said the regulation will include an exemption list that the district will review annually and that the district plans to implement the regulation for the 2025–26 school year, using the summer to train PTOC representatives and finalize a submission form.

The committee discussed the exemption list — a catalog of recurring events that would not require additional approvals — and agreed to present that list to the PTOC over the summer for any final edits. Members said common events such as school dances, fun runs, trunk-or-treat, teacher-appreciation events, school stores and typical sales would remain on the exemption list. Valenzizi said the district will provide an annual reporting mechanism so parent organizations can either upload a tax form or use an online form to document fundraising activity and receipts.

Committee members raised a specific concern about a sentence in the draft that would require offering "healthy foods" at school activities. Mary Ellen Flaherty Ludwig, a board member, and others said the policy must be workable in practice because many fundraising events sell items that are not classified as healthy. Valenzizi responded that the health-and-wellness policy requires healthy choices unless an exemption applies, and that the exemption list would cover typical fundraising instances such as concession stands and off-site sales.

The committee also said the PTOC is reorganizing; Valenzizi said he will attend PTOC meetings during the summer to demonstrate the approval form and to streamline communication. He described the planned reporting tool as an online form that will accept attachments to avoid duplicative paperwork.

No formal vote on the fundraising regulation was recorded in the transcript. Committee members indicated the regulation is ready to be presented to the full board once the PTOC review and the summer training are complete; Valenzizi said the committee would bring any final exemption-list changes back in August.