November 21, 2019 at 7:00 PM - Bethel Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

Congratulations to the Bethel Board of Education for once again winning Level II CABE Board of Distinction Award.  The award was presented at the 2019 CABE/CAPSS Conference on November 15th.  

The Board and Administration would like to recognize exiting Board member Kristen Lacey. Kristen has served on the Board of Education for the last eight years (2011- 2019).  I would like to personally thank Kristen for her service to both the schools and community and for her ability to make decisions, keeping what is best for children as the priority.

Congratulations to Ava Graham, BHS Sophomore, she placed 6th in the New England Interscholastic Cross Country Championship.  Ava has a list of accomplishments this year:

• 3rd in SWC Championship 
• Named 1st team All- Conference team
• 1st in Class M State Meet
• Team came in 2nd in Class M
• Named to All-State team
• 4th in State Open Meet
• Set new 5k school records at Wickham Park and BHS

Rationale: 

As you are aware, the Bethel Public Schools is a recipient of a Suicide Prevention Grant from the Department of Public Health.  Major activities of the work of the grant was to provide administrators, PPS staff, and Johnson staff QPR training and introduce Gizmo (https://www.gizmo4mentalhealth.org/) at Johnson School. 

In addition, the grant funded the Development Assets Survey, which was given to all of our students in grades 8 through 12.  The survey looked at youth assets and risk behaviors to identify patterns and develop action steps to address concerns revealed in the survey.   The Bethel Cares Coalition is also a partner in this intiative.  The District Safe School Climate Committee has reviewed the data and conducted an analysis.  At their next regular meeting (November 25th) they will be developing action steps to address areas of concern and potentially enhance assets. 

Dr. Sipala will be providing the Board an overview of the purpose of the survey and an analysis of the results.   

Rationale: 

As requested, Mr. Watson and Mr. Troetti will be providing a brief presentation on their School Improvement Plans for the 2019-20 school year.  The purpose of the presentation is to provide the Board with an overview of the focus of the schools.  The major components of the plan were presented at open houses in September, so parents could have a similar overview.  

The school administration will be presenting an overview of their Theories of Action, student learning outcome measures and major strategies/action steps to achieve those outcomes.  We began this planning process as a district in the summer of 2015.  These plans were collaboratively developed by teams within each school.   Please note, all of the fall PSAT data is not yet available.  Specific targets for Bethel High School will be set when testing is completed.  That data typically arrives in December.  

Rationale: 

• Email from M. Paulsen re: BHS Social Justice Club
• Letter from BHS student Allson Lucsky re: School Start Times

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: 

• As you are aware, NVCC is trying to establish a program at WCSU in advance manufacturing.  We have been anxiously awaiting the program to extend our Career Technical Readiness Pathway to include advanced manufacturing.   At our last Business Advisory Council, we got an update on the status.  Apparently, the project had been approved, but it is sitting with the Bonding Commission (CGA), waiting for approval.  We asked Senator Kushner and Representative Harding to look into the status.  
  

• In addition, NVCC has approached Mr. Troetti in offering our students an opportunity to learn the basics of welding.  Originally, this program was being housed at Abbott Tech.  NVCC is having difficulty getting Abbott Tech to clear out the space, so they have approached us to host the program if they can not make any headway at Abbott Tech.   NVCC would build a welding lab in BHS, students would receive a certificate for the course and Brookfield and New Milford have expressed interest in sending students to the program.  They came over and looked at the space and are in the process of approaching the administration at NVCC for approval to proceed.  

• On November 19th, I participated on a panel with the Manufacturing Association with Marcy McDonald from Memry. We spoke about the Business Advisory Council and our work to promote manufacturing and create a workforce pipeline. 

• Last week, a team from Central Office participated in a conference (Boston) offered by the District Management Group on Transforming Human Capital Systems.  We will briefly discuss some of the learning and outcomes from the conference.  

• CAPSS Executive Board met with CABE's Executive Board to discuss statement of intent for positive Board of Education/Superintendent to deal with state wide issues.
  
  
• Attended a meeting at CAPSS today on the future of Public Education with the Dalio Foundation.  

• I have been asked to participate on a panel at Yale University on public education in December, coordinated through the Connecticut Center for School Change.  

• Dr. Sipala and I met with the Community Based Health Services about the possibility of a School Based Health Clinic.   We will provide you an overview of the conversation to determine next steps.  

Committee Structure

Curriculum, Community Outreach, and Ad-Hoc Diversity & Culture Committee Dates

Rationale: 

As directed by the Board of Education, on October 29, 2019 I sent an email (attached) to all parents, students (high school) and staff to provide additional opportunity to give feedback on the proposed change in time schedule.  On November 8th in my weekly newsletter, I reminded parents, staff and students that they had till November 15th to provide feedback.  Here is a summary of the responses:  

• 19 Students 
• 49 Parents
• 8 Staff (most of whom are also parents)
• 76 Total Responses

22 respondents had positive comments about the suggested changes.  32 respondents were against the proposed changes, mostly due to high school and middle school riding the same bus.  Lastly, 22 respondents made comments which could not be interpreted as positive or negative and/or had other comments.  I have attached the summary of all feedback, including all responses. 

In general I would say that the overall response rate feedback was minimal, given the overall total enrollment.  As discussed previously, the Board would need to formally vote on the revised student schedule.  

Rationale:  This policy was last reviewed in 2004 and does not reflect current practice or laws.  There is also significant overlap with FERPA and Directory Information.   The administration has reviewed the policy and made the suggested edits.   As indicated in my comment, I need to check with Shipman and Goodwin on the ability to opt out with prior parental notification.  

Rationale: 

The administration is recommending review of Policy 5118.2 Children of Certified Staff:  Qualified Tuition Reductions.  We are doing it for a few reasons:  

1. The policy as written only reflects certified staff.  This happens very rarely, but we do get requests from other staff members to have their children attend the Bethel Public Schools.   
2. The current policy, does not reflect SBRI services, which is above the per student expenditure.  
3. We want to be explicit about stating that the staff member does not get priority nor can they make any placement requests.  

 

 

Rationale: 

As discussed in our previous meeting, we need to create a definition of a volunteer vs. a school visitor or supervised helper.   The distinction will create a separate set of protocols.   Policy 1212 and Regulation 1212 reflect those changes.   

The Board directed the Superintendent to meet with Administrative Council to discuss the issue related to field trips.   The changes in the regulation reflect their collective input.  

Went to Board for first reading 9/17/19.

Committee 10/3/19 - tabled

Rationale:  This Policy was developed in 1992 and never revised.  Our guess is it was introduced when computers were introduced in schools.   We do not believe is it relevant anymore and should be eliminated.   

Rationale:  The administration is recommending deleting Policy 4131.5, Continuing Education Units (CEU's).   The State of Connecticut no longer requires CEU's for certification.   

Rationale: 

By November 30th of each year, the Board of Education needs to submit to the Board of Selectman the Capital Plan.  

Long-Term Capital Plan 2019-2029

Rationale: 

Attached are some updated renderings of the new Track and Field Center.  The first attachment is a rendering with the sign for the center. Board approval is needed for the monument sign that would be outside the building between the high school and the new facility.  It would match the current monument signs throughout the educational park.

Rationale: 

Attached you will find the Owners Representative Report as of November 12th.  In addition, we conducted an air quality test at Johnson School.  All air quality items assessed were within normal limits. The complete report is attached.  

In addition, new phasing plans have been developed.  We will walk you through the major changes to the schedule at our meeting.  

We have preliminary playground designs (attached). They need to be submitted for approval from the Board of Education, PBSC and then the Office of School Construction.