January 8, 2015 at 6:00 PM - Bethel Board of Education Policy Committee Meeting

The Board of Education policy subcommittee has met twice to discuss the draft policy and regulations (1324).   Here is an outline of the steps taken by the subcommittee: 

1. The subcommittee reviewed sample policies from a variety of districts. 

2. The subcommittee selected a version which reflects the issues related to Bethel Public Schools.

3. The subcommittee asked the administration to take a revised version to the principals and the Athletic Director for their input. 

4. Ms. Yonsky and I met to review and revise for the policy subcommittees review. 

5. Ms. Yonsky and I met with the principals and Athletic Director to gather their input. 

6. The revised policy was then re-submitted to the policy for their input. 

7. The subcommittee asked the administration to share the draft with key stakeholder groups (PTO’s and Booster’s) for their comments.  This process has begun. 

The following is a synthesis of key issues that exist with fundraising activities that were considered as the Bethel Board of Education, policy subcommittee developed the attached draft fundraising policy: 

1. There currently is no approval process for fundraising activities.  This makes it difficult to regulate fundraising across the district and determine the purpose of the fundraising activities. 

2. Local businesses are constantly being solicited, not only in monetary support, but non-cash gifts (i.e., gift cards, donations for raffles, etc.). The businesses are not always clear which are district-sponsored fundraisers. 

3. There is not always clear communication of the purpose of the fundraising activities. 

4. There is a concern that there may be mandatory fundraising activities.

5. Fundraising activities not only benefit the schools directly but also support charitable organizations, scholarships and events (Prom Night, ROTC Ball, etc.).  

6. Parents have raised concerns that they are constantly being asked to participate in or give money to fundraising activities.

Attached is a draft of policy number 5141.7 regarding student concussions for your review and discussion as a full board. P.A. 14-66: An Act Concerning Youth Athletics and Concussions requires that school districts develop policy requiring school districts to develop policy regarding youth concussions.

Specifically, the act requires that:

To be implemented by July 1, 2014: (1) qualified school employee must provide notice within 24 hours after removing the student and (2) make reasonable effort to provide the notice immediately after the student is removed when a student is removed from an athletic activity for a concussion or suspected concussion; (3) collect and report the nature and extent of the concussion; and (4) circumstances in which the student substantiated it.

To be implemented by July 2015: (1) SBE to develop an informed consent form on concussions for parents of student athletes (2) districts to provide the form to parents and obtain their consent authorizing the student to participate in the athletic activity; (3) implement a concussion education plan; (4) prohibit students from participating in athletic activities unless the student and his/her parents meet the requirements of the plan; and (5) annual training for coaches.

The policy subcommittee has met twice to review and make suggested revisions to the attached draft policy. It also has been reviewed with legal counsel.

It is important to note that, the administration has already implemented many of the requirements of the legislation, even those that are not expected to be implemented until the 2015-2016 school year. We have implemented the parental consent form developed by the CIAC. We have provided advanced training to all coaches. We have a notification process to parents. We also have a well established return to play guidelines. We are working to ensure all our coaches of extracurricular sports at Bethel Middle School are receiving both first aid and concussion training.

In addition to the attached policy for your review and discussion, we have also attached for your information the new parental consent form which is in use currently.