East Haven High opens greenhouse; culinary and transition programs integrate gardening into coursework

East Haven High School presenters described a newly completed greenhouse and expanded garden program to the school board, saying the space will support culinary instruction, career-technical education (CTE) classes, special-education transition work and school-based health initiatives.

Why it matters: the greenhouse and garden are presented as interdisciplinary instructional space that district staff say can support hands-on learning (culinary, woodworking, manufacturing, horticulture and science), vocational skills for transition students and therapeutic programming in collaboration with the school-based health center. The effort was funded by a competitive School-Based Health Alliance grant and has received temporary certificate-of-occupancy status, presenters said.

What staff told the board

- Grant and construction: presenters said the School-Based Health Alliance grant fully funded the greenhouse project. They reported receiving a temporary certificate of occupancy and completing construction quickly after being awarded funds in January. The grant was described as supporting more than planting — it funds integration of the garden with therapy, health and instruction.

- Curriculum and interdisciplinary use: East Haven High culinary instructors Heather and John Perfetto described partnering with manufacturing, woodworking and science teachers to build garden beds, design infrastructure and create sustained projects such as pesto production, community events and curriculum for math, science and language arts. The chefs said the greenhouse will increase access to fresh produce for culinary classes and community events and support student learning about measurement, yield and food production.

- Transition program and student entrepreneurship: Chrissy Adanti Peterson, special-education transition teacher, and students Bryce and Emily described "Exceptional Blooms and More," a student-run microbusiness that began with small floral arrangements and has expanded to sales, delivery logistics, inventory management and product development. Students demonstrated tasks they perform — order-taking, inventory tracking and flower arranging — and said the greenhouse will add horticulture and production experience to their vocational curriculum.

- Student impact and community support: presenters recounted hands-on student activities (building beds, mulching, harvesting) and community donations of materials. Staff cited examples of student outcomes — involvement in veterans’ luncheons, a local TV feature and significant engagement at a school fair. Presenters said community volunteers, district staff and CTE departments contributed materials, labor and expertise.

Quotes from presenters

"It's gonna be so worth it" — Heather Perfetto, East Haven High School culinary chef, describing the greenhouse's value for students and instruction.

"We are now...Exceptional Blooms and More is a student run business" — Chrissy Adanti Peterson, special-education teacher, describing the transition program's enterprise model.

Operational and next steps

Presenters said the greenhouse will host expanded summer programming, newcomer-specific supports funded by a separate competitive grant and project-based learning tied to literacy and vocational skills. Staff noted follow-up items such as soil testing, rainwater-collection planning, signage in multiple languages and coordination with facilities for long-term maintenance.

Ending

Board members and attendees praised students and staff for the project, and the board signaled support for continued community partnerships and for integrating the greenhouse into district programming.