Public Meeting Agenda: December 15, 2016 at 7:00 PM - Bethel Board of Education Regular Meeting - Annual Meeting

1. Selection of Temporary Chairperson

2. Call to Order

Speaker(s): Policy 9326

2.A. Roll Call for Quorum

2.B. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Annual Meeting

3.A. Election of Officers

3.A.1. Nominations for Chairman of the Board

3.A.2. Nominations for Vice Chairman of the Board

3.A.3. Nominations for Secretary of the Board

3.B. 2017 Board of Education Meeting Dates

Rationale: This action is required by State Statute and needs to be posted with the Town Clerk no later than December 31st. Dates can be changed at later dates to meet the requirements of the business of the Board.

Attachments: (1)

memoBOEdates-2017

3.C. Code of Ethics

Rationale: The success of our school system depends on an effective working relationship between the Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools. This code incorporates those standards and responsibilities most critical to productive Board and Superintendent relations. Board members will sign the Code of Ethics for 2017.

Attachments: (1)

Code of Ethics

4. Administrative/Board Member Update

Speaker(s): Policy 9326

4.A. Bethel Abroad Presentation

Speaker(s): BHS Students

Rationale: As requested by the Board of Education, BHS students who participated in the Bethel Abroad trip this summer will be presenting a brief overview of their trip to France and Spain.

4.B. Sodexo Food Services - Healthy Foods

Rationale: Sodexo Food Service Reps will be present to give an update on food services.

4.C. Growth Index for SBAC

Rationale:

This afternoon the State Department of Education released the Growth Rates for the Accountability Index. Unlike measuring the number of students who meet proficiency, the growth model measures looks at individual student growth at all levels. The expectation is that every student move based on targets developed by the State Department of Education. The following link provides detailed information regarding the model: http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/pdf/evalresearch/connecticut_growth_model_october_2016_without_narration.pdf. The index will be included in our district accountability ranking and those at Johnson and Bethel Middle School (the only schools that take the SBAC more than one year). The schools have been provided the data on individual students. The School Improvement Teams will analyze the data to identify trends and determine any actions steps.

You will note, that Bethel significantly outperformed the state. You can access the EdSight website (http://edsight.ct.gov/SASPortal/main.do) to look at any community. We attribute the growth to the outstanding teaching, focus on differentiation for all learners and intervention programs. We should be proud of our performance. The following chart provides a comparison of the data:

District Information		ELA		Math
District	DRG A-I	Growth Rate %	Average % of Target Achieved	Growth Rate %	Average % of Target Achieved
State	---	43.1	63.8	43.9	65
Bethel	D	51.2	70.8	58.7	79.7
East Lyme	D	47	64.9	50.4	70.7
New Milford	D	40.3	61	44.2	64.6
Berlin	D	51.8	72.9	44.6	66.4
Newington	D	37.3	58.2	37.6	56.3
Brookfield	B	43.6	63.3	45.7	67.9
New Fairfield	B	50.9	71.1	58.4	79.4
Newtown	B	45.8	63.9	59.1	78
Region 15	B	51.4	71.1	51.6	72.4
Wilton	A	56.3	74.7	59.9	80.5
Westport	A	46.8	63.8	50.6	69.4
New Cannan	A	52.8	68.7	59.6	77.7
Danbury	H	41.3	63.9	42.8	64.5

4.D. 2016 Cohort Graduation Data

Rationale: 2016 Cohort Graduation Data has been provided to us by the State. While our graduation rate increased slightly, what is more impressive is the increase in graduation rate among our subgroup populations over the previous years. This is particularly significant given the size of the class (larger than 2015). The high school administration and staff have made it a high priority and their efforts are certainly paying off! The data break out is attached.

Attachments: (1)

Cohort Graduation Rate

4.E. Regulation 5111 - Admission

Attachments: (1)

5111 Regulation - Admission

5. Board Recognition/A Salute to Excellence

Rationale:

Congratulations to the Board on winning the CABE Board of Distinction Award - Level II! The Awards ceremony took place as part of the CABE/CAPSS Conference, in November. This is the fourth year the Board has received Level II.

Congratulations to Emma Fagan, BHS Senior, who facilitated the very successful St. Baldrick's fundraiser at BHS in the memory of classmate Thomas Fritch who passed in his freshman year. Emma is a classmate and a cancer survivor six years strong. She was looking to help keep his memory alive by awareness and funds to find a cure. Emma asked students to donate and volunteer to sell ribbons during lunch waves. The money raised will be used for childhood cancer research. The goal was to raise $1500. They raised over $7000! The BHS staff participated and needed to raise more than the students to keep Mr. Troetti, BHS Principal, from facing the buzz cutting shears! The fundraiser is the “BUZZ” of the district

6. Consent Calendar

Speaker(s): Policy 9326

6.A. Approval of Minutes

Attachments: (7)

6.A.1. November 17, 2016 - Regular Meeting

Attachments: (1)

Minutes - November 17, 2016

7. Correspondence

Speaker(s): Policy 9326

Rationale:

Letter of invitation to legislators for BOE Legislative Session January 19, 2017
Email - When will Bethel and the state Board of Ed evaluate common core and sbac - J. Gangi

Attachments: (2)

8. Audience Participation

Speaker(s): Policy 9326

9. Reports to the Board

9.A. Curriculum

9.A.1. New Senior English Elective Courses

Rationale:

Presenter(s):
Dr. Kristen Brooks
Mrs. Michelle Rutledge Mrs. Mary Fernand

Topic:
New Courses: English Senior Electives

Summary of the Briefing:
The Bethel High School English Department is bringing forward 6 new English Senior elective
courses to replace the senior Digital English course. These courses include:
• Advanced Writing
• Gender Studies
• Out with the Old, In with the New
• The Creative Process
• Science Fiction
• Sports Literature: Profiles in Leadership, Perseverance, and Diversity

Using our 1:1 model, these courses will create opportunities that provide more choice and
personalization for our students which aligns to our district's Strategic Plan. If approved, each
of the courses will be:
• One semester in length offered to our seniors
• Fully aligned to the Common Core State Standards
• Aligned to one/several Pathways (existing Pathways: Education, Global Studies and proposed
Pathways: Career & Technical Readiness, Business, and Healthcare)
• Connected to the Global Competencies (Critical Thinking, Collaboration, and Creativity and
Innovation) to ensure our students are College and Career Ready

No additional staff members are needed to teach these courses. Funding will include summer
curriculum work, College Board training for the Advanced Writing course, and instructional
resources that both the school and the Assistant Superintendent's office

9.A.1.a. Composition

Attachments: (1)

Composition

9.A.1.b. Gender Studies

Attachments: (1)

Gender Studies

9.A.1.c. Out with the Old, In with the New Contemporary Literature

Attachments: (1)

Contemporary Literature

9.A.1.d. The Creative Process

Attachments: (1)

The Creative Process

9.A.1.e. Science Fiction

Attachments: (1)

Science Fiction

9.A.1.f. Sports Literature: Profiles in Leadership, Perseverance, and Diversity

Attachments: (1)

Sports Literature

9.A.2. Textbook Adoption - Advanced Writing

Speaker(s): Dr. Brooks and Dr. Fernand

Rationale: Please see Board Briefing (attached).

Attachments: (1)

BETHEL HIGH SCHOOL- ORD_QT_US_41660878 (2)

9.B. Facilities

Speaker(s): Policy 3132

9.B.1. Architectural Firm for the Rockwell/Johnson School Renovation Project - Approval

Rationale: AD-HOC JS/RS Renovation Committee will recommend an Architectural Firm for the Rockwell/Johnson School Renovation Project for approval.

10. Adjourn

December 15, 2016 at 7:00 PM - Bethel Board of Education Regular Meeting - Annual Meeting

Web Viewer