April 25, 2019 at 7:15 PM - Bethel Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

GIFTS, GRANTS, BEQUESTS

BETHEL HIGH SCHOOL

$525 for registration fee for National History Bee & Bowl, Kathy & Eric Keener, Bethel, CT

$100 for registration fee for National History Bee & Bowl, Jean & Jason Beckert, Bethel, CT

2 Student Registration Fees for Nature's Classroom, Bryan Terzian, Bethel, CT

Rationale: 

Letter from the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE), regarding condolences on Larry Craybas passing.

Letter from CES Search Consultants regarding condolences on Larry Craybas passing.

Letter from James Ritchie regarding condolences on Larry Craybas passing.

Memo from Dr. Carver to legislators regarding HB 7150 AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING EDUCATION

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:  May 23, 2019- BPS Annual Awards Dinner at 5:00 PM at the Amber Room Colonnade.  Please RSVP by May 17th.

Rationale: 

Board will discuss possible meeting dates and outline of evaluation process.

• Date to be set for the Superintendent's Presentation- Suggested Date:  June 12th at 7:00 PM
• Date to be set for the Board Assessment - Suggested Date:  June 20th Special Meeting at 6:00 PM (Prior to Regular Board of Education Meeting at 7:00 PM) 

Rationale: 

Key Points of the Briefing:

• We updated the music curriculum to reflect the 2014 National Core Arts Standards focusing on K-5 General Music curriculum, Ensembles Novice curriculum, and Ensembles Intermediate curriculum

• The global competencies are embedded within the curriculum

• We restructured courses into levels: Ensembles novice, intermediate, proficient, and advanced

• Each performing ensemble (String Orchestra, Band, Chorus) share common units, standards, while varying their objectives, instructional strategies and assessments

• Opportunities for common assessments and performance assessments are provided to students which help inform our teaching practices

• We are working to ensure vertical alignment of the curriculum

Rationale: 

Key Points of the Briefing:

Per the district’s Strategic Plan, our goal is to expand opportunities for personalized learning. Personalized learning embodies several essential elements such as:

1. Flexible, anytime, everywhere learning

2. Redefine teacher role and expand "teacher" to facilitator

3. Project-based, authentic learning

4. Student-driven learning path

5. Mastery-based progression

Currently we offer an Education Pathway, Global Studies Pathway, Career and Technical Readiness Pathway, Business Pathway, and a Health Care Pathway.  We are now proposing a new Arts Pathway at Bethel High School which will include either a:

• Music Concentration in one of the following- music performance, music education, or music production

• Visual Arts Concentration in one of the following- general art and art education, drawing and illustration, 2D design, 3D design, photography, or graphic design

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Rationale:  The District Safe School Climate & Wellness Committee set a goal to develop strategies to help reduce student anxiety related to social media and electronic communications.  One of the strategies that the Committee focused on wa to review the Cyberbullying Policy, which has not been reviewed since 2010.  The changes recommended are by the Committee.  The largest change is in the updated definition.  The District Safe School Climate plan contains the proactive action steps and consequences for cyberbullying.  

Rationale:  At the last meeting the Committee discussed the need to be sure the policy/reg align with the Town's Charter.  Discussed and reviewed the current policy and procedures.   

Rationale:  The District Safe School Climate & Wellness Committee is required to review our Safe School Climate Plan annually.   The plan provides an overview of how we handle incidents of bullying, harassment, racial bias and hate crimes and teen dating violence.  In addition, it provides an overview of our proactive preventions and strategies to reduce incidents.   We distribute the plan annually to families and students.  It is also housed on our website.  The Connecticut Association of Schools recently released Social Media Safety Recommendations for School Districts.   The committee reviewed those recommendations for inclusion in our plan.  

Rationale:  The Owner's Representative, Geralyn Hoerauf (STV) will be submitting monthly reports to the Public Site and Building Committee.   The attached was the first report submitted.   The report provides detailed information regarding the project, including work completed, future work and the master budget.  We will be submitting the report to the full Board of Education on a monthly basis.  

Rationale: 

State statute allows a Board of Education to formally set graduation at its first meeting in April.  The Administration is recommending Thursday, June 13, 2019 as the Graduation Date.  

Last day for students will be Thursday, June 13, 2019 (half day) and teachers would return on Friday, June 14th (full day) for Professional Learning.  

June 13, 2019 is the date available at WCSU. The Board will be asked to vote to approve the graduation date.  

 

Rationale: 

The calendar has been reviewed by the administration.  Information has been included regarding makes up days and conferences.  

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.

Rationale:  Attached is the list of the 2018-2019 non-renewal list.  All were on short term contracts due to leaves.  We are in the process of hiring two (2) as long term employees.