February 15, 2022 at 7:00 PM - Bethel Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

• Governor Lamont Announces Plan To Eliminate Statewide School Mask Requirement, Allow These Decisions To Be Determined at the Local Level
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Rationale:  (Please note:  The Board welcomes Public Comment 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:  Congratulations to Allison Amaya for her essay being chosen as a winning essay in Senator Murphy’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day essay contest! They received over 2200 entries from over 170 schools across the state this year. Allison should be very proud of her hard work!

Rationale:  Bethel High School

• $1,000 for a BHS Art Scholarship, Anne Brecher, Danbury, CT.

Berry School

• $1,000 for activities and events by PTO, Ingersoll Auto of Danbury, CT.

Rationale: 

• Letter from EdAdvance regarding District Data Report 2020-2021
• Press Release - Board of Education Essential Worker Coalition
• Press Release - Governor Lamont Announces Plan To Eliminate Statewide School Mask Requirement, Allow These Decisions To Be Determined at the Local Level
• Email from Jen Lawlor regarding pandemic mandates w/Dr. Carver's response.
• Email from Erin Barchi regarding mask mandate.
• Email from Jane Gangi regarding budget and common core.
• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - Bethels Plans - C. Lora
• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - Fw_ Let_s bring smiles back! - J. Hantzarides
• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - Do what’s right!!! - J. Hantzarides -2
• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - Let kids be kids - E. Khuth
• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - Mask Mandates - K. Lindstrom
• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - Masks - K. McCrink
• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - School Mask Mandate - J. Tomasiewicz
• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - School masking - A. Smith
• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - Fwd_ BOE meeting - N. Rutkowski
• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - Mask Mandate Comments - A.  Mikolajczyk
• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - Lift all mandates - N. Comcast
• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - Input on School Masking requirements - C. McGuire
• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - please continue requiring masks in schools - S. Springer
• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - Re_ unmasking - J & B. Ferguson
• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - Unmask our kids - M. Spiller
• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - Unmasking our children meeting 2_15 - K & S. Salvatore Arrigo
• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - Spring break - Student Calendar Input - 1
• Bethel CT Public Schools Mail - Spring break Student Calendar Input - 2
• Correspondance - Supports Masks in Schools - H. ONeill
• Correspondance - Supports Personal Choice re-Masks in Schools - K. DeRubertis

Rationale: 
District Communication Survey
After the last Community Outreach Committee meeting, where we had a lengthy discussion on the best communication strategies, I polled parents on district & school communication.  The results were interesting.  The comments were very helpful.  We had 433 responses and they were across all schools. Here were some themes:

• Parents prefer and more frequently read email/text messages. 
• Parents would like emails more to the point or a summary of key ideas at the top of the communications. 
• With both school and district newsletters, information is redundant.  Most respondents indicated that they are more likely to read the principal or superintendent's letters. 
• There were mixed comments about social media.  Some people believe that they are missing communications because they are not on social media.  That is not accurate.  The only information that is typically put on social media that is not on other sources is pictures, student celebrations, etc.  
• There is a concern about the number of different platforms that parents need to follow for classroom/teacher information.  It is overwhelming.  

We will use the feedback in making adjustments to our communications.  

First View Bus Tracking App

First Student Bus Company has launched a bus tracking app for parents. This app, First View works with a GPS system so parents can track the bus’s location. We are opening up the app districtwide after a smaller pilot.  Initially, we will use the app on all of our full-size buses. The smaller vans have not been set up at this point.  

Rationale: 
Monthly Data  -  We include in the BOE agenda the monthly data as requested by the BOE.  

Rationale:  Key Points of the Briefing: 

• We are bringing forward the following music curricula for approval.

  • Ensembles Novice (Johnson)

  • Ensembles Intermediate (Bethel Middle School)

  • Ensembles Proficient (Bethel High School)

 

• Ensembles for band, chorus, and orchestra study posture and setup, tone production, rhythm and pulse accuracy, pitch and intonation accuracy, improvisation, composition, expressive qualities/stylistic interpretation, ensemble skills, historical cultural content, and solo performance

• These units spiral through a student’s education so they are revisited and improved over time.

 

• We are also bringing forward the Adaptive Music curriculum for approval.

  • Adaptive Music in Grades 6-12 is designed to meet the needs of students who need more time and practice with the music standards.

  • Units of study include steady beat/tempo, rhythm, pitch/singing, lyrics and songwriting, music technology, music genres, music history, music and visual art, music and movement, and performance.  

Rationale: 

This item was posted on the meeting agenda.  However, this item remains in committee.  No information for or Board action is needed.

Rationale:  This policy was reviewed as part of the 1000 series.  There were no recommended changes. 

Policy 1416 Fiscal Authorities 

*This policy was tabled in committee at the November meeting and needs to go to the Board for a first reading. The committee wanted the chair present for the recommendation.

*This policy was tabled in committee at the December meeting and needs to go to the Board for a first reading. 

Rationale:  This policy concludes our review of the 1000 series.  There were no recommended changes.   We had Mr. Troetti, the Commander and Master Sergeant review the language in the context of the NJROTC.    

Policy 1700 - Otherwise Lawful Possession of Firearms on School Property

Rationale:  This policy is being reviewed as part of a general review of all policies within the 2000 series.   There are some minor recommended adjustments made to the policy.  

Policy 2000 - Concept and Roles in Administration

Rationale:  The policy was updated as part of our review of the 2000 series.  There were some minor adjustments to the policy based on feedback from our attorney at Shipman and Goodwin.   


Policy 2011 - Equal Employment Opportunity

Rationale:  Policy 2112 - Professional Learning

Rationale:  The administration is recommending the deletion of Policy 2013.  With the change in federal legislation, the BOE updated the Title IX policy which already addresses grievances and therefore is redundant.  

Policy 2013 - Grievance Procedures - Title IX

Rationale:  This policy was recommended to be reviewed by our attorney.   It specifically addresses both the staff and public expectations related to electronic records and information.  

Policy 2232 - Electronic Records And Information
Regulation 2232 - Electronic Records And Information 

Rationale:  This policy was recommended to be implemented by Shipman and Goodwin.  The board asked me to contact our attorneys and explore why the policy only relates to athletes.  We are waiting to hear back from our attorney to see if the Board has the authority to expand the policy to apply to all students as it applies to extracurricular education.  (Note, Policy # corrected to 5141.231)

Policy 5141.231 - Chemical Health Policy for Student-Athletes

Rationale:  We would like to advertise Ms. Yonsky's position in March and felt like it was an appropriate time to review the job description.  Please note. we are suggesting a change in title also.  

Rationale:  A brief oral update will be provided.   Attached are the tracking budgets and cash flow report.  The project remains significantly under budget.