Board approves series of personnel contracts, adopts restorative-practices policy and waives rental fees; animal-rescue parking request tabled

The East Haven School District board approved a package of personnel contracts, adopted a new restorative-practices policy and granted two rental-fee waivers at its meeting. Members also discussed and declined to act on a separate parking-lot waiver request from Army's Legacy Animal Rescue and Sanctuary.

The board voted to approve a mid-management bargaining-unit contract, a registered behavior technician (RBT) contract template for new hires, two occupational-therapy personnel contracts and a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) personnel contract. The board adopted new policy 5144.12 (restorative practices response). Roll-call votes were recorded for each item.

Why it matters: the personnel approvals set contract terms and pay changes for several positions in special education and student support, while the policy adoption formalizes the district's restorative-practices response approach. The rental waivers affect how the high school facilities will be used by outside groups and how associated fees are applied.

Most significant votes and what they mean

- Mid-management bargaining-unit contract (motion to approve): passed by roll call (Yes: DePalma, Johnson, Putney, Santiago, Stacy, DeLucia; No: Hennessy, Torello; Abstain: DeLongo, Putney recorded earlier as abstain) — recorded counts: 5 yes, 2 no, 2 abstain. The motion carried.

- Registered behavior technician contract template (motion to approve): passed (Yes: DePalma, Hennessy, Johnson, Putney, Santiago, Stacy, DeLucia; Abstain: DeLongo,…