[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6279846,"mediaKeyId","2618352-cfa563ab598e79a0336c52835dfffc8c","parentId",2618352,"title","Votes at a glance: agenda changes, line‑item transfers, and healthy‑food certification approved","audioSeconds",8609,"startMs",789000,"endMs",9398000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2618352-cfa563ab598e79a0336c52835dfffc8c&start=789&end=9398","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2618352-cfa563ab598e79a0336c52835dfffc8c/thumbnail_789000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6279846/Connecticut/Votes-at-a-glance-agenda-changes-lineitem-transfers-and-healthyfood-certification-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279846-68858336ae8cc520662fe944d753fa97/orig.mp4?Expires=1770806414&Signature=CmFKN1RBt4gRVR79thHggKvt-NEsj-QX4lht6cepnIMORXvwsic8kO03J1JNcWpmgOPe0kus~CjAaXgPE1RmwaKqkBPSnKBECxtelRPfh1bRtn2zpWh0jSsxjdin3rj9im6wklHq6wO-p9TvnStKNmlHwM6PXqx74BmHSEDCK4lGDkuSJY7TypVbneBc~6xtXIVVRi6RMFIV9G7aFW1JXsqT2K3hhVzLM3YhAPyGcagyc26SfKlY4tc3HvlzPjPvL8wj1ayzd1hHy8nAplIirryvVt4xPFpD2Y0lk4XXvMHytIAq7HEc~QnF5FJXJ40LkgDl7GzWI5kJ~HTjttPimA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Middletown School District","date","2025-03-11T00:00:00Z","article","The Middletown Board of Education completed several procedural and policy votes on March 12.

Adopted agenda with item removed: Trustees voted to adopt the meeting agenda with the exception of Item 10(d), which the superintendent asked to strike so the board would not approve educational specifications for McDonough that evening. The motion to adopt the agenda with that change carried by voice vote.

Transfers accepted: The board approved line‑item transfers totaling $126,120.53 for the month; staff reported about 96% of the transfers pertained to facilities, including two large items: $90,000 for HVAC repair and maintenance and $15,000 for gasoline. The motion to accept transfers carried by voice vote; no roll‑call tally was recorded in the transcript.

Healthy Food Certification and related exemptions: The board approved three required actions under state law: (1) to certify that foods sold to students will comply with Connecticut Nutrition Standards for 07/01/2025–06/30/2026; (2) to allow sales of nonconforming foods at events occurring after the regular school day or on weekends at the event location (for example interscholastic games or school plays, not regular practices); and (3) to allow the same exemption for beverages. Each motion was moved, seconded and carried by voice vote; no formal roll‑call tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript.

Consent agenda: Trustees approved the consent agenda as outlined earlier in the meeting by voice vote; no items were pulled for separate consideration.

The transcript records standard voice votes for these motions (“all in favor, aye”), but does not include individual member vote names or numeric tallies for the motions recorded at this meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Middletown Regular BOE Meeting - March 11th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the March 12 meeting the board approved adopting the agenda with a removal, accepted monthly transfers, and approved the Connecticut Healthy Food Certification and related exemptions; outcomes carried by voice vote.","taxTitle","Middletown School District, School Districts, Connecticut","taxId",58072,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6279850,"Middletown High School enforces phone pouch policy; administrators report fewer classroom distractions but note student anxiety and repeat offenders",1505,7068000,8573000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2618352-cfa563ab598e79a0336c52835dfffc8c&start=7068&end=8573","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2618352-cfa563ab598e79a0336c52835dfffc8c/thumbnail_7068000.jpg","/articles/6279850/Connecticut/Middletown-High-School-enforces-phone-pouch-policy-administrators-report-fewer-classroom-distractions-but-note-student-anxiety-and-repeat-offenders","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279850-77679fb37b382a10442d0eeb2855ad0b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770806414&Signature=FeL-OI3oqa4YB1qke8OzifS6RFMIicUqgyMEp25QL8ZIGgvuD853VyTQL7RKjPwfl9sTOxG4Ll6rph8sF-t0u8vzpRgYUuajGSCS6ci9-1DjEYsuGbmwdWRLKTpvZvZHo5PRPABmn4SeX86Q3LI601im4f2DkS2mOaEUjXoxXWOhEL6HxX2P9CagLtSIiaszht4XfQapYi4IgzUYm9POVvwOsaRkkFMR2iIXg7W3nCVB0qbCzVYWQaUBmi7zKTDH4asTn2YxX7Z2UJO1RcmjFX2J~0UgNoNYrsZ4cqhysK2QLby-Goi96UI7pws~sMWd3MI9oADkOWPkQWBNi39BNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Middletown High School administrators briefed the board on a December initiative to limit in‑class phone use by requiring students to place devices in pouches or hand them to staff. At the March 12 meeting, administrators said the policy has reduced visible phone use in classrooms and supplied staff with a tiered response system for repeat incidents.

Principal Dr. Brooks told trustees the district follows a tiered consequence structure aligned to board regulation: an initial reminder and request; a second incident results in the device being pouched in the grade office (student retrieves it at the end of the day); a third incident requires parent pick‑up; and repeated incidents can lead to in‑school suspension and, in extreme cases, out‑of‑school suspension. Dr. Brooks said only two incidents had resulted in out‑of‑school suspension early in the rollout and that the administration seeks to avoid escalations by using the tiers and individualized plans.

Administrators said they collect incident reports through a response team that meets weekly; the team has been tracking repeat offenders and behaviors, and staff reported roughly 3,008 reported incidents since December with about 85 students appearing as repeat cases. The district said seniors and upperclassmen currently generate the most reports and that some students demonstrate significant anxiety when asked to pouch devices — one case required a multi‑hour evaluation and a safety plan involving a social worker and parent contact before the student complied.

Board members discussed enforcement mechanics and whether teachers should be expected to pouch phones at arrival; administrators said the intent is to keep enforcement off teachers’ plates as much as possible so they can teach, with the response team handling follow‑up. The administration said it will continue weekly data reviews, communicate the protocols to families (including how parents can contact students in emergencies), and refine rollout procedures for next school year with an eye to an August start that builds on lessons from the midyear launch.

Several trustees praised the approach and urged patience while the school addresses students with the strongest attachments to devices. The board and administration said they will consider additional supports and public education for families and teachers to ease the cultural change.","The district described a December rollout of phone pouches at the high school aimed at reducing classroom distraction; administrators said teacher reports show fewer in‑class phone incidents but that some students have anxiety about relinquishing phones and a small group of repeat offenders will require targeted interventions.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6279855,"District reports on hiring challenges; exit and stay interviews show generally positive onboarding and plan switch to Qualtrics for analytics",1487,4303000,5790000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2618352-cfa563ab598e79a0336c52835dfffc8c&start=4303&end=5790","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2618352-cfa563ab598e79a0336c52835dfffc8c/thumbnail_4303000.jpg","/articles/6279855/Connecticut/District-reports-on-hiring-challenges-exit-and-stay-interviews-show-generally-positive-onboarding-and-plan-switch-to-Qualtrics-for-analytics","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279855-ac3673acdc94278b9749f6cb6856ade8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770806414&Signature=G5xXsdoy9tq~I4htoPKvYzH9OaAMJFDPiLpWS4r9oFw6c5WinESXGJWsfohlzcFewMlxURL4AowC--7EMOmqvKv-L~1IBmqVr3ixlZ7aTcHYqDVb~F7ToSFuwf~rRi~POY5dlkryDoeJEdzmdGrtA-g0dkbFYAiPj2AEZXAuKB~r2ia-0JfDWqMV1CvPMxR0LzYuFjQU6uhAYTJdlRm3xHoWgVhQzkU5YyQbjwjh5Q-lrLdtOrgJJozGTd-H35SjMg-T02pifashcBR9xzsOMG7l~TfsRcTLpZZ0Ft5KbDxzirPzo0VoSg1rQxvsM6lnB~p~Wj-NLOKDYfsmxyLfIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Human resources staff reviewed exit and “stay” interview results at the March 12 board meeting, reporting a 62% response rate on exit questionnaires and overall positive assessments from new employees. The district plans to centralize exit/stay interviews and the annual climate survey in Qualtrics beginning July 1 to improve analytics and reduce manual processing.

HR staff (identified in the meeting as Harry/Schneider) said 98 exit questionnaires were issued during the review period and 61 were completed, yielding a 62% completion rate comparable to prior years and above the 20–30% online national average HR staff cited. The leading reason respondents gave for leaving was a career change; when asked whether that move was lateral or a promotion, 61.5% reported a lateral move and 38.5% said it was for career advancement.

Stay interviews (conducted with new employees within their first months) showed strong early‑job metrics: large majorities said they felt professionally supported, heard by peers and supported by supervisors, and that onboarding was a positive experience. Areas for improvement included clearer, standardized onboarding across schools, more consistent professional development access and better communication—items HR staff said they will address through standardized processes and job‑description updates.

HR told the board it is working with the Center for Public Research and Leadership to help codify onboarding and retention practices, and plans to automate interviews and reporting using Qualtrics to enable ongoing touchpoint surveys and more actionable analytics. The administration said results will be shared with school administrators and will inform future work, including a planned “stay longer” interview to capture why mid‑career employees remain in the district.

Board members asked whether interviews are anonymous (the stay interviews are; exit interviews may be identified if respondents choose), whether employees may elaborate on answers and whether the change to Qualtrics would preserve anonymity and improve response rates. HR confirmed the platform will support anonymity options and open responses, and said staff will share additional detail and open‑ended answers with the board.","Human resources presented exit‑interview and stay‑interview findings showing a 62% completion rate for exit questionnaires, recurring reasons for departures and broad satisfaction among new hires; the district plans to move interviews and climate surveys into Qualtrics and work with the Center for Public Research and Leadership on onboarding.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6279860,"Superintendent presents draft educational specifications for McDonough; district advances Kegwin renovations and enrollment study",813,6359000,7172000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2618352-cfa563ab598e79a0336c52835dfffc8c&start=6359&end=7172","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2618352-cfa563ab598e79a0336c52835dfffc8c/thumbnail_6359000.jpg","/articles/6279860/Connecticut/Superintendent-presents-draft-educational-specifications-for-McDonough-district-advances-Kegwin-renovations-and-enrollment-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279860-d59ffb5399a1bb4465cb797599200565/orig.mp4?Expires=1770806414&Signature=ew96HptqXOnSL5nh-rPTGFz9ZRiONmSfd3PSJ5s9vxcoGkemCID90TEHwkGnaTfabiQ4i6vQQC8KBNgWZnZhd0xNgKopT9~D8njs4SyROi5BeyeyACfd8YY~JARkaJt4SQIMzTR8~LNaaK88eNwjUk~YMROSXMoveIXYMjjo99AoDAD~9PxVvFZcJ2VU1xAZY8iDeXU2YijZujQave6ozn2f-OqaEcjlyem6z3hzNSgiqBNOFvj5tiX6NX~cRScQA6MI4rlRBldEf3Pk2pmTLcmq5Ur5IVZHu~67tFMm0gmNYxV0wAkn8HKH01UHCZ1oJl6YalFX2xAAhoxGFjxweA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Dr. Vasquez Matos told the March 12 meeting the district has drafted the educational specifications required by the state to apply for funding to build a replacement McDonough Elementary School and is pursuing parallel renovations at Kegwin to house interim or new programs.

The superintendent said the document before the board is not a building design but a programmatic specification the state requires to assess eligibility for reimbursement and grant funding. Staff said the packet is a working draft: the district still needs an updated enrollment study (the state requires an eight‑year outlook), and city approvals for potential acquisition of adjacent property remain pending.

Facilities director Marco Gaylord (referred to in meeting materials and updates as Marco) told trustees that the enrollment study will underscore a plan to return students who live within roughly a half‑mile of McDonough to that school and that any remaining seats could be filled by lottery. He and Superintendent Dr. Vasquez Matos said the district intends to renovate Kegwin to expand program options there — including a proposed Legacy Academy to provide alternatives for students currently placed out of district — and to use the Kegwin site to reduce interim costs during McDonough construction.

Finance executive Natalie Forbes told the board that, as with similar projects, several city council resolutions will be required and that the district will coordinate timing with the city. Staff said they are pursuing “notwithstanding language” with state legislators to allow flexibility in the application schedule so the project can be reviewed during the current session; that adjustment would be outside the standard application track. The administration also said it is actively seeking grants to offset local contributions and had identified at least one grant opportunity for Kegwin work.

Board members asked for a timeline; the superintendent said the district will meet the city later in the week to set application dates and that the educational specifications would return to the board for formal approval before the district submits them to the state. Board members also asked staff to provide the enrollment study and to begin a redistricting planning phase after the state‑level application process moved forward.

No vote on the McDonough educational specifications occurred at the March 12 meeting: the administration said item 10(d), the approval of the specs, was intentionally struck from the agenda to allow more time for edits and city coordination.","Superintendent and facilities staff briefed the board on educational specifications required for state funding for a new McDonough Elementary School and discussed renovating and reusing Kegwin for district programs; the board will review the specs for approval at a later meeting.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6279865,"Beaman students testify for school meals; district wins Chefs to Schools grant and board approves healthy-food certification",8270,866000,9136000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2618352-cfa563ab598e79a0336c52835dfffc8c&start=866&end=9136","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2618352-cfa563ab598e79a0336c52835dfffc8c/thumbnail_866000.jpg","/articles/6279865/Connecticut/Beaman-students-testify-for-school-meals-district-wins-Chefs-to-Schools-grant-and-board-approves-healthy-food-certification","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279865-c1d0daff1e3b2637c5b7ea2f97204a1c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770806414&Signature=B3yQuGLU5bqt4GS4HnU0ITfC4WEQja5uDQspiyH29SPArXsdmJFIgHxXPNmcrRJ95WageXGjxQBVU5jo9VQA~t8y~N99ILtOkWMwOFEfmbqw~I3q9WNagUhwPj7-1IOHKy6ijRZlIYfMlDKL9aGvlFVam~8gMytrcNNfnwr3UDLCmx7o8bT0l-0i99E1~BRVUVPQ8DuWJSy5-QUEUYQCMgX0KFHmeD4mTAq2IZbuOx36mNi1cy2Qi05CTAwKly-stbE47kXwqqc7zysluV3QK9QQgkvQgjeKHC6RhxK7E-fGndp80g~bR2nXft2~8EtU6TPgGjYlEWIIDrBSo77v7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A group of Beaman Middle School students who testifyied recently to state lawmakers urged support for school meals and farm‑to‑school programs, and Middletown Public Schools won a three‑year Chefs to Schools grant to place a professional chef in the district.

The testimonials, described by the district during its March 12 board meeting, were given to the state education and finance committees and highlighted students’ interest in maintaining free or broadly available school meals and in linking local food to cafeterias. Superintendent Dr. Vasquez Matos and cafeteria lead Jen Pratt told the board the district had been notified it was one of five Connecticut districts awarded the Chefs to Schools grant, which will fund a chef position for at least three years.

The board also voted to adopt the state’s Healthy Food Certification, a requirement under Connecticut law that commits the district to meet the Connecticut Nutrition Standards for foods sold to students. The board approved three motions: the certification itself for the 2025–26 year; a limited exemption allowing sales of nonconforming items at events held after the official school day or on weekends at the event location; and the same exemption specifically for beverages. Randall Lehi, who introduced the student group at the meeting, and school food staff said the certification brings an estimated 10 cents more per reimbursable lunch and roughly $41,000 in additional revenue for the district to support food service standards.

District staff said the students who testified described a mix of nerves and influence: several speakers described long waits during the testimony process but said they had persuaded at least one legislator or listener to change position. Beaman students also prepared a recipe and food samples for the board in honor of Board Appreciation Month; district staff thanked the students for representing Middletown at the state level.

Board members discussed the state funding context for school meals, noting some uncertainty at the federal and state level about whether universal free‑meal funding would continue and that some districts were reconsidering the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) because of that uncertainty. The superintendent and board urged continued advocacy and highlighted the students’ role in making the case.

The board’s motions carried without recorded roll‑call tallies; each motion was approved after the usual “all in favor” voice vote. The administration said staff will post the Chefs to Schools position and that the additional per‑meal funds will be used to support Connecticut Nutrition Standards implementation.","Students from Beaman Middle School testified before state lawmakers about school meals, Middletown received a three-year Chefs to Schools grant, and the board voted to certify compliance with Connecticut Nutrition Standards and limited exemptions for after‑hours sales.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: agenda changes, line‑item transfers, and healthy‑food certification approved

Middletown High School enforces phone pouch policy; administrators report fewer classroom distractions but note student anxiety and repeat offenders

District reports on hiring challenges; exit and stay interviews show generally positive onboarding and plan switch to Qualtrics for analytics

Superintendent presents draft educational specifications for McDonough; district advances Kegwin renovations and enrollment study

Beaman students testify for school meals; district wins Chefs to Schools grant and board approves healthy-food certification