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Parents press board to expand agricultural pathways as high school agriscience teachers showcase certifications
Summary
Teachers described expanded agriscience offerings, industry certifications and greenhouse plans; parents asked the board to allow East Haddam students to attend alternative regional VoAg centers (Lyman Memorial and Lebanon) that better match some students' career goals.
Cheryl Carberry and Felicia Gerard, the teachers who run East Haddam’s Agriscience program, told the board on March 11 that the program offers animal science, plant science and natural-resources pathways and is expanding industry certification opportunities and early college courses with UConn.
“Industry certification is something that is something we're bringing in and then I think it's going to serve them really well,” Carberry said as she described companion-animal courses and plans to add vet‑tech curriculum and other credentialing.
The presentation included student recognition: chapter officers Payton Baldacci and Faith Kalish introduced their FFA chapter and said hands-on learning, leadership workshops and community partnerships are central to the program’s work. Teachers also described goals to upgrade the greenhouse, restart a grooming lab and extend early-college-credit offerings in plant science.
During public comment that followed the presentation, two parents asked the board to allow more sending‑school flexibility for vocational agricultural (VoAg) placements. Jennifer Blasky, parent of an eighth‑grader, said her son seeks specialized hands‑on training that she believes Lyman Memorial High School provides: “Our request is simple. We want Griffin to attend the school that best aligns with the goals, learning style, and future career path.”
Anna Tramuta, another parent, urged the board to permit students to attend Lebanon Regional High School for a food‑science/meat‑science pathway not offered by the district’s designated center in Middletown, saying she had already discussed options with Lebanon’s superintendent and that the state’s tuition structure would support a change.
Board members acknowledged the requests but did not vote on changing the district’s designated VoAg centers during the meeting. Members noted that changing a sending school requires notifying the state and coordination with town and regional schedules and transportation; the board asked administration to investigate logistics and report back.
What happens next: the administration will follow up with details on state notification, transportation implications and any budgetary effects before the board considers a formal change of VoAg designation.
