Board approves multiple personnel and service contracts; truancy officer contract receives no action

The East Haven Board of Education on May 27 approved several personnel and service contract items and a one‑year extension with Sodexo for food services, and declined to act on a proposed secondary truancy officer contract pending more data and principal input.

Approved contracts

- Athletic trainer contract (2025–2028): The board approved a three‑year renewal for the athletic trainer with 3% annual salary increases and changes to fringe‑benefit cost‑sharing described in the contract documents. The vote was recorded as unanimous in roll call: Miss DePalma — yes; Mr. Hennessy — yes; Miss Johnson — yes; Miss Putney — yes; Miss Santiago — yes; Mr. Stacy — yes; Miss Torello — yes.

- Athletic facilitator contract (three years): The board approved a three‑year renewal that folds a vehicle stipend into salary (the district will provide van access), keeps a 3% annual salary increase and moves dental coverage to the district’s Essential Choice Dental Plan. Roll call: DePalma — yes; Hennessy — yes; Johnson — yes; Putney — yes; Santiago — yes; Stacy — yes; Torello — yes.

- Family Resource Center program assistant contract (one year) and Family Resource Center Family Advocate contract (one year): Both the program assistant and family advocate one‑year renewals were approved. On both votes the roll call was DePalma — yes; Hennessy — yes; Johnson — yes; Putney — yes; Santiago — yes; Stacy — yes; Torello — no. The board minutes show Torello voting no on both items; motions carried.

- Substitute and caregiver rates for 2025–26: The board approved higher pay rates for building substitutes and caregivers tied to the state minimum‑wage changes. The district will raise caregiver and substitute custodian rates to $18 per hour and increase daily pay for non‑certified building substitutes by $5. Roll call: DePalma — yes; Hennessy — yes; Johnson — yes; Putney — no; Santiago — yes; Stacy — yes; Torello — no. Motion carries.

- Congratulatory message for alumni Hall of Fame program: The board approved a half‑page congratulatory message in the Hall of Fame and Distinguished Graduate Award souvenir program at a cost of $30. Roll call: DePalma — yes; Hennessy — yes; Johnson — yes; Putney — yes; Santiago — yes; Stacy — yes; Torello — no.

- Sodexo food service contract extension (one year): The board voted to approve a one‑year extension of the Sodexo contract; the extension follows state review and includes a $90,000 guarantee in the vendor contract, which the presenter said protects the district if food‑service operating losses continue. Roll call: DePalma — yes; Hennessy — yes; Johnson — yes; Putney — yes; Santiago — yes; Stacy — yes; Torello — yes.

No action: Truancy officer contract

The proposed renewal of a secondary attendance/truancy officer contract generated the meeting’s most extensive debate. Board members raised competing points: some argued the district needs a focused attendance specialist at the secondary level because chronic absenteeism remains high (the board was presented with midyear chronic‑absence figures showing the high school at roughly 19% and the middle school near 15% through May 1, and individual elementary schools ranging higher in some cases). Other board members objected to adding or renewing the position while the district has reduced instructional coaches and other roles, or argued that elementary principals and building staff are already managing attendance work.

Following extended discussion, the board took no action on the truancy officer contract and asked administration to return with a year‑end chronic absenteeism self‑report, input from elementary principals about how attendance work is handled at each school, and recommendations for how a district‑level role should be structured to support all schools. The transcript shows the motion had been made and seconded but the board agreed to take no action at this meeting.

What the contracts change (high level)

Presenters described common contract changes across multiple personnel items: most renewals carry a 3% salary increase; the district is standardizing sick‑leave accrual so that certain year‑round positions accrue sick days monthly; the dental plan for several contracts will move to the district’s Essential Choice Dental Plan; and certain stipends (for travel) are being folded into salaries because district transportation (van access) is now available.

Next steps

For the truancy officer item, administration will return at a future meeting with the requested data and elementary principal input. Other approved contracts will be processed per the contracts presented; the Sodexo extension will be submitted to the state for final approval before June 30 as required.