Schools Update
August is typically the time when families and students reluctantly allow thoughts of school to begin to make their way into their minds. However, before the school year ended in June, preparations were already being made for the 2024-25 school year.
At its meeting on June 13, our dedicated Board of Education approved the final purchases from the 2023-24 school operating budget. With the positive vote of the Town at the June 11 Town meeting the BOE secured a 2024-25 school budget in the amount of $4,610,243 that will allow for the continuation of quality educational programming for all our students.
While we continue to search for a second full-time custodian, Lory Kneeland, our daytime custodian, has been quite busy, with the support of part-time summer helpers, cleaning, painting and making repairs throughout the school. The district and school administrative teams are focused on implementing procedures and protocols that will make the return to school for EES staff on Aug. 26 (and students on Aug. 28) a welcoming and wonderful experience. All families with students attending Eastford Elementary School will be receiving a letter from Principal Carole McCombe filled with many important details about the beginning of the school year.
If you are new to Eastford, please be sure to contact the Eastford Elementary School office to register your children, including those of high school age, as soon as possible. Details concerning the registration process, and other important school and district information, including the 2024-25 school calendar, as well as current district and school policies can be found on our district/school website, www.eastfordct.org. Please note, however, that information for all Eastford high school students is best accessed on their respective high school websites.
EASTCONN will once again be providing school bus transportation services for our students. As we move closer to the start of school, information will be provided by the school and on the website that will provide families with information on how you can access bus routes and additional transportation information.
We are happy to announce, that based on our past success, we will once again be offering, through grant funding, free after-school programming to all students in kindergarten through grade 8. For K-8 students, the grant covers the cost of all after-school childcare and participation in any after-school enrichment activities. However, we do charge fees for the use of the childcare program in the morning for all attendees. Unfortunately, the grant does not cover preschool-aged children, so fees for both the morning and afternoon sessions will be assessed on a sliding scale based on family income for children who are not yet in kindergarten.
There are several locations offering free meals through the USDA Summer Meals Program to children 18 and younger. To find a location, please visit www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks or call 1-866-348-6479. If you are interested in additional information on the program, you can visit the website at www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/summer-food-service-program.
I am excited to welcome all our new and returning Eastford families, staff and students to a new and exciting year of learning in the 2024-25 school year. In the meantime, I wish you continued enjoyment of the summer days. You are also invited to contact me at [email protected] if you have questions or concerns and/or would like to schedule an appointment. Of course, please feel welcome to stop by to say hello before our regularly scheduled school BOE meetings.