Board approves contracts, field trips, policies and certifications; multiple motions pass

The East Haven Board of Education took several formal votes on motions including contract approval, multiple field trips, policy revision and budget actions during its May meeting. Most motions passed by roll call; vote tallies and outcomes are listed below.

Why it matters: The votes finalize administrative contracts, approve out'of'state student travel and operational measures, and authorize expenditures and certifications that affect programming, compliance and revenue sources for the district.

Votes at a glance (motion text, outcome, roll-call tally) - Technician bargaining unit contract (motion carries). Outcome: approved. Roll call: Miss DePalma (yes), Miss DeLongo (yes), Mister Hennessy (no), Miss Johnson (yes), Miss Santiago (yes), Mister Stacy (yes), Miss Torello (no), Doctor DeLucia (yes). Tally: yes 6, no 2. - Out'of'state field trip to Washington, D.C. (date change) (motion carries). Outcome: approved. Roll call: Miss DePalma (yes), Miss DeLongo (yes), Mister Hennessy (no), Miss Johnson (yes), Miss Santiago (yes), Mister Stacy (yes), Miss Torello (yes), Doctor DeLucia (yes). Tally: yes 7, no 1. - Revision of policy 5142.21 (motion carries). Outcome: approved. Roll call: unanimous yes (8'0'0board members present). - Congratulatory advertisement for Chamber awards (motion carries). Outcome: approved (full'page ad). Roll call included two no votes (Miss DeLongo and Miss Torello); motion carried. - Waiver of rental fee for U.S. Marine Corps event (motion carries). Outcome: approved. Roll call: one no vote (Miss DeLongo); motion carried. - JMMS band and choir trip to Six Flags New England, Agawam, MA (motion carries). Outcome: approved. Roll call: unanimous yes. - Waive competitive bid requirement for auditorium equipment purchases (motion carries). Outcome: approved. Roll call: Mister Hennessy (no); motion carried. - Healthy Food Certification pursuant to Connecticut statute (motion carries). Outcome: approved. Roll call: unanimous yes. The board certified compliance with Connecticut nutrition standards for the period 07/01/2025 through 06/30/2026 as required for state reimbursement. - Allow food and beverage exemptions after school and on event days (motion carries). Outcome: approved. Roll call: unanimous yes. The vote specified conditions under which non'compliant items may be sold (after the regular school day, at event location, not from vending machines or school stores). - East Haven High School band trip to Six Flags New England (motion carries). Outcome: approved. Roll call: unanimous yes. - East Haven High School grade 11'12 science trip to Orlando, FL (flight simulator experience) (motion carries). Outcome: approved. Roll call: Miss DePalma (yes), Miss DeLongo (yes), Mister Hennessy (no), Miss Johnson (yes), Miss Santiago (yes), Mister Stacy (yes), Miss Torello (yes), Doctor DeLucia (yes). Tally: yes 7, no 1. - 2025''2026 operational budget (motion carries). Outcome: approved. Roll call: Miss DePalma (yes), Miss DeLongo (no), Mister Hennessy (no), Miss Johnson (yes), Miss Santiago (yes), Mister Stacy (yes), Miss Torello (no), Doctor DeLucia (yes). Tally: yes 5, no 3.

Context and procedure Most motions were moved and seconded at the meeting; roll'call votes were recorded for each item and appear in the meeting minutes. Several approvals relied on existing policy or statutory language (for example, the Healthy Food Certification vote referenced Connecticut General Statutes). The board approved a bid waiver for auditorium repairs and replacement microphones using rental-fund balances rather than operating funds.

What to watch next Board members and administrators indicated further operational work will follow many of these approvals: finalizing vendor arrangements for auditorium work, implementing healthy-food compliance and exemptions, coordinating logistics for approved field trips, and executing the adopted operational budget.