September 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Meeting

Rationale: 
 

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August 6, 2025 - Regular Meeting Minutes
August 13, 2025 - Special Meeting Minutes
 

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Finance/ Operations	Policy	School, Family & Community Partnership	School Safety	Student Achievement & Outcomes	Labor Relations (Ad-Hoc)
Eric Carlson, Chair	Jill Fitzsimons-Bula, Chair	Maria Simmons, Chair	Lorianne Osenkowski, Chair	Jill Fitzsimons-Bula, Chair	Eric Carlson, Chair
Russell Anderson	Maria Simmons	Jill Fitzsimons-Bula	Russell Anderson	Kristen Giantonio	Dante Tagariello
Dante Tagariello	Lorianne Osenkowski	Jennifer Van Gorder	Maria Simmons	Maria Simmons	Maria Simmons
Alternates:
Jill Fitzsimons-Bula	Dante Tagariello	Kristen Giantonio	Eric Carlson	Lorianne Osenkowski

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Student representatives from Bristol Central and Bristol Eastern will share activities, surveys, suggestions, and topics of interest in their respective schools.
Bristol Central                                         Bristol Eastern
Amelia Brown - Senior                             Paige Ansah - Senior                                                         

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Chair Pons will update the Board and the public on topics related to the Board of Education.

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Superintendent White will report/update the Board on the following topics:

1. School Opening
2. Update of Superintendent Priorities for 2026
3. Guangdong Educator Visit

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Bond, Jodi - BoE - Director of Finance

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DeLeo, Kristine - EPH - Principal - Effective September 10, 2025
Redman, Scott - BEHS - Assistant Principal - Effective September 13, 2025

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Ahern, Cindy - MTV - Grade 2 Teacher - Effective August 22, 2025
Haseltine, Rachel - Edgewood PreK - PreK Special Education Teacher - Effective August 25, 2025
McAllen, Rosalie - BEHS - Guidance - Effective August 13, 2025
Turner, Eric - WB - Special Education Teacher - Effective August 21, 2025

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Abrams, Nicole - WB - Grade 8 Math Teacher - Effective August 25, 2025
Atchison, Kaylee - WB - Grade 8 Science Teacher - Effective August 25, 2025
Chavez, Christiano - CHMS - Grade 7 Science Teacher - Effective August 25, 2025
Jordan, Laura - ID - Special Education Teacher - Effective September 3, 2025
Lee, Cheyenne - WB - Special Education Teacher - Effective August 27, 2025
Leitao, Kayla - CHMS - Special Education Teacher - Effective August 25, 2025
McGuire, Riley - CHMS - Grade 7 Social Studies Teacher - Effective August 25, 2025
Morrissey, Emily - BEHS - Special Education Teacher - Effective August 25, 2025
Steszewski, Craig - BAIMS - Grade 8 Math Teacher - Effective August 25, 2025
Tompkins, Richard - EPH - Special Education Teacher - Effective August 25, 2025
Zaprzalka, Samantha - BCHS - CTE - Business Teacher - Effective August 25, 2025

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Maust, Andrew - CHMS - .5 Head Drama

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D’Agostino, Silvio - CHMS - Head Drama

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Bazarewsky, Olivia - ID - TESOL Teacher - Effective September 1, 2025 through August 24, 2026
O’Dea, Marisa - ID/SS - Literacy IST - Effective September 16, 2025 through November 3, 2025
Sokolowski, Christine - MTV - Grade 1 Teacher - Effective November 17, 2025 through January 1, 2026
Tramontanis, Brittany - WB - Grade 3 Teacher - Effective August 25, 2025 through February 23, 2026

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The board welcomes public input and appreciates the diverse perspectives of the community. While the meeting is open to the public, it is fundamentally a meeting of the board. The public comment period allows community members to share their insights with the governing body about the agenda items that the board will be reviewing or deciding on. The board values this input and will consider it when making their decisions. Community members are encouraged to express their views on any topic related to the agenda. To comment on a topic that is not on the agenda, please email your comment via the contact link on the BPS Board of Education Website. Items requiring consideration by the Board must be approved as an agenda item by a 2/3ds vote of the Board members present.  Such items may be referred to for further study and not necessarily acted upon at this meeting.
 
Comments May be Submitted in Writing - Submitted Public Comment must be received by 4:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. 

1. Send your comments to: susaneverett@bristolk12.org
2. Be sure to put PUBLIC COMMENT - BOE in the subject line.
3. Include your name and address.
4. Direct your comments to the Board Chair.
5. Your comments will not be read at the meeting, they will be distributed to all Board members and placed on file.
6. All comments should be written in an appropriate manner, comments regarding personal or confidential student information shall not be discussed under public comment.
7. Any comments not adhering to the guidelines will not be placed on file

Public Comment Rules During a Meeting

1. Everyone is requested to address the Chair for recognition.
2. Each speaker must state his/her name, address and the topic they are commenting on.
3. Comments are limited to items on the agenda.
4. All speakers must observe rules of common etiquette.  Personalities are not to be injected. Speakers should not attack or question the motives of others. Anyone violating this rule will be denied the floor. Unless waived by the Chairperson.
5. Each speaker shall limit his/her remarks to three (3) minutes.
6. A speaker will have one opportunity to speak per meeting.
7. Written statements and materials may be made available, in advance of comments, for distribution to Board members.
8. Speakers shall state their positions on the subject being discussed.
9. Board members will not respond directly to comments during the Board meeting. However, the Superintendent may direct the question to the appropriate staff member for follow-up when appropriate.
10. The chair has the discretion to provide brief factual information. For example, the chair might explain that legal limitations on the board’s authority prevent the board from considering the requested action.
11. Speakers cannot donate their time to other people or speak on behalf of other people.
12. Disruptive behavior, harassment, and violence are not permitted. In cases of disruptive behavior, the chair has the authority to warn the speaker, request them to leave, or, in extreme cases, clear the room.

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Joe Grabowski, Chief Officer of Talent Management, will present the New Teacher Hiring Overview for 2025-2026.

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The Edgewood PK Building Committee met on 8/25/2025. After reviewing the options Renovation Status vs. Targeted Alterations, the building committee voted to move forward with a renovate as new project. The
building committee is requesting the BOE to accept the renovation status and request the BOF, City Council, & Joint Board approve the additional funding to complete the project. The amount approved for this project is $16.8 M; there would be an additional ask of $12 M.

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In order to form a building committee, the BOE, City Council, and BOF need to appoint a member. These three members make up the nominating committee which nominates the remainder committee members.

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Amy Martino Director of Special Services will update the Board regarding Special Services programs and topics.

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Goals of the Revision

• Vertical alignment with other courses in the pathway

• Concurrent Enrollment opportunity with Tunxis State Community College

Course Description

This course is highly recommended for all students who wish to pursue a degree in any area of business in college.  Students receive an introduction to basic accounting concepts and principles with an emphasis on their practical application:  recording, classifying, and summarizing financial information that flows within a business enterprise.  The accounting cycle is examined within the areas of sales, purchases, cash, receivables, and payroll.

Rationale: 

Illustrative Math has updated their content, called iM v360. Our curriculum document was updated to reflect these changes. Specifically, support for students with diverse needs has been outlined in greater detail and checkpoints have been added as common formative assessments after specific groups of lessons called "Sections."

For all courses K-12:

• In many activities, copy edits or formatting changes have been made to improve readability.
• All Unit Narratives and many Lesson Narratives have been revised for focus and brevity.
• Some lesson and activity titles have been changed to reflect new contexts or revised content.
• The Which One Doesn’t Belong? routine has been replaced with the new Which Three Go Together routine.
• Activities that use the 5 Practices routine have been revised to give teachers clear guidance on monitoring, selecting, sequencing, and making connections during the class discussion.
• Activities that use the Information Gap routine have been revised to give clear instructions to teachers and students.

For courses 6-8:

• Section Narratives, Section Goals, and Section Checkpoints have been added.
• Teacher reflection questions have been added in each section.
• A plan for building a math community has been embedded into each course. This includes creating a visual display in the first unit of each course and then revisiting it periodically throughout later units.
• Standards alignments in activities have been revised for consistency and accuracy, as needed.
• The Number Talk and Algebra Talk routines have been consolidated into the new Math Talk routine.
• Access for English Language Learners and Access for Students with Disabilities have been revised.
• Guidance for Responding to Student Thinking has been revised in many activities and assessments.
• Many Lesson Syntheses have been revised for focus and clarity.
• Definitions of all glossary terms have been revised for clarity and consistency.
• The Required Materials lists have been reformatted as Materials to Gather and Materials to Copy.

Changes within units include new/edited practice problems, assessment questions, reordered lessons, new lessons, or lessons added or removed to the optional list. Some cooldowns and warm-ups have been modified to have a stronger connection to the lesson. Additionally, updates to provide clarity, improve readability, and promote access, equity, and inclusion have been made. The changes for the units are leveled:

Unit 1 - Low, Unit 2 - Medium, Unit 3 - High, Unit 4 - Medium, Unit 5 - High, Unit 6 - Medium, Unit 7 - Low, Unit 8 - Low, Unit 9 - High

Rationale: 

Goals of the Revision

• Vertical alignment with other courses in the pathway

• Prepare students to run a small school-based enterprise

Course Description

Marketing I is a dynamic course that explores the essential role marketing plays in the business world and everyday life. Students will learn how companies develop products, conduct market research, set prices, create promotions, and build strong brands through both traditional and digital channels. The course covers a wide range of marketing areas including advertising, social media, public relations and consumer behavior. Through creative projects and  real-world case studies, students will gain hands-on experience in planning and executing marketing campaigns. This course is ideal for students interested in business, entrepreneurship, or creative strategy, and provides a strong foundation for future studies or careers in the field of Marketing.

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This is the second reading of the revised Civics curriculum, first presented to the Student Achievement Committee on August 20th. Civics is required for high school graduation. Students study the foundations of the American democratic system, the structure of the federal government, notable instances of public participation, and policy case studies. Over the course of the semester, students write a policy paper explaining how both the government and private citizens have impacted a single issue on a local, state, or national level before suggesting policy changes of their own.

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This is the second reading of the new Introduction to Criminology Curriculum, first presented to the Student Achievement Committee on August 20th. This is a dual enrollment opportunity offered in partnership with Southern Connecticut State University. Students will be introduced to national data sources on crime, research methodologies, theories of criminal behavior, and types of crime. Students who successfully complete this course can earn 3 credit hours from SCSU in addition to high school credit.

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This is the second reading of the revised Latin 1 Curriculum, first presented to the Student Achievement Committee on August 20th. Students learn about the language and culture of Ancient Rome by tracing the story of a historical Roman family in Pompeii through the son’s adventures in Roman Britain. Students follow the plot, recognize and react to the characters, and distinguish significant details in the social and historical setting of the Roman World. Students demonstrate familiarity with the daily life of the Romans in the first century A.D. Special attention is given to the multitude of English words derived from Latin.

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This is the second reading of the new curriculum for Model United Nations, first presented to the Student Achievement Committee on August 20th. Students will examine the structure, history, and functioning of the U.N. and its specialized agencies. Through engaging discussions, case studies, and a mock U.N. activity, students will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of international relations and the importance of multilateral cooperation.

Rationale: 

This is the second reading of Criminology Today: An Integrative Introduction (10th Edition) by Frank Schmalleger. The first reading was moved to the August Student Achievement Committee. Bristol Public Schools  Bristol Public Schools recently developed a curriculum to offer Intro to Criminology as a concurrent enrollment opportunity in partnership with SCSU. Criminology Today is the textbook recommended by SCSU for that course, and is a core resource for our curriculum.

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The physical education requirement for Bristol Public Schools  is being reduced from 2.0 credits to 1.0 credits for high school students.  Connecticut law requires only one credit of physical education and one credit of health for graduation from high school.

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Based on the adjustment to the graduation requirement for PE and Wellness for juniors and seniors, the athletic academic eligibility policy would also need to be revised. Previously, the policy required juniors and seniors to be enrolled in 5.5 academic credits plus 0.5 credits of PE. Now, juniors and seniors would be required to be enrolled in 5 credits total. This was approved by the Policy Committee on 8/27/25.

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The Board will discuss any new business proper to come before the Board.

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Commissioners will report to the Board on any groups/organizations in which they serve as Board of Education Liaisons and information pertinent to the Board.

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There being no other business to come before the Board, the meeting should be adjourned.