November 19, 2015 at 7:00 PM - Bethel Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

• 2015 Cohort Graduation Rates by School (see attached document).

• Connecticut Administrators of Programs for English Language Learners (CAPELL) recently announced its winners for the spring 2015 state-wide contest, “The Power of Bilingualism.”  Current Bethel High School ninth grader, Vinicios Andrade and Johnson School fifth grader, Sergio Ortega  were recognized as the state’s two runner-ups among many entries. 

• Congratulations to the boys’ soccer team for winning the 2015 Southwest Conference Championship!  The Wildcats beat Barlow High School 2-0 to take the win, earning the title for the first time in over a decade. 

• Congratulations to Boy's Soccer, Girls Soccer and Girls Field Hockey, all of whom made the state playoffs.  

• Congratulations to the Bethel High School Marching Wildcats for placing 6th place in the U.S. Band Nationals, Level IIA.  

• In the month of November, as a nation, we honor our Veterans who serve or have served to protect our freedom.  This month, Johnson, Middle and the High School brought in Veterans to educate our students on their experiences.  We thank all Veterans for their service to our country.  

• Thank you to Todd Ingersoll who donated $7,000 from the Car Drive to BHS for production lighting in the BHS auditorium. 

• Thank you to Todd Ingersoll who purchased a new scoreboard for Basketball in BHS Gym.

• Thank you to Todd Ingersoll who purchased board games for all classes at Johnson School for indoor recess.
  

Rationale: 

Letter from CASBO informing Board Theresa D. Yonsky has recently been elected as Secretary/Treasurer of the Connecticut Association of School Business Officials (CASBO).

Letter to Mrs. Dionne Craig from BMS Principal, Mr. Derek Muharem regarding sponsorship of BMS student for Boston trip.

Letter from the Commissioner of Education regarding the adoption of the SAT as the Grade 11 Assessment.

Email from Robert Locke thanking the Board of Education for supporting veterans with age appropriate veteran education for students on Veterans Day.

Rationale:  Attached are leadership opportunities for Board Members.  Please let Ms. Pare know if you are interested in attending any of the sessions.  

Rationale: 

Summary of the Briefing:

• Quaver Music is a state-of-the-art general music program that allows students to learn through authentic musical experiences such as singing, performing on instruments, dance/movement and creating/composing.

• To ensure vertical alignment and consistency of instructional practice, we would like to move to this K-5 general music program aligned to the National Standards For Music Education (NAfME),National Coalition for Core Arts Standards (NCCAS), and the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

• Quaver is a digital resource.It is a customizable program that teachers can rearrange, adapt, or extend to conform to their teaching objectives and standards.

• Quaver updates all cloud-based resources in real time - no software to load - and produces iPad and other mobile device applications.

• All resources and assessments are housed in one location for easy access.

• There is a student website for continued musical enrichment at home

• If approved, we will launch this program at the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year.

 

Link to documents:  (Reminder - you will need to sign into Google using your Bethel account.)

Quaver Music Resources

 

Rationale: 

Summary of the Briefing:

Below is an overview of the summer 2015 curriculum work revisions.  These revisions were made to existing curriculum and assessments in Social Studies.  The Social Studies Department dealt mostly with revisions to the curricula, particularly incorporating new standards.

Department/Grades

Overview of Work Completed

Social Studies: Bethel Middle School (Grades 6-8)

Realigned units to focus on Connecticut’s Core Standards and the C3 (College, Career, & Civic Life) Framework for Social Studies Standards. Incorporated communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking and problem solving skills into curriculum content. Edited and revised essential questions to align with Connecticut’s Core Standards and the C3 Framework disciplinary concepts. Incorporated civic, global, historical, geographic and economic literacy into tasks, outcomes and assessments. Began construction of the common assessments aligned to Connecticut’s Core Standards and the C3 Framework.

Link to curriculum documents:  (Reminder - you will need to sign into Google using your Bethel account.) Please give it a mintue to load when you click on the document links.

Rationale: 

Currently, the Bethel Board of Education has a policy and Regulation for the SRO.  I am suggesting aligning the policy with the goals and objectives of the SRO as outlined in the MOU.   Secondly, I am suggesting the MOU itself should be the regulation, as it outlines the duties, responsibilities and guidelines of the positions.  

 

 

Rationale: 

Parent groups are requesting to have access to Directory Information.  The current policy and regulations limit the distribution of Directory Information to specific groups, which do not include parent groups.  In reviewing the current policy, there do seem to be inconsistencies regarding the type of groups that have access to directory information, that needs to be addressed.  In the attached existing policy and regulation, the administration has highlighted the areas that need to be reviewed and discussed.  

 

Rationale: 

There were several changes within the legislation which a shift in legislation regarding restraint and seclusion.  The major changes include:  

1. Limits the use of restraint and seclusion except under certain circumstances (emergencies when the student is in danger to themselves or others);
2. Previous legislation only applied to special education students on Individualized Education Plans (IEP); the law now applies to all students; 
3. Provides guidelines on the physical structure of seclusion rooms;
4. Training requirements for staff;
5. Eliminating the use of seclusion as part of the IEP; and 
6. Prohibits prone restrains.  

I reviewed the Board's current policy and regulation and Shipman and Goodwin's model policy and regulation with Mrs. Budris, Ms. DiBiase and our two BCBA's.  We all are recommending using Shipman's model policy as our current policy needs significant revision.    The administration has made suggested changes to the policy to meet Bethel's needs.  

Rationale: 

There were many changes in the legislation regarding attendance and tardiness to school.  As discussed at the Policy Committee, the administration reviewed the Shipman model policy and compared it to our existing policy.   We are recommending the BOE consider the adoption of the Shipman policy and regulation as amended by the administration.  Before coming to the BOE, the policy has been reviewed by the Central Office and building level administration.  The major changes in the legislation include:  

1. Absences associated with children of active service members when they are on leave.  
2. A new definition for chronic absenteeism.  
3. Requirements for a district committee when chronic absenteeism reaches a threshold.  

 

Rationale:  Policy 5114, Suspension/Expulsion/Due Process is being submitted to the Bethel Board of Education for its first reading. 

Public Act 14-229:  An Act Concerning the Expungment of a Pupil's Cumulative Education Record for Certain Expulsions provides new statutory regulations regarding expungment of expulsions from a students cumulative records under certain circumstance. In addition to the statutory requirements, all administrators also reviewed the policy and provided input to revisions.  The recommended language is included as part of the revisions. The policy has been reviewed once at the subcommittee level. 

The major changes regarding expungment include:

1. erase the expulsion before a student graduates if the student was never previously suspended or expelled, had the expulsion shortened or waived upon completing a board specified program, and met board requirements.
2. erase the expulsion for students in grades K-8, involving firearms and deadly weapons, if the conduct and behavior of the student in the years following the expulsion warrant it. 

In addition there were legislative changes for suspension and expulsion of K-2 students. These are new additions to the draft version.  

This Shipman & Goodwin's Model Policy went to the Board for a first reading on May 14, 2015 and was revised in committee and the revisions went back to the Board for a first reading on September 17, 2015. Went back to committee October 15, 2015 and is brought to the Board for a second reading and approval.

Rationale:  The Board of Education requested a total project cost for the air conditioning projects at Johnson and Rockwell Schools.  The attached memorandum provides an overview of scope of the work and expense.  

Rationale:  Elizabeth Teed was a beloved 4th grade teacher at the Johnson School who passed away last year.  In her memory, the administration, in conjunction with the Teed family is requesting to place a Ben's Bells tile mural on the front of Johnson School, with a plaque in her memory.  Dr. Carver will outline the scope of the project at the meeting.