Jenna Aylsworth

The meeting began with the reading of the Board's Mission Statement. Key agenda items included student representative reports and financial reports. Committee reports covered Curriculum & Professional Practices, Finance, and Policy. Under New Business, there was a discussion concerning the Open Choice program with a representative from the Capitol Region Education Council. The Board also discussed and took possible action regarding the notification to certified staff concerning contract non-renewal due to budgetary reasons. Furthermore, the Board discussed and approved Stage 1 Curriculum for K-5 Mathematics and 7th & 8th Grade Mathematics. Finally, the Board appointed a member to the CATV Advisory Council.

The Finance Committee meeting agenda included a Financial Report for January 2026, a review of transfers, and discussions on New Business and Old Business. Key discussion points in the financial report detailed variances in Salaries (due to FMLA and vacancies) and Other Expenses (including increases in dental/disability insurance, transportation costs, and tuition for outplaced students), noting a pause in General Expenditures spending (budget freeze). Transfers, particularly those related to bus monitors, were reviewed and motioned to the full board. New Business involved reviewing school expenditure reports and providing an overview of the preliminary FY26-27 budget, highlighting significantly higher expected costs for health insurance due to rising claim costs, and increases in contracted services due to minimum wage adjustments. The budget freeze process, where expenditures are tightly examined for necessity, was also explained.

The Finance Committee reviewed the January 2026 Financial Report, noting unencumbered general funds compared to the previous year. Discussion points included salary variances due to FMLA leave coverages, resignations, and an administrative vacancy. Other expense variances involved increased benefit costs due to new hires, unbudgeted maintenance and HVAC repairs, transportation billing adjustments, and increased legal fees. Special Education tuition and transportation costs also exceeded budget. A general spending pause was implemented for the remainder of the year to manage the budget tightly. Transfers were reviewed, including salary movements to cover substitute needs resulting from leaves and the Assistant Superintendent vacancy. The committee also briefly discussed preventative measures for severe cold weather impacting HVAC equipment and provided an update on the FY 26-27 Budget Discussion, noting the Town of Avon's proposed budget increase.

Key discussions and actions during the meeting included presentations recognizing an Avon Middle School student for initiating the Special Education Youth Advisory Council, an Assistant Principal as the CT Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year, and the Director of Nutrition Services for a national award related to school meals. The Board approved the minutes from previous Special Meeting, Monthly Meeting, and Special Budget Workshop meetings. Public communication focused on advocating for the addition of EID holidays to the school calendar. Information items covered student representative reports from all schools concerning activities like the Avon 250th anniversary kickoff and midterms. Committee reports were given, noting upcoming negotiations for administrative and security contracts. The Superintendent's Report addressed hiring updates, slight enrollment increases, strategic planning including Professional Development, and two approved field trips: one to Boston for a Junior Achievement competition and another for Open Choice students to visit Historically Black Colleges. The New Business section featured extensive discussion and final approval of the 2026-2027 School Year Calendar, including the addition of EID-al-Fitr as a recognized holiday based on community impact research. Additionally, the Board discussed and subsequently approved the proposed 2026-2027 Gross Budget of $77,747,362, detailing budget drivers such as a 4.09% increase in Health Insurance costs and outlining reductions made to offset growth, including absorbing an Assistant Superintendent role.

The meeting focused on curriculum review and revision processes. Key discussions included the K-5 Math Curriculum Review and Revision Process, emphasizing standards, goals, and the shift towards developing students as thinkers and problem solvers. The 7-8 Math Curriculum Overview presented both traditional and advanced pathways, focusing on conceptual understanding. Additionally, the Youth Mental Health First Aid Curriculum was introduced by a representative from the Farmington Valley Health District, covering its structure, goals related to recognizing mental health challenges, and addressing concerns regarding bias and cultural responsiveness in the materials. The committee subsequently approved Stage 1 Curriculum for both K-5 and 7-8 Math to move forward to the full Board.