The meeting commenced with the board honoring Lori Palante for her quick and decisive action in saving a choking student. Palante, a member of Cedar Hill’s emergency response team, performed the Heimlich maneuver, successfully averting a crisis. Her actions underscored the importance of first aid training and staff readiness. Palante expressed gratitude for the recognition and encouraged others to acquire life-saving skills, saying, “You never know when you might be in a position to make a difference in someone’s life.”

Following this commendation, representatives from the Montville Historical Society and the Historic Preservation Review Commission (HPRC) discussed their ongoing initiatives. Anthony Angelini, speaking for both organizations, clarified their roles: the HPRC manages applications for historically registered properties, while the Historical Society collaborates with community groups. Angelini proposed adding a history teacher and a student to the HPRC to enhance educational engagement and provide youth with hands-on experience in historical preservation.

The Historical Society announced the reopening of the Montville Township Museum and the Daris House, inviting the community to explore the town’s history. The society aims to reinstate school tours for third-grade classes, offering insights into Montville’s past, which dates back to the 1600s. Angelini emphasized the importance of community involvement, proposing collaborations with the school system for research projects and special events involving students and teachers.

A community member praised improvements at the Montville Museum and suggested better advertisement of events to increase public awareness. Museum representatives acknowledged the need for enhanced outreach efforts, despite existing promotions through local media. They mentioned ongoing collaborations with county officials to highlight Montville’s historical significance during the Revolutionary War and participation in planning heritage trails linking local historical sites.

The meeting then addressed financial matters with a presentation of the district’s annual audit. The auditors reported timely completion of the audit, resulting in three unmodified opinions, the highest assurance level. The district concluded the fiscal year with a $16.4 million fund balance, including allocations for capital improvements and tax relief. The auditors commended the district’s financial management, noting the absence of corrective action recommendations for the second consecutive year.

Board members expressed appreciation for the financial team’s efforts and discussed vigilance regarding state unemployment billing discrepancies. The auditors highlighted the district’s consistent financial operations, essential for maintaining budgetary integrity.

Additionally, the board announced the implementation of Gaggle, a software monitoring system for enhancing student safety. This tool will monitor students’ use of digital platforms, identifying behaviors related to self-harm, depression, cyberbullying, or threats. Administrators will receive alerts, and law enforcement will be notified in life-threatening situations. The district emphasized Gaggle’s effectiveness in other schools and its necessity for safeguarding students.

The meeting included a report on school incidents from September 1 to December 1, 2024. The total incidents decreased compared to the previous year, with fewer violent incidents and vandalism cases at the high school. The report noted a reduction in harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB) incidents, attributing improvements to the efforts of teachers and administrators.

During public participation, a parent raised concerns about federal policy changes affecting immigration enforcement, federal funding, support for LGBTQ students, and history education. The parent, a public interest attorney, stressed the need for clear district policies regarding interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and contingency planning for potential federal funding freezes. They also advocated for continued support of LGBTQ students amid political shifts.

A board member acknowledged these concerns, emphasizing ongoing consultations with legal counsel about ICE interactions, noting that agents cannot enter schools without a warrant. The board member expressed worry over federal funding, which contributes to the district’s budget, and reassured that the district’s independent school lunch program is insulated from federal issues.