Board elects officers, adopts interim tuition method and approves superintendent contract extension

The Regional School District 13 board on July 8 completed routine governance business: seating a new member, electing officers, adopting an administrative approach to nonresident tuition and approving the superintendent's contract extension.

The board welcomed newly seated member Tim Viens (from Middlefield), who described his 24 years in education and recent administrative work in Connecticut technical high schools. During officer elections the board nominated and approved officers by voice vote; Linda Darcy was nominated and approved for vice chair, and the board confirmed a treasurer following nomination and voice vote.

On finance policy, the board discussed Policy 5-118 (nonresident student tuition) and methods for computing a tuition rate. Finance staff presented options including the prior budget-divided-by-enrollment approach and per-pupil-expenditure (PPE) methods. After discussion the board accepted a motion to use the estimated PPE method administratively "moving forward until further notice," with the understanding the calculation could be revisited once audited figures are available.

In personnel action the board considered the superintendent's contract after a prior executive-session performance review. The board moved and approved a one-year extension plus a 3% salary increase. "We recommended a 3% increase in salary and a extension of a 1 year in the contract," the board's representative said before the motion carried by voice vote. Superintendent Sydney Leggett thanked the board for its confidence.

The meeting closed after additional committee reports and a closed of business motions. Several items—including policy first reads and regulation updates—were returned to committees for standard review; no additional personnel or budgetary actions were taken at the July 8 meeting beyond those recorded.