Amity Budget, Policy Updates, and Fall Sports Champions
Thank You to Our Departing Board Members
On behalf of the Board of Education, our Amity students, faculty, staff, parents, and community, we would like to thank the Board members who are ending their terms on November 30. Carla Eichler served the Orange community for eight years; Christina Levere D’Addio and Sean Hartshorn represented Orange for four years; and Andrea Hubbard served the Bethany community for six years. We appreciate the work they brought to the Curriculum, Policy, Finance, and Facilities committees, their advocacy for students and their towns, and, most of all, their civic responsibility, collaboration, and leadership.
Principals’ and Directors’ Budget Presentations
Work has begun on the 2026-2027 budget. At the November Special Meeting, principals and department directors presented estimated needs for the 2026-2027 school year. These requests are submitted to the Superintendent so that she may prepare her proposed budget, which will be presented to the Amity Finance Committee (AFC) in January 2026. The Superintendent will then review her proposal with the Boards of Finance in each town, followed by a presentation to the full Board of Education (BOE) in February. Two combined AFC and BOE workshop meetings are planned for January 26, 2026, and February 23, 2026. These combined meetings allow the AFC, Superintendent, and full Board to refine the budget until the Board is ready to send it to voters for approval in early May.
Statutory Updates to Policies Approved at November Regular Board Meeting
Each year, the Connecticut General Assembly adopts new laws that impact the operation of local and regional Boards of Education, and these updates are reflected in Amity Board policies. A new state law passed in 2025, often referred to as “An Act Concerning School and Public Libraries,” establishes statewide requirements for school library operations. It requires all boards of education to adopt three distinct policies: Library Collection Development and Maintenance, Library Display and Program, and Library Material Review and Reconsideration. These policies set clear standards for selecting, maintaining, and reviewing library materials, ensuring decisions are based on professional and educational criteria rather than personal opinions. The law also establishes a formal process for reviewing challenged materials. It requires a superintendent-appointed committee, including educators, parents, and administrators, to evaluate materials and issue a written decision within sixty school days. Challenges are limited to parents or guardians of enrolled students, enrolled students, and current district staff members. At the November 10th meeting, the Board voted to rescind its prior library materials policy and adopt the three new policies in order to comply with these requirements.
Fall Athletic Champions
Congratulations to the Amity Boys’ Cross Country team for their Class L State Championship win. Racing against the best runners from all the state’s Class L schools, the Spartans had seven runners place in the top 44, with two runners placing in the top 10. Luke Cushing won the individual Class L state title with his first-place finish in a time of 15:57.51.
The Amity girls’ soccer team had a standout season, capped off with a spot in the Class LL State Tournament finals, and they ended the season as the CIAC Class LL runner-up team.
The ARHS girls’ volleyball team won their second SCC Conference Championship in a row, defeating Sacred Heart Academy in a highly competitive game with a final score of 3-1. The Amity girls’ swimming & diving team won their third SCC conference championship in a row competing against the best swimmers and divers from throughout the conference.
Graduation Date Set
The Amity Board of Education set the date of graduation for the Class of 2026. Commencement exercises will be held on Thursday, June 11, 2026, beginning at 4:00 pm. State Statutes permit Boards of Education to set a fixed date for graduation which does not change because of snow days. Missed days will still be made up at the end of the year and may push the final day of school past graduation for all students except those graduating.
Veterans’ Day Programs
On November 11, 2025, each school across the district honored Veterans in its own unique way. At AMSB, the social studies department invited veterans from our community to speak with middle school students and share their experiences of service to our country. At AMSO, students and staff proudly welcomed local veterans to school in recognition of Veterans Day. Guests were honored with a student-led ceremony that expressed our gratitude for their service and sacrifice. Following the ceremony, veterans and their families met with a group of AMSO students for a Q&A session, giving students an authentic and meaningful glimpse into military life. Students also wrote letters to veterans and raised more than $1,200 for Disabled American Veterans. At ARHS, staff and faculty members who are veterans were recognized for their service with personalized coffee mugs engraved by our CTE students and department. The high school also set up the Missing Man Table in the cafeteria, an annual tradition meant to remind students and staff of fallen, missing, or imprisoned service members. In addition, the high school ran a Salute to Veterans Gear Store. This effort raised $400 for the Fisher House Foundation and added school spirit to the Veterans’ Day football game held on November 7, 2025.
Homecoming 2025
For the past two years, volunteer Link Crew leaders have provided tours for Amity Alumni as part of their 50th Reunion celebrations. On November 7, 2025, Amity welcomed back the Amity Class of ’75 and gave a tour of the school to more than 60 members of the class. Throughout the week, student Government hosted spirit days and a pep rally. On November 22nd, the ARHS Student Government hosted the annual Amity Regional High School Homecoming Dance. Over 725 students participated in this annual tradition. The Board of Education appreciates the teachers, administrators, PTSO, and other volunteers who make these opportunities available to our students.
