Norwich Public Schools Board of Education Meeting - 1/13/2026

The Norwich Public Schools Board of Education held its monthly meeting on January 13, 2026. The meeting included recognition awards for staff and volunteers, updates on student activities, and the introduction of a new principal. Significant procurement-related discussions focused on budget updates, including challenges with special education funding and state grants such as the SEED grant ($65,000) and the Alliance grant (nearly $17 million). The board discussed the recent approval of the DRIP program by the Connecticut Bonding Commission, which allocates approximately $244,000 for small capital improvement projects for Norwich Public Schools. The business administrator highlighted ongoing budget pressures due to underfunding and rising special education costs, as well as health insurance cost increases and efforts to explore new insurance broker options. The board also reviewed and voted on several policy updates, including non-discrimination policies, with some debate on gender identity protections. A presentation was given on the Rose City School, a therapeutic program supporting special education students, emphasizing its community impact and funding through state grants. No new contracts or vendor selections were explicitly mentioned, but the discussion of grants and capital funding indicates ongoing procurement and budget planning activities.