The Middletown School District board voted Nov. 2, 2025, to approve revised educational specifications for the McDonough Elementary School renovation extension and to authorize submission of a priority application to the Department of Administrative Services.

Staff member Marco Gaylord said the priority application for the renovation extension was submitted to the Department of Administrative Services on Sept. 29, 2025; the state asked for clarifications including the proposed age range, anticipated enrollment and a project overview. "We're here this morning for the priority application for the renovation extension of the McDonough Elementary School which was submitted to the Department of Administrative Services on September 9 excuse me 09/29/2025," Gaylord said.

The revised educational specifications dated Nov. 2, 2025, that the board approved list the school's proposed age range as prekindergarten through grade 5 and state an anticipated enrollment of 350 students. The project overview included the planned purchase of two land parcels. The board approved the specifications on a roll-call vote after a short procedural exchange on reading the document as presented.

Board members made the motion, seconded, and the clerk conducted a roll-call vote; Chair Sheila Daniels, board member Adam Hain, board member Deb Klakowski (recorded later in the roll call with a variant spelling), board member Paul Pantera (recorded later with a variant spelling), and board member Susan Owens each voted yes and the motion carried. Joyce Carey was assigned to file the approved materials with the state.

During the meeting the board also moved to accept the minutes of the Oct. 14, 2025 meeting and later formally adjourned; both motions were approved by voice or roll-call vote with no recorded dissents.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Accept minutes for Oct. 14, 2025. Outcome: Approved (voice vote). Mover: recorded in discussion; Second: Adam Hain. Vote tally: unanimous (aye recorded). Notes: standard acceptance of prior minutes.

- Motion: Accept revised educational specifications dated 11/02/2025 for submission of the McDonough Elementary School renovation extension priority application to the Department of Administrative Services. Outcome: Approved (roll-call). Mover: motion made on the floor (recorded as moved); Second: recorded. Vote tally: Sheila Daniels — yes; Adam Hain — yes; Deb Klakowski/Pawlowski (name variant in minutes) — yes; Paul Pantera/Pan Sierra (name variant) — yes; Susan Owens — yes. Notes: Specifications list pre-K through grade 5, anticipated enrollment 350, and purchase of two land parcels; state had requested clarifications prior to approval.

- Motion: Adjourn. Outcome: Approved (voice vote). Notes: Board paused and indicated intent to reconvene at 9:30 a.m. before formally adjourning the special meeting.

What the board approved does not itself appropriate construction funds or finalize land purchases; the approved document is the district's revised educational specifications to accompany a priority application to the state Department of Administrative Services. The meeting record does not specify project funding sources, estimated project costs, or timelines for construction beyond the enrollment and site parcel information approved in the specifications.

Clarifying details extracted from the meeting record: anticipated enrollment — 350 students; proposed age range — pre-K through grade 5; application submission date to Department of Administrative Services — Sept. 29, 2025; revised educational specifications document date — Nov. 2, 2025; planned purchase — two land parcels; minutes accepted — Oct. 14, 2025; next convening discussed at 9:30 a.m. The transcript records variant spellings of some board member names during roll call; those variants are preserved in the vote record and noted in clarifying details.