April 23, 2020 at 7:00 PM - Bethel Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

1. We were once again named as 2020 Best Communities for Music Education by NAMMS.
2. Bethel High School was ranked 45/228 by the US News and World Reports.  This is a big honor to be in the top 50.  If you click the link, it  provides a lot of positive information about not only our Connecticut ranking, national ranking and within the region.  

Rationale: 

Gifts, Grants, & Bequests

High School

PURA grant in the amount of $64,000.  This grant will be used to upgrade our DEVOS system which is the backbone of BeTv.  

Rationale: 

There was a significant amount of Correspondence this month.  All of the emails are attached.  The correspondence is in four major categories: 

1. Category 1:  Parental Concerns regarding a mathematics lesson.   Two parents wrote to the BOE regarding a mathematics lesson involving some COVID 19 data.  We have addressed it with the staff members who implemented the lesson, the staff in general and the broader parent community.  Please see email correspondence with staff and letter to families. 
2. Category 2:  Bus driver complaints about not being able to collect unemployment.  There are a number of emails from our bus drivers who were upset that they began getting paid by First Student, indicating that they wanted to collect unemployment.  They appeared to be upset that we had settled the contract.  As you are aware, we followed the Executive Order. I reached out to Senator Kushner, as she was a strong advocate for the Executive Order requiring payment of contracts.  She did reach out to them. They followed up with emails to me after she reached out to them, which are also attached.   
3. Category 3:  Request for Meeting - School lunch program.  Mrs. Relevant emailed the Board of Education requesting to have a meeting to discuss our Food Service Program.
4. Category 4:  COVID Feeding Program. Mr. Paulsen emailed the Board concerned about the operation of our  COVID feeding program.   I emailed him directly on the topic.  We are following State and Federal guidance, providing a much needed community resource.  We follow all safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Department of Public Health and the State Department of Education.  We have provided 21,188 meals to families since March 18th.  

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: 

We sent out surveys to parents on our distance learning programs.   The survey is open till Moday.  We will be presenting themes within the data on Thursday night.  We will use the feedback to make adjustments to the program.  

We will be providing an update on Kindergarten registration, summer school and planning for recovery.  

 

 

 

 

 

Rationale: 

This is the second reading and approval of Policy and Regulation 3541 - Transportation.  As discussed in our last regular Board of Education Meeting, the policy needed to be addressed as we switch our transportation to having all elementary schools on the same schedule.   The major adjustment made was to require an adult present in grades Pre-K-2 (Berry and Rockwell Schools).  

Rationale: 

1. Mitchell Fuel Update - Lock in for Diesel
2. Furlough Discussion
3. 2019-2020 Budget
4. 2020-2021 Budget 

Rationale:  Construction/eligible and non-eligible furniture.

Rationale: 

State statute allows a Board of Education to formally set graduation at its first meeting in April.  The school calendar lists June 18th as the "graduation date".  We have been discussing options in terms of scenarios based on the social restrictions set by the Governor and/or the Department of Public Health. Mr. Troetti, Mrs. Musser and I have met with groups of seniors to discuss options/scenarios.  They will be conducting student surveys.   We will be discussing some ideas and/or scenarios at the meeting.  

Last day for students will be Tuesday, June 16, 2020 (half day).

Rationale: 

The calendar has been reviewed by the administration.  Information has been included regarding make-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.