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, Torello). The template will be used for future RBT hires.

- Occupational-therapy personnel contracts (two separate contracts, motion to approve both): passed by roll call (majority yes, two abstentions).

- Board-certified behavior analyst personnel contract (motion to approve): passed by roll call (majority yes, two abstentions).

- Policy 5144.12—Restorative practices response (motion to adopt): unanimously approved.

- Rental-waiver requests from the New Haven Football Officials Association: two requests were approved by roll call votes—the first for use of classroom space (Room S106) on six dates and the second for seven dates of varsity football-field use at East Haven High School. Both motions carried with an 8–1 margin (one board member opposed).

- Rental-waiver request from Army's Legacy Animal Rescue and Sanctuary for use of the high-school parking lot (Aug. 10): the board asked for more information and took no action at this meeting.

Details included in board discussion

RBT contract template: staff presented changes to the RBT contract template that will apply to future hires. Key clarifications included: the template will be a one-year contract (current RBT employees remain under the prior three-year terms for their remaining years); base pay for the first year remains $25 per hour; a 90-working-day probationary period was added; duties language was revised to reflect that RBTs work under the direction of the supervising BCBA as well as classroom special-education staff; sick-day wording was adjusted to prorate sick days for late start dates; and the district will continue to cover the RBT certification training (presenters stated the training cost is $150) but removed the prior multi-year tuition-reimbursement “payback” schedule because the contract term was shortened to one year. These contract terms were described in the personnel workshop portion of the meeting prior to the board vote.

Occupational-therapy and BCBA contracts: the two occupational-therapist contracts and the BCBA contract were presented as renewals/extensions. Each occupational-therapy contract was described as a three-year renewal with a 3% increase each year, changes to how wages are paid over the fiscal year for a 10-month employee (option to spread pay over 12 months or receive lump-sum summer pay), a switch to accrual-based sick-leave earning (described as 1.25 days per month to reach 15 days/year), jury-duty pay language, a change to an "Essential Choice" dental plan, and adjustments to HSA deposit timing. The BCBA contract was presented as a three-year renewal with similar percentage increases for wages and incremental insurance cost-share changes.

Restorative-practices policy: the board adopted new policy 5144.12 by unanimous roll call. No substantive amendments were recorded during the meeting discussion.

Rental waivers: the board approved waiver requests from the New Haven Football Officials Association for classroom meeting dates (six) and field dates (seven). Board discussion noted the requester is a nonprofit organization that provides required professional development for high-school officials; the board referenced the district's rental-fee policy, which allows reduced fees for local nonprofits. Board members discussed precedent and the public-safety rationale for supporting officials’ training.

Army's Legacy Animal Rescue and Sanctuary parking-lot request: the board asked administrators to collect more information before acting. The packet included social-media descriptions that mentioned food trucks, music, a raffle, porta-potties and references to beverage giveaways; board members raised questions about insurance, garbage/removal costs, whether food vendors would have proper licensing and insurance and whether animals would be on campus. The board directed staff to follow up rather than approve the waiver at this meeting.

What the board directed staff to do

- Use the approved RBT template for future hires and file the adopted personnel contracts. - Return with additional information and a proposed contract/requirements for Army's Legacy Animal Rescue and Sanctuary if the group re-submits a waiver request (insurance certificates, food-vendor licensing, waste-management plan and clarification about animals on campus).

Ending

The meeting closed with routine scheduling and reminders. The board's next regular meeting date was posted in the agenda packet as May 27; members and staff indicated they would follow up on the animal-rescue request and on implementation details for the newly approved contracts and policy.