Our Schools: A new reporting focus for the Woodbridge Town Chronicle

As many readers know, there are two public school districts serving Woodbridge families: Amity Regional School District No. 5, which educates students in grades 7–12 from Bethany, Orange, and Woodbridge; and the Woodbridge School District, which operates Beecher Road School for grades Pre-K–6. Together, these districts form a major part of our community’s identity and represent a significant share of our annual town budget. Their decisions — on curriculum, staffing, facilities, and long-term planning — shape not only the educational experience of local children but also the financial and civic landscape of Woodbridge as a whole.

Because of their central role in community life, the Woodbridge Town Chronicle is launching a new ongoing section dedicated to school news, governance, and budgeting. We’ll follow the work of both Boards of Education, highlight upcoming meetings and policy changes, and bring readers regular updates on programs, achievements, and issues affecting our students and taxpayers.

This week, we begin with a closer look at the Amity Regional School District, which is entering a new budget cycle and seating newly elected members of its Board. In a coming edition, we will turn our attention to the Woodbridge School District to share what’s happening at Beecher Road School and how local planning and budgeting will shape its future.

Amity Region 5

Each month, the Amity Board of Education Chair publishes a community update summarizing key developments across the regional 7–12 district. This month’s message focuses on board transitions, the launch of the 2026–27 budget cycle, and fall happenings across the schools. It can be read in full at the Amity Region 5 website. Some highlights reported this month include:

Thanking Departing Board Members - With newly elected members joining the ABOE, the district is recognizing several outgoing representatives from Orange and Bethany for their years of service. Their contributions to Curriculum, Policy, Finance, and Facilities committees are highlighted, along with their leadership and advocacy for Amity’s students and communities.

Early Budget Work for 2026–27 Begins - Principals and district directors have submitted their projected needs for the coming year, kicking off the development of the 2026–27 budget. The Superintendent’s proposed budget will be reviewed by the Amity Finance Committee in January and the full Board of Education in February, with joint workshops scheduled for January 26 and February 23before the budget is sent to voters in May.

Athletics: A Strong Fall Season - This month’s update also captures a standout fall for Amity athletics:

• Boys’ Cross Country won the Class L State Championship.
• Girls’ Soccer finished as Class LL State Tournament runner-up.
• Girls’ Volleyball secured their second straight SCC Conference Championship.
• Girls’ Swimming & Diving earned their third consecutive SCC title.

Homecoming and Alumni Connections - Homecoming 2025 welcomed more than 60 alumni from the Class of 1975 for student-led tours of the high school. Spirit week traditions, a pep rally, and a Homecoming Dance attended by more than 725 students rounded out a month of celebrations.

Graduation Date Set - The Amity Board of Education set the date of graduation for the Class of 2026 with commencement exercises to be held on Thursday, June 11, 2026, beginning at 4:00 pm.

Looking Ahead: Tonight’s Regular Amity Board of Education Meeting

The Amity Board of Education meets tonight, Monday, December 8 at 6:30 pm at Amity Regional High School. With new members now sworn in, the Board will elect its officers for the coming two-year term and continue work on the 2026–27 budget. The full meeting agenda is available on the Amity Region 5 website.

Amity BOE Membership by Town and Term

Woodbridge (4 seats)

• Donna Schuster — term ending 2029
• Carol Oladele — term ending 2029
• Sudhir Karunakaran — term ending 2027
• Patrick Reed (currently serving as Vice Chair) — term ending 2027

Bethany (2 seats)

• Autumn Cloud Ingram — term ending 2029
• Donna Schlank (currently serving as Deputy Treasurer) — term ending 2027

Orange (7 seats)

• Paul Davis (currently serving as Chair) — term ending 2027
• Cathy Bradley (currently serving as Secretary) — term ending 2027
• Michael McDonough (currently serving as Treasurer) — term ending 2027
• Dana Lombardi — term ending 2027
• Jennifer Jacquet — term ending 2029
• Meghan Rabuse — term ending 2029
• Christian Young — term ending 2029