Jeffrey A. Villar

The key discussion topic for this meeting was a presentation on the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Budget. The presentation included details on projected revenue, the proposed budget breakdown by category, factors driving the budget increase, and historical and proposed staffing levels by building, along with outlining the next steps.

The Facilities Committee meeting addressed a critical issue regarding a heating boiler failure at Goshen Center School, which was attributed to premature aging caused by hard water. Following a discussion, the committee reached a consensus to proceed with issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a full boiler replacement and the installation of a water filtration system to mitigate future issues.

Key discussions during the meeting included recognizing January Points of Pride recipients, whose poems were selected for publication. The Facilities Committee reported on an inoperable boiler at Goshen Center School, recommending an RFP for a replacement boiler and water filtration pricing. The Curriculum Committee reviewed the OpenSciEd middle school science curriculum. The Board discussed and possibly acted on developing an Ad Hoc Finance Advisory Committee, ultimately tabling the discussion until the next meeting. The Consent Agenda approved meeting minutes from December 11, 2025, the first read of several new or revised policies (including those related to advanced courses, Title I involvement, instruction concepts, and school calendars/days), and several new hires. The out-of-state professional development approval was removed from the consent agenda for separate action. The Superintendent provided an update and presented the January Personnel Report. Finance updates included approval of budget line item transfers and a transfer of funds to the Town of Litchfield, with the district projecting a surplus. Public comments addressed the need for a Building Utilization Master Plan and budget cuts' impact. The Board discussed and eventually voted against a foreign country field trip to the Galapagos Islands but unanimously approved a field trip to Walt Disney World, FL. Finally, the out-of-state professional development approval for Stowe, VT, was unanimously approved.

The Curriculum Committee meeting included a presentation on the OpenSciEd Science Program for middle school (grades 6-8). The presentation covered examples of units for each grade level, implementation successes, challenges encountered, and outlined the next steps for the program.

The Ad Hoc Building Utilization Committee meeting focused on the discussion of the Long-Term School Building Utilization Plan. Key topics included presenting the current district facility conditions, available funding, and state reimbursement possibilities. The Superintendent introduced the concept of conducting a master plan study to comprehensively assess all school buildings, sharing examples from another district and addressing subsequent questions regarding study costs, potential grant funding avenues, and the expected timeline for developing a Request for Proposal (RFP).