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Putnam Board of Education approves nurse contract, archives 1992 PHS records and adopts new evaluation plan
Summary
At its June 16 meeting the Putnam Board of Education unanimously approved a 2026–2029 nurses' contract, authorized transfer of 1992 Putnam High School digital surrogates to the University of Connecticut Archives, moved unexpended FY26 funds to a non-lapsing account, and adopted a Leader and Educator Evaluation Plan; a secretary contract was tabled.
PUTNAM — The Putnam Board of Education met June 16 and took a series of unanimous actions on year‑end budget housekeeping, employee contracts and evaluation policy.
Board member Jamie Heath moved to approve the May 11 special meeting minutes and May 19 regular meeting minutes; Chad Neal seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The board then authorized the transfer of digital surrogates of Putnam High School public records from a May 1992 event to the University of Connecticut Archives & Special Collections for long‑term preservation (motion by Elizabeth Beman; second by Jamie Heath). That motion passed unanimously.
The board voted to transfer all unexpended funds from the 2025–2026 Board of Education budget into the district’s non‑lapsing account (motion by Jamie Heath; second by Elizabeth Beman). The motion passed unanimously.
The board entered executive session at 7:12 PM for contract negotiations, inviting Superintendent Steven R. Rioux and Business Administrator Nancy Cole to attend; the executive session concluded at 8:02 PM. Following executive session, the board accepted a 2026–2029 contract agreement with United Nurses and Allied Professional Local 5202 (motion by Michael Morrill; second by Chad Neal), and approved a superintendent contract addendum as presented in executive session (motion by Michael Morrill; second by Jamie Heath). Both actions passed unanimously. An agenda item to consider the secretary’s contract agreement for 2026–2029 was tabled and not acted on.
Earlier in the meeting the board approved adding a late agenda item to consider the Leader and Educator Evaluation Plan; the board later approved that plan as presented by the PDEC committee (motion by Jamie Heath; second by Frances Bousquet). The Board noted the plan was brought forward by the PDEC committee and passed without recorded opposition.
The meeting also included non‑action items: Putnam High School Principal Heather Taylor introduced the district’s 2026–2027 student representatives — Mia Cosentino, Jay Patel and Jillian Spalding — and the board presented a Pride of Putnam recognition to Principal Heather Taylor. The board recognized retiring staff members Denise Dirkson, Paula Labbe‑Fahy and Deborah Lefebvre and acknowledged Joseph Martineau, who was not present; appreciation gifts were presented to the attending retirees. The board observed a moment of silence for Gerald Cotnoir.
Business Administrator Nancy Cole provided year‑end financial reports, including an Excess Cost Report, Family Resource Center Report and School Facilities Report; Superintendent Rioux noted the district’s summer feeding program and other summer initiatives. Frances Bousquet and Michael Morrill were named to the administrators’ negotiations committee, and a tentative BOE summer retreat was scheduled for Aug. 9, 2026 at 5:00 PM. The meeting adjourned at 8:03 PM.
