Wallingford‑Swarthmore board approves minutes, personnel actions, equity policy, student services contracts and budget guidance

At its Dec. 22 meeting, the Wallingford‑Swarthmore School District board moved through several consent and action items with unanimous votes on each recorded roll call.

Minutes and personnel: The board approved minutes of the Nov. 20, 2025 regular meeting and the December minutes after a motion and second; a roll call recorded six 'Aye' votes and the motion passed 6‑0. Later, the board approved 12 personnel items (resignations/retirements, appointments, leaves of absence, position changes, mentor appointments, conference requests and activity supplementals) by roll call 6‑0.

Policy: On second reading the board adopted a new equity policy after a short summary by Superintendent Johnston. Johnston said the policy builds on an earlier equity statement and outlines specific areas — curricular materials, discipline and achievement monitoring — where the district will pursue improved equitable outcomes. The board voted to adopt the policy; roll call was 6‑0.

Student services contracts: The board approved two student services actions: a contract with BAYADA Home Healthcare Inc. and associated Social Work PRN services. A roll call vote recorded all six members in favor.

Finance and budget guidance: The board approved 11 finance and facilities items, including vendor payments, November financial statements, budget transfers and capital program items. Two resolutions drew brief explanatory remarks: an Act 1 opt‑out resolution (the district will not exceed the Act 1 index of 3.5% when considering tax options) and a nonbinding budget guidance resolution setting a 3.0%–3.4% range for administration to use as it builds a draft FY27 budget. As board member Mister Miller explained, those resolutions are guidance to aid budget construction and are not the board’s approval of a tax increase. Both resolutions and the finance package passed on a 6‑0 roll call.

Votes and roll calls were recorded by Miss Mosley; Doctor Crawford, Mister Dibble, Missus Livingstone, Mister Miller, Missus Whitsett and Missus Williams were recorded voting 'Aye' on the listed items. No items were separated for discussion, and no recorded 'No' or abstention votes occurred.