April 28, 2016 at 7:00 PM - Bethel Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

Bethel Middle School is one of two schools selected as finalists for the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS), Middle School of the Year.  A committee from CAS will be visiting Bethel Middle School on May 9th as part of the final phase of the project.  We will keep the Board of Education updated on the status of the recognition.  

Lynn Ferrier, Art Teacher at Bethel High School, who has earned the UConn Early College Experience (ECE) Instructor Award for Excellence in Course Instruction.  She will receive the award formally this week.  Mrs. Ferrier is retiring at the end of this year, she will be missed.  

Jody Tinios, of Bethel Middle School, was named this year's CAEA Outstanding Middle School ART Educator! This is a very well-deserved honor.  She will be honored in a ceremony on May 1, 2016 in Farmington.  

Mary Fernand, English Department Chairwoman at Bethel High School earned her Doctorate from Western Connecticut State University last month.  

Bethel Public Schools has received the NAMM Foundation's Best Communities for Music Education award. This award is presented by The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation, the Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) is a program that recognizes and celebrates schools and districts for their support and commitment to music education.

Rationale: 

At the request of Mr. Craybas, Board of Education Chairman, Mrs. Holmberg and her students will be giving a brief presentation regarding the EMT Certification program at Bethel High School and their recent attendance at the EMS Today, National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland.   

There is no action associated with this agenda item.  

http://devos2.bethel.k12.ct.us/show?video=a9ef1173f0f7

Rationale:  Email from resident Jane Gangi regarding Bethel and the  Common Core.

Rationale: 

As shared during budget time, our district website host has been purchased by School Messenger (our current system for parent and staff communications).  This will give the district an opportunity to update the template (design) and introduce an app.  We are hoping that the app will provide families with mobile access to district/school information which is more user friendly.  

As you might have seen, we have began the advertisement for the Principal search for Bethel Middle School.  We have advertised in CT - Job Reap, CAPSS and CEA.  I will serve as chairperson for the search and anticipate multiple rounds within the process:  screening interviews; performance assessment (evaluation of teaching); performance assessment (multiple scenarios); parent and staff focus groups; final interviews; recommendation to the Board of Education. It is likely that we will not have the appointment prior to July 1st, but will prior to school starting. 

Rationale: 

Topic :
Common Core (CC) 6/7 Math Course

Summary of the Briefing:
The CC 6/7 accelerated math course is aligned with the CCSS for Mathematics Grades
6 and 7, both the content standards and the standards for mathematical practice.

•  In addition to all of the concepts taught in Grade 6, accelerated students will cover the following Grade 7 topics: ratios and proportional reasoning, rational numbers, andexpressions and equations.
• Most districts around us begin accelerated courses in Grade 6 (i.e. Fairfield, New Fairfield, Region 9, Ridgefield, Monroe). Currently, we begin acceleration in Grade 7. The CC 6/7 course will provide more depth and application within each standard.
• Currently, students take CC6 only and then may move to CC 7/8 when accelerating.
• Entry criteria using multiple data sources has been established to determine which
  students would likely excel in this course. All assessments have a required benchmark:  Orleans Hanna Algebra Readiness Assessment Performance Task, Grade 5 Core Standards Assessment NWEA, Smarter Balanced Assessment, Teacher Recommendation.  Students will be tested annually in order to determine appropriate placement.
• The CC 6/7 will create an accelerated pathway for Grades 6, 7, and 8 in 2 years allowing more students to take Algebra 1 in Grade 8. This course will encourage more students to take advanced math courses in high school and beyond.
• We anticipate an average class size of 25-29 students.
• We will use existing staff to teach the course, as there will be fewer sections of CC6.  We will use our current Math program, Big Ideas , to support our curriculum. Summer work is proposed in order to make adjustments to the curriculum to support these changes.
  
  

Rationale: 

Topic:
Courses to be piloted in the 2016-2017 School Year

Summary of the Briefing:
We will be piloting several courses at BMS in the 2016-2017 school year.

Music
Digital Music (Grades 7 & 8)
This course is designed for students to develop skills in music composition and production.
Students will utilize MIDI keyboards and computers to write and record their own music.
Songwriting techniques will be explored as well as piano, music theory, and audio engineering
techniques. Topics will also include recording, audio mixing/mastering, music business,
advanced sequencing, and multimedia
techniques.

Art
3D Art and Design (8th grade art elective)
This course will explore the Elements of Art and Principles of Design, but through a 3d point of
view. How does the element of space work in a sculpture? What does the principle of movement
look like in a ceramic figurine? There will be a focus on creative thinking skills by generating

This agenda does not require action from the full Board of Education, but wanted you to be informed. 

Rationale: 

Over the past several years, there have been multiple legislative changes to Policy 5141.21, Administration of Medication.   The most recent change is Public Act 15-215.  The Act went into effect July 1st and the district has complied with the requirements since that date.  Essentially, the law allows for qualified school employees to administer anti epileptic medication to students with medically diagnosed epileptic conditions that require prompt treatment, with written authorization of the students parent, and written order by a physician.  

When reviewing our old district policy and compared it to the Shipman and Goodwin model policy, the team concurred that the model was much more streamlined.  Therefore, the administration is recommending using this new version.  The policy was reviewed by our Health Coordinator and Director of Pupil Personnel before going to the Committee for a first reading.  

 

Rationale:  Policy 3542.22, Food Service Personnel, Code of Conduct is a new policy.  The US Department of Agriculture, which regulates food service programs requires  policy to develop and implement a Code of Conduct for Food Service Employees.  

The code of conduct is to prohibit employees from soliciting from prospective contractors any kinds of gifts, travel packages, and/or other incentives of value. However, the code of conduct must provide for gifts that are unsolicited and of nominal value which may be accepted by the employees.

Rationale: 

The administration would like to make the Board of Education aware of a change in regulation for travel reimbursement. The regulation provides enhanced specificity on reimbursement to provide consistency in practice.   Specifically, the regulation:

• sets the meal reimbursement based on the standard rate of the General Service Administration; 
• specifically prohibits reimbursement of any types of alcoholic beverages;
• establishes mileage to the IRS standard rate; and 
• defines eligible and ineligible expenses and process for reimbursement.  

Please note, this there is no action required by the BOE, the regulation is presented for informational purposes only.  

Rationale: 

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­As part of our policy review the Bethel Board of Education directed me to do a review of all dues and fees charged to families.   The attached spreadsheet provides and overview of the results.  In the analysis of the information it is important to note that not all dues and fees are collected by the school system and most are a result of optional participation in after school clubs, athletics or activities.  If a student is not able to pay the fees, due to being eligible for free or reduced lunch, then the fee is waived. 

The Policy Committee of the Board of Education also asked me to consult with our attorney's at Shipman and Goodwin with regard to the mandatory charging of insurance for technology issued to students and its compliance with state law and current Board of Education policy.  The attached analysis from Jessica Soufer provides the BOE with options:  

1. offer insurance and strongly recommend that students purchase the insurance, while informing students and families that they are fully responsible for out of pocket costs resulting from loss of or damage to the device, or
2. require the purchase of the insurance, but if a family objects, allow the family to opt-out of the insurance program and sign a form stating that they fully understand than they are opting out of the insurance and that they will pay for any loss or damage out of pocket.  

Rationale: 

Public Act 14-38 requires that school districts, by region, adopt a regional calendar.  The state of Connecticut is divided into five regions.  Bethel is part of the region connected with Education Connection.   The regional calendar begins with the 16-17 school year.   There is a lot of misinformation being circulated about the regional calendar.   I would like to share with you the purpose of the calendar and specific requirements of individual school districts regarding the calendar. 

The purpose of the regional calendar is to create economic efficiencies regionally and common professional learning days to regionalize opportunities and costs.   It can create increased efficiencies in transportation, particularly in communities that send their students to vo-ag schools, magnet schools and voc-tech schools.  If schools are all on similar calendars, then you do not have to run your buses when the district is not in session, thereby reducing transportation costs.  For parents who are educators, it also creates a consistent schedule.   

In the regional calendar, there are only a few requirements. 

• The first is a common first day of school (the last Wednesday of August).   The law does give districts flexibility to move that day up to three student days before and three after that date. 
• The second requirement is a similar winter or holiday recess. 
• The third is a common April vacation. 
• Lastly, there are two designated regional professional learning days.  One has to be Election Day.  The other is scheduled by the region.  Even in these parameters, district do have additional flexibility. 
• Half days and conference days are not impacted by the regional calendar.  

Please note, there are only a few adjustments tot he original calendar, with the major being the week of October 10th (Columbus Day, professional learning day and Yom Kippur).  We will make sure to publicize the revised calendar with parents once it is approved.  

Rationale:  This calendar has been drafted as a preview to the staff and community about how we anticipate we will schedule this school year.  The Board will be asked to “accept” this calendar.