May 10, 2018 at 7:00 PM - Bethel Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

Catherine O'Callaghan, Ph.D., Chair of Education & Educational Psychology Department, will be presenting the Western Connecticut State University 2018 Partner of the Year Award to the Bethel Public Schools.

The department has selected the Bethel School District as their 2018 Partner of the Year!  The selection was based upon the PDS partnership, fieldwork placements, and the collaborative work on the design of the new Special Education and Reading programs.  

Rationale: 

Presentation of Award Certificates:

The CABE Student Leadership Awards are given to recognize student achievement and potential.  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 2018: Bethel High School, Ethan Cardona and Catherine Galliford; Bethel Middle School, Mateo Shaboo and Olivia Pysk

Rationale: 

Email - Common Core Has Got To Go - J. Gangi

Email - We don't have to lose yet another decade! - J. Gangi

Email - The NAEP just keeps going down, down, down. It is time for you to STOP the common core and sbac - 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: 

Upcoming BOE Dates:

June 21st BOE meeting is canceled.

June 5th BOE Curriculum Committee at 6 PM

June 7th Policy Committee at 6 PM

June 7th BOE Special Meeting at 7 PM (Special due to the fact its not part of the regular meeting schedule posted with the Town in Dec.)

ECS Update 

CAPSS Appointment 

Rationale: 

Key Points of the Briefing:

 

* CSDE requires annual certification by the Board of Education for participation in the Healthy Foods Certification Program

* In participating, Bethel can only serve beverages, foods, snacks and a la carte items that have been specifically approved by the CSDE. 

* For participation, the District receives and additional 10 cents reimbursement from the State on each meal served.  This is important to the financial success of our program which has always been self-sustaining.

Rationale: 

* Raising student lunch prices a modest amount at all schools.  Elementary will be $2.90 insuring that the district meets the minimum required Paid Lunch Equity by the USDA and Middle School and High School will be $3.25.  All student lunch prices include milk.

* Raising all student school breakfast prices by $.05 to $2.30.

* Raising Adult meal prices in order to comply with CSDE guidelines. Adult breakfast will be $2.75 and Adult Lunch will be $4.00. Adult lunch prices do not include a beverage.

* Bethel’s prices are similar to other school districts in this area and across the state.

 

Summary of the Briefing:

1. To raise the school meal prices to cover increases in labor and food costs and continue to have the school lunch program run at or above break-even and to meet the USDA Paid Lunch Equity requirements.
2. To set the price for reduced priced breakfast at $0.00 instead of $0.30 for the year 2018-2019.This will continue to encourage participation in the breakfast program and insure that our neediest students are fed each morning.The cost to the board should be less than $2,000.This year we are on pace to serve 6,600 reduced-priced breakfasts.

Rationale: 

Pursuant to Board of Education Policy, the following tuition rates for non-resident students attending Bethel Public Schools are recommended:

 

                                    2014/2015       2015/2016       2016/2017       2017/2018       % Increase

 

Elem/Middle                $12,165           $12,342           $12,543           $12,769           1.80%

 

High School                $14,035           $14,240           $14,472           $14,732           1.80%

 

These tuition rates do not include transportation.  Additionally, Special Education rates will be calculated as needed based on the costs of a specific program with related services.

Rationale:  The Board will be presented with a listing of teachers who have completed the requirements to be granted tenure in the Bethel Public Schools.