While costs remained to be negotiated, the Board of Education (BOE) voted unanimously on June 21 to extend Branford's Superintendent of Schools contract to June 30, 2020.

BOE chairman Michael Krause said he was pleased to announce the renewal, which continues the leadership of Branford Public Schools under Superintendent Hamlet Hernandez, who first joined the district in 2010 from his position as an Assistant Superintendent with Hamden Public Schools.

The announcement came at the end of a lengthy full board meeting on June 21 and discussion lasting over two hours in executive session. The session included a discussion of the superintendent's evaluation and contract and a legal update on a CHRO (Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities) complaint.

The June 21 full board meeting also served to wrap up the school year and included a special BOE recognition of the Branford High School Girl's Lacrosse State M 2017 Champions.

In addition, during his Superintendent's presentation earlier that night, Hernandez provided an update on the next-generation Walsh Intermediate School (WIS) project.

With the final decision of the state bonding commission still out at the time, Hernandez told Zip06/The Sound on June 21 he's "optimistic" that the town would receive bonding applied for in June 2016.

"We have relative confidence because it's not necessarily current-year [state budget] dollars," Hernandez said. "I'm cautiously optimistic. We think we'll have an answer in the early part of July."

On June 21, Hernandez told the BOE that design documents reviewed at the state earlier in June were very well received. Hernandez also noted that incoming WIS principal Raenne Reynolds would replace a vacancy left by exiting WIS principal Robin Goeler on the WIS building committee of the Public Building Commission. In March, Hernandez announced Reynolds and Goeler would be transitioning to new roles with the 2017-18 school year, with Reynolds as WIS principal and Goeler as principal of Murphy Elementary School.

For the 2017-18 schools budget, the BOE approved Hernandez' recommendation to adjust the health insurance account by some $23,000 in order to meet a cut of $23,000 made by the Board of Finance (BOF) and approved by the Representative Town Meeting during the 2017-18 town budget process.

In closing the meeting, Krause recognized the BOE's discussion of the Superintendent's contract in executive committee and called for the vote to renew Hernandez' contract for another year.

"The only thing I want to say before we vote is Hamlet we're very pleased with what you've been able to accomplish this past year. Using some of your words, a superintendent's job is definitely a complex job. There's a variety of different directions that you go in on a daily basis, and when you walk in the door, you never know what is going to be there some days. We appreciate how you managed the budget this year and [how] you and your chief financial officer negotiated our union contracts very well. Over the last three to four years; we've brought all of our unions into the [health savings account] which has saved the town money. All of our employees are also willing to agree to go into those plans so we appreciate that," said Krause.

"There's a host of other things I could say, but it's getting late," Krause added. "We do appreciate all the work that you have done for this school district, and most importantly our children as well as our staff. We thank you very much."

"It's my privilege," Hernandez responded. "You're welcome."

Following Krause's comments, BOE member Dr. Kate Marsland said, "I want to note that we are living in extraordinary financial times, unprecedented financial times. And I think that, renewing the contract, I just want to make sure that we're clear that we're renewing the contract and not discussing the financial obligations at this point."

The BOE then voted unanimously to approve renewal of the contract.

The next full meeting of the Branford BOE is set for Wednesday, August 16 at 7 p.m. at Branford High School in the Media Center.