Donation for East Haven Teen Injured by Falling Tree Rescinded

EAST HAVEN, CT - The Board of Education's recent $5,000 donation to help the family of a teen who was critically injured this past summer while mowing his lawn has been rescinded.

At its most recent Board of Education meeting, the school board voted to donate $5,000 to the fundraising efforts to help 16-year-old Nick Vessicchio.

A discussion was held about where the funds would come from during the board meeting. Board member Christine Maisano, who made the motion to appropriate the $5,000, stated it was for an "extraordinary circumstance and should not set a precedent for the future."

But, Board of Education Chairwoman Michele DeLucia issued a statement in reaction to a story about the donation on Patch. It said: "In consultation with the Board of Education attorney, it is determined that the donation cannot be made in accordance to Connecticut state statute 10-22 through 10-40.

"The Board of Education is not statutorily authorized to make such a donation, as it falls outside the authority granted to it to make expenditures for public education. Specifically such a donation is not encompassed in any of the rights granted to the Board of Eduation by legislation," DeLucia said.

DeLucia added: "The request was not part of the regular agenda, and though all the Board of Education members hearts were in the right place the practicality of carrying this action out was questionable."