January 7, 2016 at 6:00 PM - Bethel Board of Education Policy Committee Meeting

Rationale: 

PA 15-215,  An Act Concerning Various Revisions and Additions to the Education Statutes, requires language identifying that members of the Educator Evaluation Committees, both teacher and administrator, include one member of the Bethel Education Association and Bethel Administrators Association.  We have added the language to reflect that change.  

In reviewing Policy 4115, Certified Evaluation with Dr. Brooks, we felt that much of the language was to detailed, getting into the details of the plan.   As the Board of Education annually approves the plan itself, we are recommending striking the language which reflects the specificity of the plan within the policy. 

In addition, we are eliminating the regulation to the policy.  The regulation is the actual plan itself.  It outlines the way in which we evaluate the certified staff.    

 

Rationale: 

PA 15-215,  An Act Concerning Various Revisions and Additions to the Education Statutes requires the the membership of the Professional Learning Council include a member of the Bethel Education Association and Bethel Administrators Association.  We have added the language to reflect that change.  

In addition, just like the policy regarding Certified Evaluation, Dr. Brooks and I felt that there were several language adjustments required.  The changes are notated in the attached policy (4131).

Please note, Policy 4131 has an Appendix of mandated Professional Learning Topics.  We are recommending eliminating the Appendix, which was more aligned to when the state tracked Continuing Education Units (CEU's) for certification.   

 

 

Rationale:  We recently as a Board of Education reviewed the regulation regarding student records.  In review of our existing policies, we discovered a second policy 5145.15 which specifically relates to Directory Information.   The purpose of the review is to align it to the other regulation.  

Rationale:  The Bethel Board of Education for several years has adapted their standing committee structure.  The revisions of this Board of Education ByLaw 9132 on Standing Committees reflects the change in that practice.  

Rationale: 

With the evolution of technology, there has been an increasing number of online sites with teachers personally profiting from lesson plans submissions, the concept of copyright and intellectual property has come up.  The essential question is if a teacher has created a lesson within the the scope of his/her job, is it the property of the Bethel Public Schools and should there be district policy regarding intellectual property.   

I have asked the administration if they are aware of teachers selling lesson plans on paid sites.  They are only aware of a few teachers who use sites such as Teachers Pay Teachers.  I have done a search of our existing policy.  We currently do not have a policy which reflects copyright of teacher work. 

I will research model policies if the Board of Education determines to pursue the development of a policy.