June 6, 2024 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education POLICY Committee Meeting

Rationale:  This policy has not been renewed since 2005 and is in the 4000 series.  The policy is fine as written, but I am not sure why it is necessary?  It just reflects that we will follow state law (Teacher's Retirement) and local pensions (Town of Bethel).   It could be deleted.  

• Policy 4117.1 Retirement

Rationale:  This policy is being reviewed as part of the 4000 series.   In reviewing our existing policy and the recommended policy from Shipman and Goodwin, we are recommending use of theirs.   The primary difference is that, Coaches as certified employees, have certain legal rights after three years of continuous employment.  

• Policy 4115.3 Coaches Evaluation 

Rationale:  This policy is being reviewed for two reasons: (1) as part of  our series 4000 policy review; and (2) changes in legislation regarding Educator and Leader Evaluation.  The legislative changes are summarized in these guidelines and model plan provided by the State Department of Education.  The actual plans (Educator and Leader), which will be presented to the Board of Education in August, is the regulations for this policy.    Committees (Educator & Leader), co-facilitated by Dr. Brooks and Dr. Sipala worked this Spring to revise our existing plans to meet the new guidelines.  This policy is merely a guiding statement to the actual plans. 

• Policy 4115 Certified Evaluation  

Rationale:  It has come up several times in the past several years that Bethel residents, who either attend private schools or other public schools, request to participate in extra-curricular programs.  Allowing children who do not attend the Bethel Public Schools participate in extra curricular programs is problematic for a whole host of reasons:

• Liability - Because such students do not attend our schools, there is increased liability, as they are not our students.
• Discipline & Academics - We would have no authority to discipline the students if something were to happen. In addition, BOE policy requires certain academic standards be met.  We would not have access to those records.  
• Equity & Financial Exposure - If we were to allow any student to attend, then we would need to allow all.  This means that if a student with a disability or that required additional support, we could be financially responsible.  

Policy 6145 - Co-Curricular and Interscholastic Programs
Regulation - Co-Curricular and Interscholastic Programs

 

Rationale:  This policy is being reviewed as part of the 4000 series.   There is only one minor suggested edit, to call out the Department of Children and Families as an agency.   

• Policy 4117.5 Professional Staff Termination of Employment 

Rationale:  This policy is being reviewed as part of the 4000 series.  This policy addresses the academic freedoms associated with staff members. The policy emphasizes the need to be unbiased, factual, demonstrate tolerance for multiple perspectives and not to judge other's perspectives.

Policy 4118 Academic Freedom and Regulation

Rationale:  This policy is part of the 4000 series review.   In researching the information, there were several dates that were not compliant with the law/outdated.  Those errors were included as suggestions in Google Drive.


Policy 4117.4 Suspension/Non-Renewal

Rationale:  Nepotism - This is next in line with our Personnel Policy Review.  Shipman had much better language in this policy and one aspect conflicted with the BOE bylaw, conflict of interest, so I made some suggested changes.  Since I reviewed the Conflict of Interest bilan, I thought it was appropriate to include suggested revisions.  

Rationale:  I am recommending the deletion of this policy.    Assignment is negotiated as part of contracts which the BOE approves.   

Deletion - Policy 4113 - Assignment of Professional Personnel

Rationale:  Recommend deletion. This is a contractual issue and is included in language within the contract.   

Deletion - Regulation 4114 - Transfer/Reassignment

Rationale:  Bylaw 9270 - Conflict of Interest

Board of Education Bylaw - Shipman had much better language in Nepotism policy and one aspect conflicted with this BOE bylaw, conflict of interest, so I made some suggested changes.

Rationale:  Policies that will need future review:   

• Policy 4117, Discipline (of employees) - We are not ready to move this forward, as I believe it requires legal review.  

Changes in Title IX Regulations 

• Policy 4118.112 - Policy Regarding Sexual Harassment and Sex Discrimination in the Workplace and Regulation
• Policy 5145.42 Policy and Regulation TITLE IX OF THE EDUCATION AMENDMENTS OF 1972 - PROHIBITION OF SEX DISCRIMINATION AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Bullying

•  Policy 5131.911 Bullying  Yet again, the State Legislature made changes to the definition of bullying.   We have next year to revise the policy.   I am recommending that we wait for Shipman's model policy, so will wait until that is released.