Stratford board conditionally appoints Heather Borges as superintendent; chair and attorney authorized to negotiate contract

The Stratford School District Board of Education voted to appoint Heather Borges as superintendent of schools, conditioned on her obtaining the certification referred to in the meeting as "093 certification" by Dec. 31, 2026, and on the successful negotiation of an employment contract.

The appointment motion was moved during the board meeting and carried on a roll-call vote recorded in the transcript as five yes votes and two abstentions. Board members then voted to authorize the board chair and the board attorney to conduct contract negotiations on behalf of the board; that second motion passed 5–2.

The appointment motion was introduced after a multi-candidate superintendent search. Board member Fidel moved the appointment and the motion was recorded as "Motion by Mr. Bevel," with Mr. O'Brien providing the second. The transcript records two abstentions during the roll call: Carol Baby (recorded as "Abstain") and Miss Dean Lupower (recorded as "Abstain"). The chair cast a yes vote; other yes votes in the roll call were recorded as Mr. O'Brien, "Miguel," Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Gormier. The transcript summary line states: "The motion passes, 5 0, 2 abstentions." The motion text included the certification deadline and the condition that a contract be successfully negotiated and returned to the full board for approval.

During discussion, board member DeAngelo Powers expressed extensive concerns about the search process and transparency, saying the board had "grown increasingly concerned about the lack of transparency, consistency, and adherence to best practices" and urging a structured evaluation process for leadership hires. DeAngelo Powers said the process, as conducted, "raised legitimate questions about whether all candidates were evaluated equitably." The transcript shows other board members and counsel responding that the conditional appointment language and contract negotiation process reflected advice from the board attorney and standard practice used previously.

The board then considered a separate motion authorizing the board chair and the board attorney to participate in contract negotiations with Borges "regarding the terms of the contract superintendent subject to full board approval." That motion was moved by Mr. Dell, seconded by Mr. Kennedy, and passed 5–2. During that vote the transcript records no votes from Miss Carol Feybin and Miss DeAngelo Powers; recorded yes votes included Mr. O'Brien, Miss Haddell, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Cormier and the chair. The chair announced the motion passed "5 to 2." The transcript shows board members acknowledged that a contract had not yet been drafted and that negotiated terms would be returned to the full board for review and a final vote.

The board and staff emphasized that final approval of any contract would occur at a future public meeting after negotiations. The transcript includes multiple references that negotiations will occur outside the public meeting (noted in the record as negotiations occurring "behind closed doors"). The board chair said the appointment and negotiation steps were taken under the authority granted by the commissioner of education in a letter that allowed an extension of the acting superintendent's appointment.

Clarifying details captured in the meeting record: the certification code was stated in the transcript as "093 certification" (deadline 12/31/2026); no contract had been prepared or presented at the meeting; the motion language was identified in the transcript as having been provided by the board attorney; and the chair and attorney were authorized to negotiate terms subject to full-board approval.

The board recorded the appointment and the negotiation authorization to proceed; no negotiated contract terms were presented or approved at this meeting.