October 23, 2025 at 7:00 PM - Bethel Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale:  Kerry Collins, Library Media Specialist, received donations via Donors Choose from Maureen Collins, Ann Joslin, and an anonymous donor for:

1. Talk! Kid Puppets — Complete set
2. Talk! Community Helper Puppets - Complete Set
3. Kaplan Early Learning Occupation Puppets - set of 8

The donations totaled $541.55

Rationale:  Kerry Collins, Library Media Specialist, received a donation from Donors Choose for 3 Learning Resources sets:

1. Learning Resources STEM Explorers Bridge Builders Set
2. Learning Resources STEM Explorers Pixel Art Challenge Set
3. Learning Resources STEM Explorers Brainometry

The donation came from 4 anonymous donors totaling $439.81

Rationale:  The principals of Bethel High School, Bethel Middle School and Johnson School will be presenting their School Improvement Plans.  The presentations will include the Theory of Action, Measures of Student Learning, Strategies and Action Steps.  It will also include a climate goal based on stakeholder feedback.  

Rationale:  Email from Cassandra Jimenez - 9/22/2025

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:  School Improvement Plans — Berry and Rockwell School with Baseline data. 
BHS Roof Project
BHS HVAC Project
Accountability Index
Connecticut Center for Research Evaluation & Bethel Middle School 
Accountability Index
State Collection of Early Literacy Data 
Submission of All Hazards Plan 
Nonlapsing Fund 



 

Rationale:  Monthly Data  -  We include in the BOE agenda the monthly data as requested by the BOE.  

Rationale:  Policy 6171 has not been updated since 1992.  Due to some legislative changes at the State level, CABE introduced this model policy.   Dr. Sipala and her team will also be reviewing it and, as appropriate, providing input.  

Rationale:  Policy 6140 was recommended for revision by CABE to reflect the legislative changes to curriculum.  Our existing policy has not been reviewed since 2007.  Dr. Brooks has reviewed the policy and posed questions about the specificity of the policy, with the caution that if the law changed, we would have to revise the policy.   Specifically, her concern is around social studies, which seem the most specific.  The Committee could leave the specific areas that need to be included or make more generalized topics.

Rationale:  Policy 6159 was revised in 2024, but due to State changes, there were suggested revisions.  The model policy also provides greater specificity.  Dr. Sipala and her team will also be reviewing it and, as appropriate, providing input.  

Rationale:  Policy 3171 With the recent changes in law, Boards of Education now have sole control over non lapsing education funds.  This policy provides oversight of those funds and specifies reporting based on current law.  These changes in state law overrides the current agreement that we have with the Board of Finance with regards to the use of the funds.  

Rationale:  Policy 5118.21 This policy is also required by law to help military families, who are on active duty, not have disrupted schooling for their children. 

Rationale:  Policy 4133 and Regulation 4133 is being reviewed with the 4000 series.   The suggested changes align to our current practice and reimbursement rates. 

Rationale:  Policy 4234 is being reviewed with the 4000 series.