The New Britain Board of Education voted to revise its student health policy to align with state law removing the religious exemption; the change allows the board to deny school entry to students not in compliance, effective at the start of the next school year, and follows outreach efforts that reduced noncompliance from about 1,800 to roughly 700 students.
The board approved ratification of union contracts, multiple memoranda of understanding formalizing a reengagement program, a string of purchase orders and contracts (including laptops, food‑service equipment and a $156,914.96 PowerSchool renewal), and accepted the financial report for Dec. 31, 2025.
Finance staff explained the Connecticut excess‑cost reimbursement process and said the district’s preliminary FY26 rate is 72.7% (below the 91% tier for low‑wealth districts), leaving the district exposed to rising special‑education outplacement costs; board members urged legislative advocacy and reassured ongoing local planning.
The New Britain Board of Education announced a public budget forum for Jan. 15 and heard the superintendent report a small net increase in enrollment driven by early childhood gains, while recognizing staff and student achievements and flagging retirements in hard-to-fill areas.
The board entered executive session then approved minutes, personnel transactions, an enrollment report, a $9,500 consulting renewal and the 2026–27 academic calendar; votes recorded in the transcript were voice votes with no named tallies.
The New Britain Board approved prior minutes, accepted an enrollment report (down 22 students overall, pre-K gains noted), adjusted the January 2026 meeting to Jan. 12, and approved the consent agenda after removing and tabling two policy items (f and g) to return to the policy committee.
The superintendent told the board the district faces a possible $8,000,000 "fiscal cliff" next year as key funding (including ECS/Alliance and special-education dollars) remains uncertain and urged outreach to the legislative delegation and early public engagement for the budget process.
Donna Swavy, principal of Catalyst Academy, invited New Britain residents to a community forum on Thursday, Dec. 4, 6:30–8 p.m. at the New Britain Boys & Girls Club to learn about behavioral and mental-health services available to families; providers and services to be represented were listed in her remarks.
The New Britain Board of Education on Nov. 3 approved the personnel transaction report that included two assistant principal appointments, the superintendent's contract and multiple consent items at its regular meeting.
Superintendent Dr. Sanders told the New Britain Board of Education on Nov. 3 that the district has positive school-performance news and ongoing family supports.
