May 12, 2016 at 7:00 PM - Bethel Board of Education Special Meeting

Rationale: 

Bethel Middle School named CAS Middle School of the Year!

The Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) is proud to announce that Bethel Middle School has been selected as the 2016-2017 CAS Middle School of the Year. Chosen from among 150 eligible Connecticut middle schools, Bethel distinguished itself as a consummate middle school, employing exemplary practices as defined by the National Middle School Association and the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

After completing a detailed application process that included attention to curriculum, instructional practices, school climate and safety, community involvement, and student success, two schools were selected as finalists. These schools were visited by a trained CAS committee that included a veteran principal, distinguished teacher, and the CAS assistant director for middle level education. During the site visits, interviews were held with faculty, administration, parents, and students.  Classes were observed and scores of documents were examined.  At the conclusion of the visits, the committee deliberated over their findings and declared a winning recipient based on all of the evidence.

Reasons for choosing Bethel Middle School include:

• Commitment to twenty-first century skills as evidenced by one-to-one digital technology;
• adoption of standards-based grading and reporting;
• programming that supports the core values of respect and responsibility, productive citizenship, tolerance, empathy, and self-efficacy;
• dedication to a gradual release of responsibility for learning from teachers to students and commitment from faculty and staff to Connecticut Core Standards;
• an impressive array of opportunities for student leadership and extracurricular offerings that often extend into the summer.

Bethel Middle School is an extraordinary middle school in every respect. They will be formally honored at a celebration in the fall.

Earle G. Bidwell, Assistant Executive Director Connecticut Association of Schools

“We as a district are very proud of the exemplary faculty and staff at Bethel Middle School and their commitment and dedication to our students.  Bethel Middle School is clearly a model for what a progressive middle school should be.”

Dr. Christine Carver

Superintendent of Schools

Rationale:  The CABE Student Leadership Awards are given to recognize student achievement and potential.  CABE received 416 names from 208 different schools across the state.  These students were picked from among their peers for exhibiting leadership qualities as defined by the criteria developed by CABE.  The Board recognizes the level of achievement of these students.

The Board would like to congratulate the following students on receiving the CABE Student Leadership Award for 2016:  Shamiram Khoshabo, Bethel High School, David Hayes, Bethel High School, Amanda Tuccillo, Bethel Middle School, and Joseph Bagala, Bethel Middle School.

Rationale: 

We are proud to announce and recognize this year’s district winners for the HRRA recycling poster contest!

 

Place	Name	School	Grade
1st	Kyle Stejskal	Middle School	7
1st	Amel Hilmi	Middle School	6
2nd	Julia Krepsztul	Middle School	7
2nd	Emelia Lombardi	Middle School	6
3rd	Rida Sheikh	Middle School	6
1st	Rosie Volpintesta	Johnson School	5
1st	Vincent Greto	Johnson School	4
2nd	Kaylee Zarate	Johnson School	5
2nd	Nina Saunders	Johnson School	4
3rd	Owen Detwiler	Johnson School	5
3rd	Sofiane Hilmi	Johnson School	4
1st	Carlos Mendieta	Rockwell	3
1st	Isabella Gaita	Rockwell	2
1st	McKenah Smith	Rockwell	1
1st	Emma Norman	Rockwell	K
2nd	Andrew Savitsky	Rockwell	3
2nd	Emily Barge	Rockwell	2
2nd	Samantha Tamburri	Rockwell	1
2nd	Sophia Gmitter	Rockwell	K
3rd	Ella Bassett	Rockwell	3
3rd	Kaitlyn Kechijian	Rockwell	2
3rd	Abraham Fortnam	Rockwell	1
3rd	Ella Sproviero	Rockwell	K
1st	Maggie Atkins	Berry	3
1st	Phillip Meres	Berry	2
1st	Gavin Krisher	Berry	1
1st	Kayla Bray	Berry	K
2nd	Claire Bray	Berry	3
2nd	Ryan Zabala	Berry	2
2nd	Alli Lombardi	Berry	1
2nd	Kiara Martin	Berry	K
3rd	Jordan Oberle-In	Berry	3
3rd	Caitlin Baldwin	Berry	2
3rd	Ivy Betz	Berry	1
3rd	Kevin Pasquale	Berry	K

Rationale: 

As discussed previously, our Director of Athletics, Mark Caron and Eileen Earle, the Director of Parks and Recreation will be presenting a rationale for the consideration of a turf field for Bethel High School Athletics and the Town of Bethel's youth sports program.  

We are recommended partnering with Parks and Recreation in contracting with Milone and MacBroom (who conducted our enrollment study) to conduct a feasibility study of the project.  In the scope of work, Milone and MacBroom will do an analysis of existing conditions and options to consider, including cost estimates for installation and long term maintenance.   They recently did a similar study in Monroe at Masuk High School.  Monroe Public Schools highly recommend the firm.  The administration feels the study would be critical in understanding all options, short and long term costs.  The district would share the cost of the study with Parks and Recreation.  

Rationale: 

C.G.S 10-64, 10-65 Requires that local Boards of Education designate a Vo-Ag program if the district does not offer one.  Also, the district can cap the amount of students that can attend such program at least equal to the average number of students over the last three years.  Many of our surrounding communities have created a cap.  Please note, the expenses associated with Vo-Ag programs include transportation costs (which we are required to provide) and tuition.  I will be requesting that we have a policy meeting on June 2, 2016 to discuss this issue and review a model policy for discussion.  

Rationale:  The Board will be presented with a listing of teachers who have completed the requirements to be granted tenure in the Bethel Public Schools.  The Superintendent will make a formal recommendation.  The Board will be asked to approve that recommendation.

Rationale: 

When a position becomes vacant it presents an opportunity to review the current job description.  Attached is a draft of a REVISED job description for Board of Education Input.  Because the changes were substantial, instead of doing a strike out/addition version, we have included both for your review.  The proposed description is the one entitled 1.03 MSPrincipalJobDescriptionREVISED.  

 

 

Rationale: 

The Board of Education previously approved the placement of a Ben's Bells tile mosaic with the "Be Kind" logo at Johnson School, with a dedication to Liz Teed for her service to the Bethel Public Schools.  The Teed Family has requested a change in placement of the mosaic.  Instead of at Johnson School, they are requesting it be on the snack shed on the stadium field.  

Given the renovation of Johnson, it makes sense that it be at another location.   The administration and the Parks and Recreation Department both support the change in location. 

For those new Board of Education Members, more information about Ben's Bells can be found at: https://bensbells.org/.  The website contains pictures of what the mosaic would look like.  

Rationale:  As many of you know Marjorie Paist has been a Kindergarten for the Bethel Public Schools for 43 years, most of them at Rockwell School.  The teachers at Rockwell would like to dedicate the Kindergarten Nook, through placement of a plaque, in honor of her dedication and service to children.   The plaque would contain the following language.  

This Kindergarten Nook is dedicated to:

Mrs. Marjorie Paist

Rockwell's Outstanding Kindergarten Teacher for 43 Years

Her goal was to "encourage a love of learning and teach children how to be good citizens." 

(quote might be modified)  

Rationale:  Annually, the Bethel Board of Education sets the increase for all non-union employees.  I will be providing a recommendation based on performance and comparisons to unionized bargaining units.   A motion will need to be made after coming out of executive session regarding increases based on Board of Education consensus.