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Ansonia Board Approves McKinney‑Vento Grant Submission, Signs Off on Budget Transfer; Administrators Give Service and Facilities Updates
Summary
The Ansonia Board unanimously approved submission of the annual McKinney‑Vento grant and a budget transfer to the high school, and heard district reports on rising special education enrollment, technology upgrades and a roofing contractor hold at the high school.
The Ansonia Board of Education on Oct. 8 voted to approve submission of the district’s annual McKinney‑Vento grant application and approved a budget transfer to the high school, recording unanimous votes on both motions.
Board President Mr. Rich Bshara moved to add the McKinney‑Vento item to the agenda; the board approved the addition and then approved the grant submission by unanimous vote. School Business Administrator Mr. Marriott described the McKinney‑Vento grant as the district’s annual application to support services for students experiencing homelessness and said the district is also waiting on state decisions for other grants.
The board later approved a budget transfer to the high school after Mr. Marriott noted two transfers and recommended Finance Committee meetings to begin planning the 2026‑27 budget. The budget transfer motion passed with a 4–0 vote.
Special education director Nicole Fenech reported that special education enrollment increased from 477 to 489 since the previous meeting and that there have been 13 referrals since Oct. 1, 12 of which were for Pre‑K. "We are learning different ways to perform referrals that will prove more efficient," Fenech said; she said she will meet weekly with Pre‑K staff and proposed creating an Early Childhood Assessment Team based at Prendergast School to streamline the process.
Facilities Director Mr. Evans said work on the high school roofing project is on hold after advice from the district’s legal counsel due to an issue with one of the contractors. He also said the district plans to request funds at the next Board of Aldermen meeting to replace an oil tank at the high school for emergency purposes and that additional costs from a previous oil spill will be reimbursed in part by the state and split with the city.
Technology Director Mr. Pastore told the board the district is replacing old Frontier copper lines with Comcast to realize cost savings and that Category 2 E‑Rate funding has been extended another five years. Superintendent DiBacco highlighted workforce certificate programs, growing internship partnerships with local employers, the district’s South Korea Project and an upcoming NEASC accreditation visit to the high school on Oct. 21.
What’s next: The district will submit the McKinney‑Vento application and proceed with the approved budget transfer; administrators will convene the Finance Committee, continue Pre‑K referral work and report back to the board on implementation progress.
