Board approves 2026–27 operational budget adjustment, several contracts and student trip in workshop vote

The East Haven Board of Education voted at its workshop to approve a midyear operational budget adjustment for 2026–27 and several personnel and program items following staff presentations and board discussion.

Budget adjustment: Staff explained the adopted reduction from the initially sought $2 million to $1.75 million was achieved without eliminating positions. Savings reflected a negotiated multiyear arrangement for ELA materials (an immediate $200,000 first‑year reduction after negotiating with the vendor), identified retirements and replacement staffing that improved salary projections (about $129,000 in savings), a secured three‑year pilot for the Amira literacy enhancement, small reallocations of noncertified staff time into the early‑learning budget, and a $30,000 shift tied to multi‑year fundraising for band uniforms. The board approved the operational budget adjustment by roll call (5–0).

K–5 ELA guidance: The board approved guidance for curricular material transition and disposal intended to prioritize student access to high‑quality reading materials, reuse for book groups or donations where possible, and returning some student text collections to families at year end. The motion passed on a recorded roll call (5–0).

Personnel contracts and trip approvals: The board approved the assistant superintendent contract extension (2026–29) and the chief of operations and fiscal oversight contract, each by roll call (5–0). The Overbrook Early Learning Center supervisor contract was also put to a roll call; the transcript records a majority in favor with discussion about whether a two‑thirds threshold applied to this specific item. The board also approved an out‑of‑state senior class field trip to Agawam, Massachusetts (Six Flags) following questions about class dues and payment options.

Staff emphasized the district retained commitments to key instructional drivers, special education supports (including a planned school psychologist at Overbrook to support birth‑to‑3 evaluations), and literacy coaching despite budget adjustments.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the workshop): - 6.1 K–5 ELA guidance: Passed (5–0) - 6.2 2026–27 operational budget adjustment: Passed (5–0) - 6.3 Petition to relocate Family Resource Center to Overbrook: Passed (5–0) - 6.4 Out‑of‑state senior trip (Agawam, MA): Passed (5–0) - 6.5 Assistant superintendent contract: Passed (5–0) - 6.6 Chief of operations and fiscal oversight contract: Passed (5–0) - 6.7 Overbrook Early Learning & Family Resource Center supervisor contract: Recorded majority in favor; transcript records four yes, one no and discussion about threshold.