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North Canaan Board approves teacher hire, surplus deposit and playground donation
Summary
At its Sept. 10 meeting the North Canaan Board of Education approved the hiring of a 7th–8th grade math teacher, deposited an $88,520.73 FY24 surplus into the elementary excess budget fund, approved a Feb. 14, 2025 half-day for staff PD, hired a nursing consultant and accepted playground donations.
The North Canaan Board of Education on Sept. 10, 2024 approved a series of routine personnel and budget actions, accepted donations for new playground equipment and set a half-day for staff professional development.
Board member Christopher Jacques (board member) called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m. after fellow board members selected him to run the meeting in the absence of Chair Amy Dodge and Vice Chair Stephannie Grant.
The Board voted 5–0 to approve the hiring of Melissa Greenwood as the 7th- and 8th-grade math teacher, effective Aug. 20, 2024, at Master’s step 9 with an annual salary of $67,196. The motion to hire Greenwood was made by Brooke Riva and seconded; the vote was recorded as five in favor.
The Board also approved the contract for the 8th-grade Washington, D.C. trip; the motion carried unanimously.
In financial action, the Board voted to deposit a FY24 surplus of $88,520.73 into the North Canaan Elementary School Excess Budget Fund. Brooke Riva moved the deposit, which passed 5–0.
The Board approved a calendar adjustment to make Feb. 14, 2025 a half-day of professional development so staff can be trained on the selected K–3 literacy screener; Lindsey Crane moved the calendar change and it passed unanimously.
Kristine Simmons moved to hire Lois Mulhurn as the School Nursing Consultant for North Canaan Elementary School at a fee of $1,386; that motion was seconded and approved 5–0. (The transcript contains an inconsistent later spelling, 'Lois Mulhern'; the minutes use the name 'Lois Mulhurn.' See clarifying details.)
The Board accepted a donation of $34,401 from the North Canaan Education Foundation (courtesy of Ben Wohlfert) and $18,897.37 from the PTO to fund new playground equipment for grades 3–4 and 5–8, with installation by ProPlaygrounds; the motion to accept the donation was made by Brooke Riva and approved 5–0.
The meeting adjourned at 7:24 p.m.; minutes were signed by Kerry Rooney and later approved Oct. 8, 2024.
Votes at a glance - Nomination to run meeting (Christopher Jacques): approved 5–0 (motion recorded and seconded). - Hire: Melissa Greenwood, 7th–8th grade math teacher — approved 5–0 (mover: Brooke Riva; second: Mrs. Helminiak). - 8th-grade DC trip contract — approved 5–0 (mover: Lindsey Crane). - FY24 surplus deposit ($88,520.73) — approved 5–0 (mover: Brooke Riva). - Calendar adjustment (Feb. 14, 2025 half-day) — approved 5–0 (mover: Lindsey Crane). - Hire: School Nursing Consultant (Lois Mulhurn) — approved 5–0 (mover: Kristine Simmons). - Playground donation acceptance ($34,401 + $18,897.37) — approved 5–0 (mover: Brooke Riva).
Next steps: Several items (policy readings, strategic plans and standardized score presentations) were set for future meetings; the policies read at first reading will return for action at the October meeting.
