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Board approves notices of non‑renewal for six teachers; rejects participation in state healthy‑food certification
Summary
The Ridgefield board voted to notify six teachers of contract non‑renewal and debated a statutory "healthy food certification" vote; after food‑service director testimony, the certification motion failed and two board members abstained.
The Ridgefield Board of Education took two formal personnel and nutrition actions during its April 27 meeting.
Personnel: Ms. Moore moved that the board approve notification to six named teachers that their contracts will not be renewed at the close of the 2025‑26 school year. The motion named Joanna Abramowitz, Jacqueline Andarak, Sandra Casey, Alana Hussey, Hannah Keys and Kayla O'Sullivan and directed the superintendent to notify those individuals in writing. The motion was seconded by Ms. Graff and carried unanimously. Following the vote, the board said, "Thank you to all of the teachers for all your service."
Nutrition: Under state statute (CGS 10‑215F) the board considered a motion to certify that all food items offered for sale to students would comply with Connecticut Nutrition Standards for the 2026‑27 year. Ms. Brown and administrators explained that the vote is a prescriptive annual certification; K‑8 meal programs meet or exceed the standards, but the high‑school culinary program and school store historically have not participated, providing the district additional flexibility. Andrew McCurry, the district’s food service director, described local practice: "If you step into our kitchen, you will not find salt. You will not find high fructose corn syrup," and described scratch cooking, Buy American sourcing and an Aramark contract that raises standards beyond federal minimums.
After discussion the motion to participate in the healthy‑food certification did not carry; the board recorded two abstentions and a majority of no votes. Because the motion failed, the district will not make the statutory certification that was proposed at the meeting.
Why it matters: The non‑renewal notifications are formal personnel actions that affect teaching staff; the nutrition vote determines whether the district formally certifies participation in Connecticut’s prescriptive nutrition standards for all food sold to students, which affects how the high school can operate its culinary program and school store.
What comes next: The superintendent was directed to notify the affected teachers in writing as required; the food‑service operation will continue under current contracts and practices unless the board revisits participation in the state certification in a future meeting.
