Vernon School Board To Consider School Projects, Welcome New Staff At Aug. 24 Meeting

VERNON, CT — The Vernon Board of Education is scheduled to meet Monday with a presentation on the district's long-term school facilities plan among the major items on its agenda as the district begins the 2026-27 school year.

The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 24 in the third-floor Board of Education conference room at the Administration Building, 30 Park St. The meeting also will be available through Zoom.

The board will begin with introductions of new teachers and administrators joining Vernon Public Schools for the new school year. The packet lists new staff at schools throughout the district, including new teachers at Center Road, Lake Street, Maple Street, Northeast, Skinner Road, Vernon Center Middle School and Rockville High School. Several new central-office administrators also are listed.

The board also will recognize retired coach Art Wheelock and consider approval of a Family Resource Center grant for Maple Street School. The grant, administered through the state Department of Education through Hartford Healthcare, has been in place for more than 25 years and supports programs designed to strengthen family engagement, student learning and connections between schools and community organizations.

School Construction and Facilities

One of the most significant items on the agenda is a presentation from the Board of Education's Ad Hoc 10-Year Facility Study and Master Plan Committee concerning school projects.

The committee has been examining the district's long-term facilities needs, and the presentation is expected to provide the board with an update on potential school projects. The agenda identifies the presentation as addressing the board's goals of strengthening community partnerships and creating safe learning environments.

The facilities discussion comes as Vernon considers the future of its aging school buildings and how the district's facilities should be configured over the coming decade.

Professional Development and Evaluations

With the school year beginning, the board also will consider the teacher professional development schedule for Aug. 24-26.

The board is scheduled to vote on its Leader and Educator Evaluation and Support Plans, an item tied to the district's goal of improving student achievement through curriculum, instruction and assessment.

Personnel Matters

The board's personnel agenda includes bios for new teachers and two leave-of-absence requests. The leave requests are listed for possible discussion in executive session.

Other business

The board also is scheduled to review the 2025-26 Annual Town Report and a summary of education-related legislation enacted during the 2026 regular legislative session.

Other agenda items include a proposed bid award for the Rockville High School ASTE mechanical lab design, approval of asset disposal requests and consideration of the district's fiscal 2027 State Supplemental Education Aid Grant.

The board also will review and update its meeting calendar before allowing members of the press to ask questions concerning items on the agenda.

The meeting is one of the exceptions to the board's normal second-Monday schedule. The district's calendar lists Aug. 24 as the scheduled August meeting.