Middletown board accepts budget vote results, approves $20M reserve and $45M capital plan; incumbents re-elected

The Middletown City School District Board of Education on May 21 accepted the results of the May 20, 2025 budget vote, approved two ballot propositions for capital funding and ratified the candidate-election results, the board said at its regularly scheduled meeting.

The board accepted the 2025–26 budget vote results — which the board said passed with about 77% approval — and approved Proposition 2, a $20,000,000, 20-year capital reserve, and Proposition 3, a $45,000,000 districtwide capital improvements plan. Assistant Superintendent for Business Mike Tuttle described Proposition 3 as covering bathroom and library renovations and certain turf fields at Twin Towers and said, because of financing and use of fund balance, the proposition is “net 0 to the taxpayer.”

Why it matters: the approved budget and capital measures fund operations and facilities work across the district. Board members and visiting officials emphasized that the capital work supports athletics and other programs that bring economic activity to the city; board members said prior partnerships with the city and county helped the district host large state athletic events.

Board action and related votes: the board repeatedly approved consent items and personnel and financial memoranda by voice vote. Multiple routine items — including personnel memoranda (22a, 22b, 22c), financial memorandum 22D (items 1–14), and special services memorandum 21E (IEP approvals) — passed unanimously at the meeting. The board also approved a change order credit of approximately $71,000 for work not performed on a project; district staff identified that work as relocating drain pipe, catch basins and removing a bench.

The board approved acceptance of the candidate-election results; the meeting record shows incumbents Pastor Williams and Mr. Bison were returned to the board and that Dr. Patricia DeJesus was elected to a seat vacated by Mitchell Williams, who chose not to run. The board noted elected members will be seated and oriented before their oath of office.

Mental-health services and other details: board members noted that financial memorandum approvals included an extension of an Orange County Mental Health Association satellite program in the district for another year; the extension was described as having proved valuable during recent months when the district experienced student losses and other traumatic events.

Policy votes: the board’s policy committee sought and the board approved waiving the first and second readings of recommended policies and then adopted a password-management and multifactor-authentication (MFA) policy and supplemental IT policies and procedures. The first reading waiver vote was recorded in the meeting as passing by voice vote (the committee chair indicated a 6–0 tally at that moment); the final adoption vote was recorded as passing by the full board after motion, second and voice votes.

Remarks and recognitions: the meeting included several recognitions and guest remarks. County Executive Steven Newhouse presented the district with an Orange County Certificate of Recognition, praising students and staff for community service and resilience. Newhouse and Middletown Mayor Joseph DeStefano both spoke in support of the district; Newhouse said he started a citizen recognition program “because there’s so much negativity” in the media and praised the district’s handling of recent challenges.

Procedural notes: routine agenda items — approving the agenda, minutes of May 8, and multiple personnel and financial memoranda — were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote; the meeting record shows those motions carried unanimously unless stated otherwise.

Votes at a glance - Approve meeting agenda: moved by Ms. DeVias; seconded by Mr. Perino; outcome: approved (voice vote recorded as 7–0). - Approve minutes, May 8, 2025: moved by Pastor Williams; seconded by Curtis Rhett; outcome: approved (7–0). - Personnel memorandum 22A #1 (retirement of Assistant Superintendent for Business Mike Tuttle): moved by Pastor Williams; seconded by Ms. Tobiason; outcome: approved (7–0). The board offered public thanks to Tuttle for his service and noted his role in the district’s strong bond rating. - Personnel memorandum 22B (items 1–6): moved by Pastor Williams; seconded by Mr. Moore; outcome: approved (7–0). - Personnel memorandum 22C (items 1–8): moved by Ms. Tobiason; seconded by Mr. Perino; outcome: approved (7–0). - Financial memorandum 22D (items 1–14), including contracts with neighboring districts and higher-education partnerships and extension of the Orange County Mental Health Association satellite: moved by Pastor Williams; seconded by Mr. Perino; outcome: approved (7–0). - Special Services memorandum 21E (IEP approvals, items 1–2): moved by Pastor Williams; seconded by Freddie Williams; outcome: approved (7–0). Board members praised the special-education staff for observed student progress. - Change order 16F #1 (credit for work not performed): moved by Curtis Rhett; seconded by Pastor Williams; outcome: approved (7–0). The credit was described by district staff as approximately $71,000. - Accept 05/20/2025 budget vote results: moved by Mr. Curtis; seconded by Ms. Tobiason; outcome: approved (7–0). Board said the budget passed with about 77% voter approval. - Accept Proposition 2 results — $20,000,000, 20-year capital reserve: moved by Mr. Perino; seconded by Mr. Moore; outcome: approved (7–0). - Accept Proposition 3 results — $45,000,000 districtwide capital improvements (bathrooms, libraries, turf fields at Twin Towers); district staff described the proposition as financed so it is “net 0 to the taxpayer”: moved by Pastor Williams; seconded by Curtis Rhett; outcome: approved (7–0). - Accept candidate election results (incumbents re-elected and newly elected member): moved by Mr. Perino; seconded by Curtis Rhett; outcome: approved (7–0). The board named Pastor Williams and Mr. Bison as re-elected and cited Dr. Patricia DeJesus as elected to the open seat. - Waive first and second readings of recommended policies: motion made from the floor and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote recorded in the meeting as 6–0 at the time of announcement). - Adopt password-management and multifactor-authentication policy and supplemental ECSDM IT policies and procedures: motion moved and seconded from the policy committee; outcome: approved (voice vote recorded as passing).

What the board did not decide: the meeting transcript includes public recognitions and routine business; there were no deliberations that changed the financial or capital propositions’ terms at the meeting and no requests for additional public-comment-driven policy changes recorded.

Next steps: board members noted audit-committee scheduling and upcoming athletic events. Newly elected board members will be briefed and oriented ahead of taking office, the board said.