August 27, 2020 at 7:00 PM - Bethel Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

As you are aware, the Strategic Planning Committee, comprised of forty five (45) members representing staff, parents, community members, business officials and elected officials worked together to develop a long term focus for the district for 2020-2025.  The committee will be presenting to the Board of Education the following:  

• An overview of the process in developing the plan;  
• Proposal for revisions to the core belief statements, mission statement, and new equity statement for the Bethel Public Schools;  
• Each of the three strategic areas of focus, 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;   and
• An overview of evidence of implementation of progress towards our action steps. 

We did not set specific targets for student outcomes.  The movement to Distance Learning last spring and the inability to do some of the standardized tests in the Fall, it is difficult to set targets.  We anticipate that there may be learning loss due to the shift in instruction on Distance Learning.  A new baseline will need to be established to set specific targets moving forward.  We would anticipate having them in the Spring.   

Rationale: 

Annually, the Board of Education established goals that align with our Strategic Plan.  Due to COVID-19, this year is unique, as our primary goal is to have a safe reopening of schools.  

 

Board of Education Goals 2020-2021

Note:  This year’s goals are driven in large part by the additional present and future challenges to the district presented by COVID-19.

Education Equity & Academic Gaps

Continue to develop, adapt, and assess the learning  models (in person, hybrid, and distance) during the pandemic to ensure that we are meeting the needs of ALL our learners, including addressing academic gaps from school closures.

Social Emotional

To develop our understanding of social and emotional skills:  self-awareness, self-management, social-awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making, in order to foster our students’ social and emotional well-being and their performance in school and in life.  

Civility, Inclusion, Racism, Discrimination Generally

Assess, review, and revise the district’s curriculum, policies, procedures and practices to create systems of equity for all of our students and allow for civil discourse among stakeholders. 

Rationale: 

We have not had a regular Board of Education Meeting since June of 2020.   The following correspondence was sent the Board's email account following the Black Lives Matter Rally in June of 2020. 

• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - Open Letter to Bethel Schools - Gina Greco
• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - I demand action be taken in light of the resurgence for a call to action against racial injustice - Jessica Demment
• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - Holding ourselves accountable - Audrey Garcia
• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - Demanding Accountability for Racial Injustice at Bethel High School - Aileen Zheng
  

Letter - CABE Membership - CABE

 

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: 

Board of Finance Presentation (8/18/2020)

Update on Reopening Plans 

Borrowed Desks - As you know, with the Johnson and Rockwell renovations, we received new student desks.  As a result, we had a tremendous amount of excess desks.  After we fulfilled all of our own internal needs at all of the schools, other districts and organizations reached out to borrow some of our extra desks to deal with COVID in their school districts.  We have allowed the following districts to borrow some of our excess desks:

• Region 12:  98 desks
• Region 15:  100 desks
• Brookfield:  41 desks
• Danbury Sports Dome (which will be providing daycare for our students while in hybrid):  70 desks.  

If we did not let the organizations borrow the desks, we would have likely had to pay for storage, so it benefits all involved.  

Rationale: 

Key Points of the Briefing:

* We are working on the year-end financial filings for the State of CT.  We did close June 30, 2020 with a positive balance inclusive of final spending as approved and prioritized by the BOE at the June 17th meeting and in support of our strategic plan, budget status and COVID 19 preparations.  Funds remaining were generated primarily by lower transportation, conference & travel, instructional supplies and tuition costs.

 

* 1) Unexpended Funds Account –We plan to request the BOF to deposit any unspent remaining funds to this account for opportunities and contingencies in future years, most especially with the fluid situation of COVID 19.  This final amount will be determined once we complete our State filings and reconcile with Town Finance.

 

* 2) COVID 19 – PPE, distance learning chromebook replacements, chromebooks for grade 1 and facility modifications were encumbered both in preparation for ESY and the upcoming school year.

 

* 3) Facilities – as the 460 budget was cut by $50K for 20/21 a couple of critical projects were completed in 19/20.

 

The final budget transfers, along with details is presented this evening.

Rationale:  The project monthly report is attached.