January 24, 2019 at 7:00 PM - Bethel Board of Education Regular Meeting - Budget Presentation

Rationale: 

 

The Bethel Public Schools will be receiving $17,349.

We will use this money to build the capacity of our staff to meet the needs of English Learners (ELs) through professional learning and building classroom libraries to better reflect cultures within our community.

 

State Bilingual Grant

The purpose of the State Bilingual Grant is to educate children identified as English Learners in schools where 20 or more are the same language group.

The Bethel Public Schools will be receiving $1,696.

We will use the entire amount to help support part of the salary of one ESL staff member.

IDEA & Carl Perkins Grants

* IDEA 611: This is a Federal Entitlement Grant administered through the State of CT for the purpose of supplementing special education programming.  In Bethel, this grant funds primarily certified SPED teachers and para-educators beyond our local budget.  The amount for 2018-2020 is $615,989 ($3,683 is non-public).

 

* IDEA 619: This is a Federal Entitlement Grant administered through the State of CT for the purpose of supplementing Special Education Pre-School.  In Bethel, this grant is used for staffing beyond our local budget.  The amount for 2018-2020 is $25,208.

 

* Carl D Perkins Career & Tech Education Act:  This is a Federal Entitlement Grant (though the amount received can be competitive) administered through the State of CT.  In Bethel, these funds are used primarily to expand and strengthen our career and technical readiness programs at BHS by investing in higher end STEM equipment such as computers or commercial kitchen equipment and targeted field trips for business or computer science.  The amount for 2018-2019 is $28,357.

Rationale: 

• Peregrine Memo to Dr. Carver & Mrs. Yonsky regarding the BMS Chiller Plant
• Press Release - Kindergarten Registration now open for 2019-2020
• Email from outgoing Senator Toni Boucher, final message & contact info
• Email regarding evaluating Common Core from Jane Gangi
• Email to legislators regarding Feedback on Some Proposed Bills - Dr. Carver #1
• Email to legislators regarding Feedback on Some Proposed Bills - Dr. Carver #2

Rationale:  (Please note:  The Board welcomes Public Participation and asks that speakers please limit their comments to 2 minutes.  Speakers may offer objective comments of school operations and programs that concern them.  The Board will not permit any expression of personal complaints or defamatory comments about Board of Education personnel and students, nor against any person connected with the Bethel Public School System.)

Rationale: 

• At CAPSS the Board of Directors was presented with a copy of Governor Lamont's Educational Policy Agenda.  I have attached a PowerPoint with an outline of that policy for your review.  In my opinion, there is nothing of surprise.  It does place a strong emphasis on Career Pathways.  I let Fran Rabinowitcz know about the work we have done in Bethel.   She has committed to come for a visit in April.  In addition, Shelton Public Schools would like to come for a visit to see the Pathways programs.  

• The Building Site Committee met on January 8th.  I have attached the updated, but not finalized spreadsheets with the scope review to date.   You will note that JS is a little 2 million under budget.  Rockwell is over but that number does not include use of contingency and a few other adjustments that will need to be done. I will give a more detailed explanation at the Board meeting. 

• Superintendent Strategy Summit Overview - Development of Human Capital Systems 

 

Rationale: 

Summary of the Briefing:

• The Bethel High School World Language Department is bringing forward a new Arabic course to increase the choices our students have in relation to learning a new language. This aligns with our district’s Strategic Plan (personalized learning offering more choice). Currently we offer French and Spanish and we would also like to include Arabic, given it is one of the most commonly spoken languages in the world.

• If approved, this course will be aligned to the Global Studies and Business Pathways and curriculum will be connected to the Global Competencies (Critical Thinking, Collaboration, and Creativity and Innovation) to ensure our students are College and Career Ready.

• No additional staff members are needed to teach this courses.  

• The proposed textbook for this course is Al-Asas for Teaching Arabic for Non-Native Speakers - Level 1

  • Gives students opportunities to use all four skills of the language (reading, writing, listening, speaking)

  • Uses authentic resources

  • Includes cultural elements

  • Basic vocabulary and grammar

  • Audio CD - for listening activities

  • Depending on enrollment, we are proposing the need for 20 books (unit cost $39.99) for an estimated total of $863.96.

  • There is no digital component to this textbook

Rationale: 

This a revision to an already existing policy.  The major change in the policy is related to changes in legislation regarding the carrying of Epi Pens for students with life threatening food allergies, including on a school bus.  It also requires that bus drivers be trained in the administration of Epi Pens.   We have already contacted First Student who will conduct the training for it's drivers.   The suggested language changes came from a Shipman and Goodwin Model Policy.  This policy was reviewed and revised by our Health Supervisor, Lisa Davenport.   

 

The administration will make sure that when Shipman & Goodwin reviews the bus drivers' contract addendum will that it include language requiring the training for the bus drivers.

Rationale:  This is the second reading of this policy/regulation.   In the last session, the legislature distinguished between Seclusion and Exclusionary Time Out.  The policy updates legislative definition of Exclusionary Time Out and guidelines for the use.  The recommended changes come directly from the Shipman and Goodwin Model Policy.  The policy has been reviewed by Mrs. Budris, Director of Pupil Personnel, Ms. DiBiase, Supervisor of Special Education and our Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA).  

Rationale: 

Bethel Public Schools receives this federal grant, whose primary purpose is to provide intervention for at risk students.  As a result of receiving the Federal dollars, the new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), requires Boards of Education, who accept that funding, to develop a written policy on how they will engage parents.

It was the consensus of the committee on June 8, 2017 to recommend Policy 6172.4 Parent and Family Engagement Policy for Title I Students be submitted to the full Board of Education for a first reading. 

However, the policy was not included in the agenda and therefore went to the full Board for First Reading at the last Board meeting and comes for a second reading/approval tonight.

 

Rationale: 

Key Points of the Briefing:

 

1. The local and regional management have been responsive to our needs.
2. The renewal rates have been reasonable for many years and are again for this contract extension.
3. The district is exploring changing school start times and dramatically revamping the bus tiers and routes.First Student has been our contractor for many years and they are very familiar with Bethel. They will be a significant factor in successfully implementing these changes.
4. Included in the renewal is a bus tracking application accessible to the Board and to parents who register.Also included in the renewal are additional trips outside of Bethel to support our Special Education program (one per week).Also in the contract is the shortening of the maximum age of the buses by two years.
5. The contract continues to include language that the contractor and all drivers will comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the State of CT, State Dept. of Motor Vehicles, State Board of Education, Town of Bethel, the Board and State and Town Police Departments.