March 18, 2021 at 7:00 PM - Bethel Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

 

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As discussed, I will be sharing with you our 2020-2021 Data Summary, providing an update on progress towards the goals and action steps within the strategic plan and the focus for 2021 -2022.  

 

Please click on the links to access the documents.  

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• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - End Common Core and standardized testing_ A message to Washington, Hartford, and Bethel - J. Gangi
• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - A letter regarding a concern - I. Foo

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.)

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Executive Orders and Future Board of Education Meetings

ESSR II and ESSR III Special Board Meeting - April 1, 2021

COVID Updates - vaccinations and learning model status into next school year

Public Hearing for the Budget - Monday, March 22, 2021 on Zoom 

Open House RS & JS for Parents in Spring 

CIAC Spring Update 

Rationale:  Attached is the NEASC final report, which has been included on our District Dashboard.  Mr. Troetti and his team will be presenting the full report at the April Board of Education meeting.  

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Summary of the Briefing:

• We have been using enVision Algebra I, enVision Algebra II, and Glencoe Geometry textbooks as our core instructional resources. Our district has engaged in a program review of Illustrative Mathematics (IM) using edreports.org (which passed all gateways and is the highest ranked high school program) and are requesting to use this as our core program.

  • IM Algebra 1

  • IM Algebra 2 

  • IM Geometry

• Bethel High School teachers are currently piloting the Geometry program and have piloted lessons from Algebra I while Bethel Middle School teachers are already implementing it (the Board has approved it for BMS).

• IM is an Open Educational Resource (OER). All of the materials can be accessed online and printed for free. Manuals and professional learning can be purchased.

• Equity is at the center of the IM program

  • Progressions of learning that require a cycle of invitation, deep study, consolidation, and application recurs throughout the program.

  • Environment where instructional routines (i.e. Notice & Wonder, Stronger and Clearer Each Time, Which One Doesn’t Belong) are open with no “right” answer to the prompt valuing contributions and differing perspectives

  • Multiple pathways that require reasoning, problem solving, or modeling encouraging an approach that makes sense to the learner.

  • Every lesson includes support for English learners as well as identifying anticipating misconceptions for “just in time” teaching with supports and scaffolds. 

• All of our BHS math teachers attended IM training prior to the pilot including topics on problem based learning and instructional routines.

• There are no associated costs to adopting this program other than purchasing a teacher’s manual for the teachers needing one and providing professional learning which was already paid for in our current budget.

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Key Points of the Briefing: 

• We currently use the book, The Enduring Vision: A History of the American People, 8th Edition, 2013, Cengage Learning

• We are bringing forward a new textbook for a AP US History course, The American Pageant: AP Edition, 17th edition, 2020**** Note revised copyright date from last meeting

• We selected this book for several reasons:

  • This textbook is set up to mirror the AP U.S. History revised timeline and is organized according to the nine units of study, including opportunities for students to practice the distinct skills that students should practice throughout the year to help them learn to think and act like historians.

  • Builds critical thinking skills, makes connections between different periods in history, prepares students to explain and analyze connections and trends throughout the book

  • Includes diverse cultural perspectives, varying viewpoints, and diverse voices that shaped American identity

  • Includes skill based questions to help students practice AP test taking strategies

  • The textbook includes a plethora of primary source materials

  • The primary author is a noted american historian and pulitzer prize winner

  • The requested bundle (textbook, test preparation book, and Mindtrap digital textbook) includes a combination of print and online access to maximize student accessibility and engagement

  • This book is one of many included on the recommended textbook list from the College Board (it is the best selling AP US History book) and is a “college-level U.S. history textbook “published within the last 10 years” that “meets the AP Course Audit curricular requirements.”

• Request for the Official Quote for Requested Bundle= $14,634.40:

  • 60 Textbooks

  • 60 Test Preparation books

  • Mindtap Digital Textbook (6 year subscription)

  • Instructor’s Edition

Other options:

• Student Textbook - Print only quote = $12,490.50

• 6 year online subscription to Mindtap - Digital only quote = $10,857.00