October 21, 2021 at 7:00 PM - Bethel Board of Education Regular Meeting
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1. Call to Order
Speaker(s):
Policy 9326
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1.A. Roll Call for Quorum
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1.B. Pledge of Allegiance
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2. Board Recognition/A Salute to Excellence
Rationale:
Congratulations to Robert Roda, Lorenzo Cazzaniga, Mia Visuano, and Kayleigh Cooke who were named a Commended Student in the 2022 @nationalmerit scholarship program. They are among the approximately 34,000 students throughout the nation being acknowledged for their exceptional academic ability!
 Congratulations to BHS Senior, Ethan Smith! Ethan is an outstanding vocalist, actor, and composer. He's been busy creating original musical theater work including script, songs, and recordings.His song "Some People Just Die" was entered into the 2021 National Musical Theatre Songwriting Challenge and was selected! The song will be workshopped and produced by professional theatre artists. Congratulations Ethan! More Info here: https://americantheatrewing.org/news-events/students-across-america-selected-as-winners-of-2021-musical-theater-songwriting-challenge/ |
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2.A. Dedication of Bethel High School Press Box
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3. BOARD REPORTS - PROGRESS TOWARDS DISTRICT INITIATIVES
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3.A. AP Program Presentation
Speaker(s):
Reine Issa
Rationale:
Ms. Issa, BHS Mathematics Teacher & AP Coordinator, will give a presentation on the AP Program - An Overview of the Most Recent Five Years - October 20, 2021.
Attachments:
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3.B. NWEA Update Fall 2021-2022
Speaker(s):
Michelle Rutledge, Director of Teaching and Learning
Rationale:
As a follow up to last month's presentation by Dr. Brooks and Mrs. Rutledge. Mrs. Rutledge will go over the Fall NWEA data and discuss trends, causes and plans to accelerate our students back to grade level standards.
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4. Consent Calendar
Speaker(s):
Policy 9326
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4.A. Approval of Minutes
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4.A.1. September 16, 2021
Rationale:
The minutes attached have two small revisions. C. Schafer's vote should have been an abstention, not a Yea vote for the approval of the minutes of August 16th and August 19th.
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5. Correspondence
Speaker(s):
Policy 9326
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6. Public Comment
(Please note: The Board welcomes Public Comment 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.)
Speaker(s):
Policy 9326
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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7. Administrative/Board Member Update
Speaker(s):
Policy 9326
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7.A. Board Chairperson Update
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7.B. Administrative Update
Rationale:
SEL Screener: Since last spring we have been communicating that we have been selected by the state to participate in a pilot screener, entitled the DESSA. The point of the screener is to identify students who may have skill deficits that can be addressed through intervention. As a screener, it is only used to see if we need to take a closer look at the child's emotional wellbeing and, if necessary, with parental permission, conduct a more in-depth assessment. I have attached the questions that could be included in the screener. A lot of questions relate to executive functioning. A few parents have "opted out" of the screener.
Monthly Data - We will include in the BOE agenda the monthly data as requested by the BOE. This month, we will review it to show the BOE how we are collecting that data. Curriculum Website - I will provide the BOE with a quick overview of our new curriculum website, including the purpose of that site. Parking tables will be installed this Saturday.
Attachments:
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8. Action Items
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8.A. MOU with Bethel Police Department, SRO Program
Rationale:
The MOU regarding School Resource Officers has not been reviewed or revised since 2017. A few weeks ago, Mrs. Yonsky, Chief Pugner, Capitan Burnes and I met to review our existing MOU and made the suggested changes in the document. As a matter of process, once the Board adopts the MOU, it will then need to go to the Police Commission and the Selectman for approval.
Attachments:
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8.B. 2021-2022 School Calendar Revision
Rationale:
Changes needed in the 2021-2022 School Calendar only affect BHS. The SAT must be given on March 23rd. Therefore, we need to revise the calendar as follows:
Attachments:
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9. Reports to the Board
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9.A. Policy
Speaker(s):
Policy 9310,9311,9313
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9.A.1. District Safe School Climate Plan (Regulation 5131.911)
Rationale:
Annually, under Connecticut State law, the BOE is supposed to ratify the District Safe School Climate Plan. We typically did it every fall, but have not since 2019, due to COVID. Under that legislation, the District Safe School Climate Committee is supposed to provide input regarding any revisions to that plan. The committee, made up of students, teachers, PPS Staff, administrators, BOE members and parents provided that input in early October. It is also important to note that the most significant change came with a change in the definition of bullying. The District Safe School Climate Plan covers the following topics:
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9.A.2. Second Reading/Approval
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9.A.2.a. Policy/Regulation 5118 - Nonresident Students
Rationale:
This policy is being revised as part of our overall review process. The policy has not been reviewed since 2005. Specifically, it changes the approval process from the Board of Education to the Superintendent, removes transfers between districts, clarifies documentation for families moving to/ building in Bethel and the decision to grant tuition waivers to non-residents.
Policy 5118 - Nonresident Students Regulation 5118 - Nonresident Students |
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9.A.2.b. Policy/Regulation 1140 - Distribution of Materials
Rationale:
This policy is being reviewed as part of our broader policy revision process. It has not been reviewed since 2010. After reviewing both the policy and the regulation, the administration has no suggested changes.
Policy 1140 - Distribution of Materials Regulation 1140 - Distribution of Materials |
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9.A.2.c. Policy 1170 - Recognition of Citizens, Staff Members, Members of Board of Education, Students
Rationale:
This policy was last reviewed in 2010. There was only one small suggested edit to the previous version.
Policy 1170 - Recognition of Citizens, Staff Members, Members of Board of Education, Students |
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9.A.2.d. Policy 1312 - Public Relations
Rationale:
Public Relations has not been reviewed since 2005. Upon initial review, it appeared that there were a number of legal issues associated with this policy. As a result, I had our attorney from Shipman and Goodwin review the policy and suggest edits. All of my suggested edits in the document are with specific input from Attorney Santiago.
Policy 1312 - Public Relations |
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9.A.2.e. Policy 3524.2 Green Cleaning
Rationale:
This policy was last reviewed in 2011. The revision specifies that, pursuant to Connecticut law, a Board of Education may use any cleaning product approved by Federal Law. While the issues were specific to the use of disinfectant with COVID, it could apply in other situations.
Policy 3524.2 Green Cleaning |
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9.A.2.f. Policy/Regulation 5141.3 - Health Assessment and Immunizations
Rationale:
The suggested revisions were made as a result of the elimination of the religious exemption for vaccinations in children by the Connecticut General Assembly. The suggested revisions were made based on the Shipman and Goodwin model policy.
Policy 5141.3 Health Assessment and Immunizations Policy - Based on the new law Regulation 5141.3 Health Assessment and Immunizations Regulation |
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9.B. Resource Management & Business Operations
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9.B.1. Personnel
Speaker(s):
Policy 9326
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9.B.1.a. Job Description 6-03 - Administrative Assistant to Assistant Superintendent
Rationale:
This is the Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent.
Attachments:
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9.B.2. Finance
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9.B.2.a. 1st Quarter Budget Transfers
Attachments:
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9.B.2.b. Long-Term Capital Plan 2021-2031 - Draft
Rationale:
By November 30th of each year, the Board of Education needs to submit to the Board of Selectman the Capital Plan. The Board will need to vote on the plan at the November Board meeting.
We are sharing the file for your review of the Capital Plan sections. The 460 sections we will look at later in the year during the regular budget process. |
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9.B.3. Facilities
Speaker(s):
Policy 3132
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9.B.3.a. ROCKWELL/JOHNSON SCHOOL RENOVATION PROJECTS INFORMATION/UPDATE
Rationale:
Renovations: The cash flow reports are linked and will be reviewed. The current balance is $689,620. It is possible that we will end up well over a million under budget. We continue to finish up site work, but are getting closer to a full close out by December. We will also review a resolved issue with the Department of Environmental Protection at Rockwell School. In addition, here are the:
Rockwell Tracking Budget Johnson Tracking Budget |
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10. Recommended Executive Session
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10.A. CT General Statues 1-210(b)(9) Negotiations - BEA Negotiations
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11. Adjourn
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