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Board approves food-service, device and nondiscrimination policies and adopts 2025-26 calendar
Summary
The East Haven Board of Education voted to approve multiple policy revisions and the 2025-26 school calendar during its policy workshop, adopting new language for food-service personnel conduct, expanded device rules for students and staff, and reverting Title IX language to the district's 2020 policies at the state's direction.
The East Haven Board of Education voted to approve several policy revisions and the 2025-26 district school calendar during its policy workshop.
The board approved the revised food-service personnel code of conduct (Policy 3542.22), the updated telecommunication/devices policy (Policy 5131.81), and a clarified nondiscrimination policy (Policy 5145.4, Section 504). The board also voted to revert Title IX personnel and Title IX students regulations to the district policies in force in 2020, per state direction. In separate action, the board adopted the 2025-26 district school calendar after discussion and a divided roll-call vote.
Why this matters: The approved policies update staff and student conduct rules, bring the district into alignment with state and federal program requirements, and set the school-year schedule used for planning instruction, family schedules and district operations.
What the board approved (roll-call outcomes and notes):
- Policy 3542.22, Food Service Personnel — Approved. Roll-call recorded votes in favor from: Miss DePalma; Miss Delongo; Mr. Hennessy; Miss Johnson; Miss Fleming; Miss Santiago; Mr. Stacy; Miss Torello; Dr. DeLucia. Outcome: approved.
- Policy 5131.81, Use of Telecommunication Devices (expanded to personal computing devices and ancillary devices) — Approved. Roll-call in favor recorded from: Miss DePalma; Miss Delongo; Mr. Hennessy; Miss Santiago; Mr. Stacy; Miss Torello; Dr. DeLucia. Outcome: approved.
- Policy 5145.4 (Section 504) — Approved (roll-call). Motion and second recorded; board approved following staff explanation that the revision documents the district's child-find obligations under Section 504 and the types of data used for determinations.
- Policy and regulation 400.01, Title IX (personnel) — Approved by roll-call; the board reverted to the February 2020 Title IX policy at the state's direction.
- Policy and regulation 5145.44, Title IX (students) — Approved by roll-call; likewise reverted to 2020 language per state directive.
- 2025-26 District School Calendar — Approved. Roll-call: Miss DePalma: Yes; Miss Delongo: No; Mr. Hennessy: No; Miss Santiago: Yes; Mr. Stacy: Yes; Miss Torello: No; Dr. DeLucia: Yes. Tally: 4 yes, 3 no. The calendar discussion included several board members raising concerns about the placement of professional development/half days and the long December break; no further changes were made at the meeting.
Votes at a glance: The board used roll-call voting for each policy item. Where abstentions or no votes occurred, those are listed above. The board chair confirmed motions were seconded and roll-call votes recorded in the minutes.
Items with no final action: Policy 1330 (Use of School Facilities) was discussed but not voted on; staff will return with additional analysis and comparative pricing before any adoption.
Next steps: Staff said they will bring back the facility-use policy with further analysis; for policies adopted, staff will publish the updated policy language in the district policy manual and implement the procedures described.
