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Board hears grant, facilities and curriculum updates; approves policies and a PTO gift
Summary
At its June 16 meeting the Orange Board of Education reviewed several grant balances and summer facilities projects, approved three policies on second reading, and accepted a PTO gift for Turkey Hill School; the board also confirmed a July meeting cancellation.
The Orange Board of Education on June 16 received updates on grants, summer facilities work and curriculum planning, approved three policies on second reading, and accepted a PTO gift to Turkey Hill School.
Finance and grants: Mr. Gray reported several grants funding mental-health and language supports. He said the ARPA summer mental health support grant is for $50,000, with $7,400 spent and $42,600 remaining for summer program student services. A primary mental health grant originally for $20,000 has a remaining balance of $3,275; district staff noted reapplication will be required when funds are exhausted. The ARPA school mental health specialist grant funded a second social worker at $92,000; staff said year three of that grant is funded at $64,000 (70% of prior levels) with the remaining 30% to be absorbed in the operating budget. Mr. Gray also reported a consolidated Title III grant for $18,225 to support English-language learners. He said independent auditors will begin work in June and July, with a target audit completion date of Dec. 31, 2026.
Facilities and capital projects: Facilities staff outlined summer work including interior hallway painting at Racebrook School, repainting roughly 20 steel columns at Turkey Hill School, and custodial summer cleaning rotations. Mr. Gray reported that a steam boiler at Marielle Tracy School failed inspection and has been removed; new boiler sections are being installed and the system should be pressure-tested and operational in about a week (heat not needed until October). The board also plans three approved capital projects this summer: Peck Place library/media flooring and furniture refurbishment, resurfacing and blacktop paving of the primary playground at Turkey Hill School, and refinishing and relining gymnasium floors that have not been redone for roughly a decade.
Policy approvals and PTO gift: The board unanimously approved three policies on second reading: Policy 5127 (students promotion procedures and ceremonies), Policy 5144.12 (students challenging behavior; restorative practice response), and Policy 6177 (use of commercially produced video recordings). The board also unanimously accepted a Turkey Hill PTO gift to install a glass wall in the school media center to support an audio-visual club; the buildings-and-grounds subcommittee had recommended acceptance so installation could proceed over the summer.
Curriculum and staffing: Dr. Russo reported summer curriculum work that includes a Camp Invention theme for summer learning, expansion of professional learning calendar details, and plans to move all report-card subjects to standards-based grading for the next school year (previously limited to English language arts and math). Staff will incorporate operational curriculum data into planning and the Orange adult learning plan.
Scheduling note: Because of summer schedules and quorum concerns the board agreed to cancel the July 21, 2025 meeting, with the option to call a special meeting if urgent business arises.
Mr. Gray and Dr. Scarpetti both commended custodial staff and community partners for help with end-of-year events and summer preparations.
