Vernon board approves routine contracts and celebrates full-day preschool launch

The Vernon Township Board of Education on Dec. 19 approved a slate of administrative and financial recommendations and heard reports celebrating the district's new full-day preschool.

Contracts and spending: The business administrator presented proposed service agreements including a renewal with WeatherWorks for district weather monitoring at a stated cost of $695 (noted as split with the town) and recommended awarding a one-year contract for wastewater and potable water management services at $84,000 following an RFP process. Board members noted the new contract was lower than the prior year's costs (one prior vendor had proposed north of $115,000) and voted to approve the listed transportation, financial and contract items during the motion and roll-call sequence.

Personnel and grants: The board also approved several personnel appointments and positions tied to a 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) grant; administrators noted an error in one pay rate on the CCLC substitute line (should be $28/hour, not $20). The slate of recommendations and grant-funded positions passed on board vote with recorded abstentions on specified checks.

Full-day preschool: Board members and the superintendent highlighted the successful first day of the district's full-day preschool at Walnut Ridge School. Several members commended staff for a smooth transition, noting some typical first-day issues (brief delay) but broad parent and administrator satisfaction. The superintendent said he witnessed visible student engagement on opening day and several board members thanked preschool staff and teachers for their efforts.

Attribution: Contract amounts and recommendations were presented by the business administrator; board members, including the president and committee chairs, commented and voted on the measures.