Ansonia board approves Alliance Grant with $893,000 increase, majority to staff salaries

The Ansonia Public Schools Board of Education voted 5-0 Aug. 30 to approve the district's Alliance Grant application for the 2024–2025 school year after hearing that the grant increased by $893,000 from the prior year.

Mr. Rich Bshara, board president, opened the remote meeting and turned the discussion over to Superintendent DiBacco. Superintendent DiBacco told the board the Alliance Grant award rose by $893,000 and said most of that increase will be used to pay salaries for staff positions funded through the grant. He described the application process as involving three meetings to review the district's proposal and a state-conducted walkthrough of district facilities.

Mrs. Calabrese, a district staff member who worked on the application, told the board the district received its Alliance allocations and that the grant is divided into four allotments. She outlined areas that were added to the grant, noted areas that did not receive increases, and said state guidelines place restrictions on how some funds may be used. Board members thanked staff for their work preparing the application.

The board then moved to a formal vote. The motion, recorded as "To approve the Alliance Grant Application for School Year 2024-2025," passed with five votes in favor and none opposed or abstaining. The votes in the record indicate support from Mr. Rich Bshara, Mrs. Tracey Delibero, Ms. Ocasio-Gonzalez, Ms. Beth Laberge, and Mr. Chris Phipps. The meeting adjourned at 12:13 p.m.

The approval allows the district to proceed with the Alliance Grant-funded positions and programs described in the application; the board did not record any amendments to the application during the meeting. The recording secretary filed the minutes on Sept. 3, 2024.