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Belltown, Conn.Vol. I, No. 14
Founded 2026
The East Hampton ❦ Belltown, ConnecticutMercuryAlways Last... To Breaking News!
Late EditionFriday, Oct. 23, 2026
Eighty-two minutes to read
Set from the Public RecordNineteen meetings · Fifty-five items · Eighty-two minutes to readNames checked against the town roster
SchoolsWho

Cristal Chan joins the school board; test rankings rise

Math and science rankings rose, and the Lions Club gave $8,000 to the Belltown Preschool.

By Jack Beckett ·

Cristal Chan is the newest member of the Board of Education. The board appointed her unanimously on Oct. 5 to the seat Kenneth Barber left when he resigned Sept. 15, and she will serve the rest of his term, which runs to November 2027. The board interviewed candidates in a closed session before its meeting.

At the board's Sept. 28 meeting, Board Chair Nancy Kohler said Barber had devoted more than 10 years to the schools.

Also on Oct. 5, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Mary Clark shared last spring's state test results. Among the 24 districts the state compares East Hampton with, because their students come from similar economic backgrounds, the town moved up to 10th in math, from 13th, and to 5th in science, from 8th.

At its Sept. 28 meeting, the board unanimously accepted an $8,000 gift from the East Hampton Lions Club to sponsor the Belltown Preschool, the preschool program at the high school, for this school year. The gift pays the program's stipend and funds scholarships that bring down its $300 tuition. Mary Krogh, honored the same night as one of this year's Friends of Education, helped arrange it. Superintendent Dr. Timothy Van Tasel called it the beginning of a broader partnership with the club. "Lions have just been a wonderful organization," he said.

Related coverage

Next ❦ Board of Education, Monday, Oct. 26, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall. The middle school forum is Tuesday, Oct. 27, 6:30 p.m.
Board of Education, Sept. 28 and Oct. 5, 2026. Watch Sept. 28 · Watch Oct. 5 · Oct. 5, after the closed session

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SchoolsWho

An open seat on the Board of Education

Kenneth Barber has resigned

Board of Education member Kenneth Barber has resigned, and the board is seeking a new member, Board of Finance member Daniel Finn reported Sept. 21. The district's roster lists one of its nine seats as "To Be Determined."

The eight members listed are Chair Nancy Kohler, Vice Chair August "Augie" Arndt, Secretary Edie DeSimone, Corrine Clark-Barney, Matt Engelhardt, Nathan Jaycox, Sarah LeBlanc and Sarah King.

Related coverage

The board decides how the $39.55 million is spent, line by line.
Next ❦ Board of Education, Monday, Sept. 28, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall Council Chambers.
Board of Finance minutes, Sept. 21, 2026. Read the minutes
SchoolsThe Number

$68,036

The school district's Title I grant, down from $127,105

The school district's Title I grant fell to $68,036 this year from $127,105 last year, the superintendent told the Board of Education on Sept. 14. Title I is federal money for schools that serve students from low-income families.

The district had budgeted about $80,000 and carried over the share of last year's money it was allowed to keep, so its Title I account remains slightly positive, according to the minutes. A second federal grant, Title II, was first reported as zero; after the district called the state it came in at $24,389.

Related coverage

The grant is about half of last year's; this year, carryover money keeps the account in the black.
Board of Education minutes, Sept. 14, 2026. Read the minutes
SchoolsThe Date

Four school forums, one at each school

Tuesday evenings from Oct. 20 to Dec. 15

Superintendent Dr. Timothy Van Tasel announced a series of community forums, one at each school, all on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8 p.m.: Oct. 20 at East Hampton High School, Oct. 27 at the middle school, Nov. 17 at Memorial School and Dec. 15 at Center School.

Administrators will cover academic priorities, school programs, staffing and enrollment, and building needs, with time set aside for questions.

Related coverage

Each forum sets aside time for residents' questions.
Next ❦ First forum: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 6:30 p.m., East Hampton High School.
Board of Education minutes, Sept. 14, 2026. Read the minutes

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