May 14, 2015 at 7:15 PM - Bethel Board of Education Special Meeting

Rationale:  The CABE Student Leadership Awards are given to recognize student achievement and potential.  CABE received 416 names from 208 different schools across the state.  These students were picked from among their peers for exhibiting leadership qualities as defined by the criteria developed by CABE.  The Board recognizes the level of achievement of these students.

The Board would like to congratulate the following students on receiving the CABE Student Leadership Award for 2015:  Cole Cibu, Bethel High School, Caitlyn Peterson, Bethel High School, Christine DaSilva, Bethel Middle School, and Shawn Sato, Bethel Middle School.

Rationale:  We are proud to announce and recognize this year’s district winners for the HRRA recycling poster contest!

Rationale:  As you are aware, the Strategic Planning Committee, comprised of forty one (41) members representing staff, parents, community members, business officials and elected officials worked together to develop a long term focus for the district.  The committee will be presenting to the Board of Education the following:  

• An overview of the process in developing the plan;  
• The core belief statements of the Bethel Public Schools and our revised mission statement for the Bethel Public Schools;  
• Each of the five strategic areas, including the major goals, rationale for why the committee felt it was critical to include and specific action steps or strategies we hope to accomplish;   
• An overview of monitoring tools of progress towards our action steps, including student outcomes; and
• An overview of how we will monitor the implementation of the action strategies.  

Rationale:  Student access to technology on a daily basis is a critical aspect of our instruction in the Bethel Public Schools. As most, although not all, of the resources we need to access for instructional purposes are online, the technology platform has become less important.  This allows more flexibility regarding the type of device needed, as long as the device has access to internet.   The only exception is with smart phones. 

The administrators have met to discuss the most appropriate devices instructionally at each grade level.  The consensus of the group was:

• K-3, IPads
• 4-5, IPads and or Chromebooks (or equivalent)
• 6-8 Chromebooks (or equivalent)
• 9-12 Chromebooks (or equivalent) or Laptops

As we work towards a 1:1 (one device to one student) model we recognize that many of our students have personal devices that they can utilize for instructional purposes at school.  We wanted to conduct a preliminary survey with parents to assess student access to devices, the ability to utilize devices in school and a potential plan for parents who might be interested in purchasing devices from the district.  We intend to use this information for future planning.  

We are including the results of the survey for your information and discussion.  

Rationale: 

The Bethel Public Schools will begin contract negotiations with the Bethel Education Association this summer.  As such, the Bethel Board of Education will need to:

• appoint up to 3 members to serve on the negotiations committee; 

• provide feedback to the negotiation subcommittee on contractual revisions; and

• engage in the statutory correspondence with the Board of Finance to (1) set a meeting to get input and (2) appoint a member of the Board of Finance to be an advisor on the negotiations committee.  

 

 

Rationale: 

Rationale:  As you are well aware, Mr. DeBlois is retiring after 50 years with the Bethel Public Schools.  As such, it seems a natural time to revise his job description.  

This position is in the Bethel Administrator Association (BAA) contract, requiring both certification as an administrator (092) and direct teaching experience.  The focus of the position is to provide visionary leadership and effective management of instructional and information technology staff and services.  The person will be directly responsible for the development and the implementation of strategic initiatives and policies that effectively leverage technology and information to transform teaching and learning. 

 

Rationale:  Policy 5114, Suspension/Expulsion/Due Process is being submitted to the Bethel Board of Education for its first reading. 

Public Act 14-229:  An Act Concerning the Expungment of a Pupil's Cumulative Education Record for Certain Expulsions provides new statutory regulations regarding expungment of expulsions from a students cumulative records under certain circumstance. In addition to the statutory requirements, all administrators also reviewed the policy and provided input to revisions.  The recommended language is included as part of the revisions. The policy has been reviewed once at the subcommittee level. 

The major changes regarding expungment include:

1. erase the expulsion before a student graduates if the student was never previously suspended or expelled, had the expulsion shortened or waived upon completing a board specified program, and met board requirements.
2. erase the expulsion for students in grades K-8, involving firearms and deadly weapons, if the conduct and behavior of the student in the years following the expulsion warrant it.  

Rationale:  As Melanie requested, as part of the review of all safety policies, Policy 5141.3 - Health Assessments/Immunizations is presented for a first reading. 

Rationale:  Policy 5131.911 - Bullying Prevention & Intervention.  This policy includes the teen dating violence legislation and requirements and has been reviewed by the policy committee and is submitted for a second reading/approval.