The 2024–25 school year may be coming to a close, but the Granby Board of Education continues to build an exciting momentum. Before sharing what we have in the works, I wish to thank everyone who voted to support the budget. The board of education worked very hard to provide the best possible options for students with a keen eye on ensuring the best value for taxpayers—now, and in the future.
Investment in Special Education
The primary reason we were able to keep the budget much lower than surrounding communities is due to new special education programs that Superintendent Cheri Burke and her administration developed by skillfully shifting existing resources. Serving the needs of our special education families in-district benefits all students and provides substantial cost savings to our schools. But we’ve only just scratched the surface. This is an area that we will continue to invest in and grow to meet the changing needs of our students while reducing the burden on taxpayers for years to come.
Investment in Learning
We are beginning to see preliminary signs of strong progress with our test scores. Early data from PSAT, SAT and Smarter Balanced Assessments demonstrates some solid gains in math and English language arts and we look forward to seeing the final data after it is certified this summer. Results will be presented by Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Parsons at a board meeting in the fall.
Investment in Infrastructure
The custodial staff under the outstanding leadership of Chris DeGray will be working hard to improve and maintain our facilities so students come back to schools that are better equipped than the year before. The aging bleachers in the high school community gym will be replaced in the next few months. Granby Memorial Middle School is an aging building and requires substantial care and improvements. We are working to identify a comprehensive plan to improve the middle school in the near future. The BOE is also working hard to find the funds necessary to replace the turf track and improve athletic fields at the high school. I will continue to meet with Burke and town leaders throughout the summer as we have a lot to plan, including some large capital improvements that are on the horizon.
Also, this summer we will begin the hiring process for the new school resource officer who will be an important new asset to Granby students next school year. Once the officer is identified, they will engage in specific SRO training this summer and work with district administrators to plan for this exciting new role.
While our work continues for a strong 2025-26 school year, we take a moment to recognize members of the class of 2025 for their growth and accomplishments and to wish them many future successes.