Middletown board approves emergency electrical work, county mapping MOA and raises minimum wage; SRO agreement tabled
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Summary
Trustees approved emergency replacement of Middletown High School’s electrical service, a memorandum of agreement with Orange County for school mapping, several Twin Towers change orders, adoption of an employee compensated-absences accounting policy, and a minimum-wage increase; the School Resource Officer agreement was tabled pending year/price clarifications.
At its Dec. 11 meeting, the Middletown School District Board approved a set of administrative and facilities actions while tabling a contested School Resource Officer (SRO) agreement pending clarifications about contract years and budget timing.
The board approved a resolution authorizing emergency replacement of the electrical service entrance at Middletown High School after a power failure the night before Thanksgiving. Facilities director Bartlett said the specialized equipment could take eight to ten months to procure and described interim backup plans; trustees approved moving forward so work could begin "beginning tomorrow" if procurement proceeds. (Mr Bartlett)
Trustees also approved five change orders for the Twin Towers project covering septic/trap-line work, interior window caulking and winter-protection enclosures (including fuel to maintain heat and spring dismantling). Bartlett summarized the scope as work necessary to maintain construction progress and protect the site during winter. (Mr Bartlett)
The board approved a memorandum of agreement with the County of Orange to provide school mapping services via Critical Response Group and adopted the employee compensated-absences accounting policy, which Assistant Superintendent Doctor Norville O'Connell said standardizes how the district reports accrued sick and leave time under current GASB guidance. "The state is actually creating the opportunity to have standardized the way we report our compensated absences, as a liability," Doctor O'Connell said. (Doctor Norville O'Connell)
On personnel compensation, trustees approved raising the district minimum wage effective Jan. 1, 2026; the written materials and some verbal references gave differing numbers ($16.00 vs. $16.60) but the motion passed and the board recorded "Aye" votes. The district clerk should confirm the final posted policy and minutes for the exact hourly rate.
Board members debated approving the SRO contract before the district budget is finalized, with one trustee asking whether the city would hold rates until the budget is approved; the board ultimately tabled the SRO line item pending that clarification. (Doctor Norville O'Connell)
Votes on individual consent items were recorded by voice for many items; the meeting minutes will record the official tallies and any roll-call results.
