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Parents urge Old Saybrook board to prioritize academic evidence and transparency; student reps share survey results
Summary
Parents from a group of more than 50 requested revisions to the proposed budget and strategic plan, asking for evidence‑based priorities and data; student representatives reported an 80‑response survey showing student interest in healthcare and business pathways and announced a $1,000 'Pay It Forward' award for clubs.
Several parents used the public‑comment period to press the Old Saybrook School District Board of Education for clearer evidence and better alignment between spending and measurable student outcomes. Andrea Berman said a group of more than 50 parents prepared a document requesting revisions to the proposed FY 2026–27 budget and the 2026–2031 strategic plan and asked that the superintendent and board share the data used to guide decisions.
"These families want to ensure that the district's spending and future planning are focused on student learning and grounded in clear evidence," Andrea Berman said during public comment.
Kate Bender said she was frustrated that the middle and elementary schools sometimes appear overlooked compared with the high school and urged the board and administrators to be more collaborative and responsive to community input. Amy Elliot said budget spreadsheets were difficult to parse and noted the town Board of Finance had raised detailed questions that reinforced her concerns about certain calculations.
The board heard a student report from student representatives Sylvia and Nico, who said they surveyed grades 9–12 and received about 80 responses. Nico said students showed the highest interest in career pathways tied to healthcare and business. The students also announced a new student‑government "Pay It Forward" award that will provide up to $1,000 to a club with the strongest pitch.
Board members asked for clarification about survey methods and response counts (a chart elsewhere appeared to list 36 responses), and administrators said the survey was a Google Form emailed to students and that they will run a follow‑up survey after course selection.
The district and board agreed to follow up on parents’ requests for data; the transcript indicates the parents’ document would be emailed to appropriate parties later that evening.
