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Hartford board approves two principals, renews ReadyCT and CT RISE contracts and adopts Sept. 1 kindergarten cutoff
Summary
The Hartford Board of Education approved two principal appointments, authorized contract continuations for ReadyCT ($550,600) and CT RISE ($190,000) through June 30, 2027, and adopted a policy change requiring children to be 5 by Sept. 1 to enter kindergarten.
At its July 21 meeting the Hartford Board of Education took several formal actions: it approved two administrative appointments, renewed two existing vendor contracts, and adopted a change to the kindergarten entry age.
Appointments: The board voted to approve the superintendent’s recommendation to appoint Dr. Derry Saunders as principal of Betancia STEM Magnet School and Dr. Kate Dougherty as principal of University High School of Science and Engineering. Superintendent Dr. Townsville summarized each candidate’s experience; both candidates briefly addressed the board and thanked members for the opportunity.
Contracts: The board authorized the superintendent to execute a contract with ReadyCT through June 30, 2027 not to exceed $550,600, funded primarily through the district’s general fund with additional grant funding being explored. Dr. Stephanie Lockhart said ReadyCT provides career‑connected learning in five Hartford high schools and supports the district’s pre‑K‑to‑career continuum.
The board also authorized a CT RISE contract through June 30, 2027 not to exceed $190,000. District and CT RISE speakers described measurable progress tied to that partnership: districtwide first‑time 9th‑grade 'on‑track' rates rose from 63% to 70% since the partnership began, and Buckley High School’s on‑track rate improved from 54% to 79%, with reductions in chronic absenteeism. Board members asked about capacity building and sustainability; CT RISE and district staff said the partnership includes capacity development and that the district has been working to align in‑house teams with external supports.
Kindergarten age policy: Board members removed item 4.2 from the consent agenda for discussion and then voted to adopt the policy change moving the kindergarten entry cutoff so that children must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1 (previously Jan. 1) to enter kindergarten. Staff and the board discussed existing waiver protocols for early entry; attorney Anne McCarthy said Connecticut law (Conn. Gen. Stat. §10‑184) does not permit a general early‑entry waiver under age 5 and that waiver options will narrow under the new state guidance.
Votes at a glance: the meeting record shows motions were made and seconded and the chair announced "the ayes have it" on the listed items. Specific roll‑call tallies were not read into the public record for every motion; the board noted some individual dissent during the consent‑pull vote.
What happens next: ReadyCT and CT RISE contracts run through June 30, 2027; principal appointments are effective as posted by the superintendent. The board closed the public portion of its meeting and announced entry into an executive session to discuss pending claims and litigation.
