April 12, 2018 at 7:00 PM - Bethel Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

Mrs. Sherri Holmberg and her students will be giving a brief presentation regarding the EMT Certification program at Bethel High School and their recent attendance at the EMS Today, National Conference.

There is no action associated with this agenda item.  

Rationale: 

Presenters:
Susan Budris, Director of Special Education and Pupil Services
Frances Peters, Transition Specialist
Scott Dages and Bradley Smith, Students

 

Topic: Recognition of the community partners who support the Bethel Community Partnership Program

Key Points of the Briefing: The following individuals, businesses and agencies are recognized for their contributions and commitment to the Bethel Public Schools Community Partnership Program.

 

Community Businesses	Bethel Health Care Center Laundry Nook Snap Fitness Daily Fare Bethel Music Center Park and Rec Preschool program Stony Hill Hardware Bethel Big Y Caraluzzi’s Rainy Day Paperback Exchange Redding Roasters Coffee Company Eaton Corporation Memry Corporation Nutmeg Cleaners	Dana Dinho Suzanne Garofola/Pam Broecking Morgan Vadas Robin Grubard Bruce and Dana Treidel Lisa Freebairn/Joanne Matteo Ron and Carolyn Dufner Jennifer Vargas Matt Caraluzzi Nora O’Neill Kaitlyn Heisler Jill Swearingen Marcy Macdonald Andy and Donna Paproski
Community Agencies	Bethel Public Library     Bethel Park and Recreation Bethel Senior Center Bethel Chamber of Commerce The Women’s Center of Greater Wtby Regional YMCA of Western CT	Megan Dean, Director Amy Schumann, Priscilla Massmann Olivia Von Kohorn Eileen Earle Lisa Plumb Heather Hansen-O’Neill Ann Rodwell-Lawton Jennifer Pane
State Agencies	Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Bureau of Rehabilitation Services Goodwill of Western & Northern CT	Brian Smith   Leah Pavone, (BRS) Level Up Program Anne Boba, Senior Community Employment Liaison
Bus Company	First Student	Kim Humiston, Kristin Fedorich
Bethel Public Schools	Job Coaches	Robert Barricelli Lynn Galvin Toni Johnson Pat Miniello Madeleine Neave Robert Uhl
BPS Staff members	Bethel High School       Berry School	Chris Troetti, Principal Dave Belcourt, Robert McEvoy, Custodians Jess Wismar, Sue DeCarlo – Media Center Kylie D’Arcangelo Barbara Barese

 

 

Rationale: 

• Gov Malloy Testimony to Judiciary Committee re HB 5542
• Gov Malloy Teachers Highlight Importance of Keeping Guns Out of Classrooms
• Gov Malloy Testifies in Support of Banning Bump Stocks and Other Rate of Fire Enhancements
• Correspondence - Email - Re_ Turf Field
• Email - CT stays on the wrong course for seven years and counting - J. Gangi
• Email - Please evaluate the common core and SBAC - J. Gangi
  
• Email - SBAC is educational malpractice - J. Gangi   
• Email - Please stop--or at least evaluate ccss and sbac. It's the ethical thing to do - J. Gangi

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: 

State statute allows a Board of Education to formally set graduation at its first meeting in April.  The Administration is recommending Tuesday, June 19, 2018 as the Graduation Date.  

As discussed at the March Board meeting, due to the number of snow days this year, the 2017-2018 calendar was revised to 180 days for students. Last day for students will be Friday, June 22, (half day) and teachers would return on Monday, June 25th (full day) for Professional Learning.  

It was also the consensus of the Board to keep June 19, 2018 as the date for graduation for the Class of 2018.  As allowed by law, seniors would be invited back for the remain school days.

June 19, 2018 is the date available at WCSU. The Board will be asked to vote to approve the graduation date.  

 

Rationale: 

Board will discuss possible meeting dates and outline of evaluation process.

• Date to be set for the Superintendent's Presentation - June 14th
• Date to be set for the Board Assessment - June 28th

Rationale: 

Looking at a 3-hour delay schedule.

Search & Seizure 

COF Playground

Rationale: 

Summary of the Briefing:

• The Stemscopes program is written by Rice University  and is the only program written from the ground up addressing the NGSS standards.

• Every NGSS Disciplinary Core Idea, Crosscutting Concept (i.e.  Patterns; Cause and Effect; Scale, Proportion, and Quantity; Systems and System Models; Energy and Matter; Structure and Function; and Stability and Change), and Science & Engineering Practice is covered (1. Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering) 2. Developing and using models 3. Planning and carrying out investigations 4. Analyzing and interpreting data 5. Using mathematics and computational thinking 6. Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering) 7. Engaging in argument from evidence 8. Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information)

• Each Stemscopes module has hands-on activities, including project-based learning, engineering solutions, and virtual investigations which support an environment of inquiry and discourse

• Claim-evidence-reasoning assessments are incorporated into the program  

• Launching this program K-5 and now moving it to Grades 6-8 allows for vertical alignment of instruction and assessment

• Stemscopes supports our Strategic Plan in providing systematic and sustained opportunities for authentic STEM experiences so that students can develop critical thinking and problem solving skills

• Stemscopes is a digital resource and updates all cloud-based resources in real time

• All resources and assessments are housed in one location for easy access.

• Total cost of the 6-8 program (digital subscriptions, kits, lab equipment, and shared supplies) is $26,213.75

Rationale: 

Summary of the Briefing:

Per the sealofbiliteracy.org website:

• The Seal of Biliteracy encourages students to be biliterate and prepares students for college and future careers.

• The Seal of Biliteracy recognizes students who have attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation (English being one of them).

• Proficiency will be determined in the following ways:

  • Students must demonstrate proficiency in English by successfully completing all of the English requirements at BHS.

  • Students must also demonstrate proficiency through an approved test- either Advanced Placement Exam or the Assessment for Performance toward Proficiency in Languages- AAPPL.

• Each AAPPL test costs $20 per student.  We anticipate approximately 30 students taking this test.

• If students are proficient in two or more languages, they will receive the Seal of Biliteracy on their transcripts and will be awarded a certificate from the school.

Rationale: 

Dr. Brooks organized a committee of teachers and administrators to research effective homework practices and make suggested recommendations to district policy.  The committee work included: 

• Literature review of effective practices for homework.  
• Development of surveys for stakeholder (parents, teachers, students) to get input on current practice (see attached summary).  
• Review of other district policies regarding homework.
• Revising BPS district policy and regulations.  

This Policy/Regulation had a first reading on April 12th.

Rationale: 

The calendar has been reviewed by the administration.  Information has been included regarding makes up days and make up days for conferences as a result of storms in the past and current school year.  Also, as discussed at the March Board meeting, Professional Learning days have been moved to prior to school opening to allow more time at the end of the school calendar for construction purposes at Rockwell and Johnson.

Rationale:  This calendar has been drafted as a preview to the staff and community about how we anticipate we will schedule this school year.  The Board will be asked to “accept” this calendar.