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Chester Board of Education approves tuition rates, budget and multiple policies in special meeting
Summary
At a March 11, 2026 special remote meeting, the Chester Board of Education approved 2026-27 tuition and meal prices, adopted the 2026-27 Supervision District Budget, created a Joint BOE Pupil Services Committee and approved a package of policies; several votes were recorded with one dissent and two abstentions.
Chester Board of Education Chair Dale Barnardoni called a remote special meeting to order at approximately 4:30 p.m. on March 11, 2026, and the board completed several fiscal and governance actions before adjourning at about 4:56 p.m.
The board voted to approve the Joint BOE minutes for Dec. 4, 2025 and Jan. 6, 2026 (as amended by Deep River, Essex and Region 4 boards). The vote on the minutes was recorded as 2 yes, 0 no and 2 abstentions (Jillian Zupan and Wendy King); the motion passed.
On finance matters, the board approved recommended tuition rates for the 2026–27 school year as recommended by the Joint BOE Finance Committee. The vote on tuition rates was 4 yes and 1 no, with Board Member Maria Scherber recorded as the lone dissent; the motion passed.
The board also unanimously approved school breakfast, lunch and milk prices effective for the 2026–27 school year as recommended by the Joint BOE Finance Committee.
The board voted unanimously to create a new standing group, the Joint BOE Pupil Services Committee, and unanimously approved the proposed 2026–27 Supervision District Budget as presented; the transcript notes the budget had already been approved by Deep River, Essex and Region 4 boards on Feb. 26, 2026. The transcript records the approvals but does not list dollar totals or budget line items in these segments.
The board unanimously approved a package of policies as presented. Policies listed in the meeting record include #3160 Transfer of Funds; #3171.1 Non-Lapsing Educational Fund; #3171.2 Health Insurance Fund Balance Reserve; #5144.12 Restorative Practices Response; #5131.911 CT School Climate; #1312 Public Complaints; #1312.3 Library Material Review and Reconsideration; #1312.4 Library Collection Development and Maintenance; and #1312.5 Library Display and Program Review. The meeting transcript lists policy numbers and titles but does not include policy text or detail about substantive amendments in these segments.
The meeting record repeatedly uses the procedural phrasing recorded in the minutes: "On motion duly made and seconded, the Board VOTED" to document each action. The transcript does not identify who moved or seconded the motions in these segments, and it does not attribute motion language to individual board members other than recording individual votes where noted.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:56 p.m.
What it means: The board completed a package of routine but consequential governance actions that set tuition and meal prices for 2026–27, created a standing pupil services committee, and adopted the supervision district budget and several policy updates. The transcript records votes and abstentions but does not provide movers/seconders, budget dollar amounts, or the full text of approved policies; those details would appear in the formal minutes and the adopted budget and policy documents.
