New Britain board signs off on minutes, policies, contracts and financial report amid special-education budget pressure
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Summary
The board approved routine business—minutes, personnel transactions, two policy corrections, multiple purchase orders and donations—and accepted the January financial report, which staff said shows approximately $5.5–$6.5 million in projected special-education overages for the year.
The New Britain Board of Education approved routine business items and several procurement actions during its meeting.
On a motion and second, the board approved the minutes from its Feb. 2, 2026 meeting (one member abstained because they were not present on that date). The board also accepted personnel transactions and extracurricular approvals as presented.
Policy changes: the board approved a revised extracurricular eligibility policy (Item G) and a correction to the honors-weighted grading policy (Item H) after staff explained the changes were time-sensitive or clerical corrections needed to avoid unfair changes to senior rankings. Mister Richardson (S13), called to explain the grading correction, told the board the change aligns the document with previously discussed committee intent.
Donations and contracts: the board accepted a donation from CHDI Connect to support school–community behavioral-health integration and a $575 gift from the Roundtable Group for the Academy of Business and Finance. It approved multiple purchase orders and contracts including bridge replacements at New Britain High School ($36,806.94), extension of custodial-supplies contract ($360,500), an emergency vehicle repair order ($13,381.03), a PowerSchool e-collect renewal ($24,465.37), a group forklift purchase ($14,499), and a $23,000 contract with Efficacious Educator LLC to provide cognitive coaching at Slade Middle School; the coaching contract was explained as a reallocation linked to a SIG grant revision.
Financial report: finance staff highlighted that salary-lines were realigned after late grant approvals and that object series 500 (special-education tuition) shows about $16 million in encumbrances and a projected $5.5–$6.5 million over-budget position, partly dependent on an expected $3.6 million city reimbursement. The board voted to accept the financial report.
The meeting concluded with no items on the consent agenda and a motion to adjourn.