Eastford students ask board to reduce nightly homework during April meeting

At its April 10, 2025 meeting at Eastford Elementary School, the Eastford Board of Education heard a request from a Grade 4 teacher and seven students asking for reduced nightly homework.

Ms. Dill, a Grade 4 teacher, and students Rory Ball, Daniel Budd, Peyton DeLay, Corinne Ellsworth, Calan Gaudette, Jocylin Hillman and Hayleigh Wooding presented a letter asking the Board to grant students less homework time each night. Calan Gaudette read the letter aloud to the Board during the citizen participation portion of the meeting.

The public comment followed earlier recognitions: the Board named Peyton DeLay (Grade 4) and Jaydn Rathburn (Grade 8) as Trimester Citizenship Award recipients. The Board also recognized four Grade 8 students — Wesley DePercio and Leah Talaga (CABE Student Leadership Award) and Sofia Gillett and Mitchell Norman (CAS Scholar-Leader Award) — and noted that Sofia and Mitchell will be recognized at a CAS Scholar-Leader Banquet in May.

No formal action or vote on homework policy was recorded in the minutes. Board members acknowledged the students and accepted their letter into the record; the minutes do not indicate a follow-up assignment to staff or a timeline for considering changes to homework practice.

The Board proceeded with other agenda items, including routine approvals and policy reviews. The next procedural steps recorded in the minutes were votes on several administrative certifications and policy items; the minutes do not show any directive or motion specifically addressing the homework request.