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Sterling Board approves energy incentive, adds extracurricular stipends and OKs director contract
Summary
At its Nov. 20 meeting the Sterling Board of Education approved an Eversource NRES (Silver Brooks Energy) incentive offer by 3–1, ratified an SEA memorandum adding stipends and an after-school pay rate, hired a paraeducator and approved a Director of Student Services contract in executive session.
Board Chair Courtney Langlois called the Sterling Board of Education to order at 6:00 p.m. on Nov. 20, 2024, and the board moved through routine business before approving three substantive items: an energy-incentive agreement, a memorandum of agreement with the Sterling Education Association (SEA) that adds extracurricular stipends and an after-school pay rate, and a Director of Student Services contract approved after an executive session.
The most consequential vote came on a proposed incentive offer from Silver Brooks Energy (Eversource NRES). Theodore Friend reported he had shared the contract with the board attorney, who recommended only minor wording changes and did not request content alterations. Friend recommended the board proceed, and on a motion by John Brady seconded by Catherine Malo the board approved the incentive offer by a 3–1 vote; the minutes record the tally but do not identify the dissenting member.
The board also approved a memorandum of agreement with the SEA that adds stipend positions for volleyball and esports (fall and spring) at $1,748 each and sets the after-school activity pay rate at $42.89 per hour. Theodore Friend told the board that all programs supported by those stipends would be contingent on final budget decisions. That motion passed unanimously.
In personnel actions, the board approved hiring Allison Young as a paraeducator and later, following an executive session to discuss the Director of Student Services contract, voted unanimously to approve that contract. The board entered executive session at 6:40 p.m. and reconvened at 6:55 p.m.
During reports, Sara Howley updated the board on the 2023–24 audit, tuition for the 2024–25 school year, and said the district planned to submit an Excess Cost Grant on the coming Friday; she also said staff were preparing the 2025–26 school-year budget for presentation at the Dec. 18 Budget Sub-Committee meeting. Plainfield liaison Paul Brenton summarized a Dalia Foundation report identifying several eastern-Connecticut communities — including Sterling — as at risk for student disconnection based on socioeconomic factors, and he said Plainfield had begun preliminary discussions about adding a school resource officer at its high school.
Board members conducted first readings of several mandated policies, including Title IX/sexual harassment and nondiscrimination policies, and approved the board meeting dates for 2025. The meeting adjourned at 6:57 p.m.
What’s next: the budget materials are scheduled for the Dec. 18 Budget Sub-Committee meeting, and the board will return to any policy adoptions after the required review period.
