December 6, 2023 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Meeting

Rationale: 
MOMENT OF SILENCE

Richard Toth -  Teacher - Northeast, Hubbell, Mountain View, Greene-Hills, South Side, O’Connell and Edgewood - 9/4/1973 - 6/20/2005

Rationale: 
The Board of Education will approve the following meeting minutes:
1. November 1, 2023 - Regular Minutes Minutes
2. November 14, 2023 - Special Meeting Minutes

Rationale: 

Communication & Community Relations	Finance	Operations	Personnel	Policy Committee	Student Achievement
Maria Simmons, Chair	Dante Tagariello, Chair	Eric Carlson, Chair	Dante Tagariello, Chair	Shelby Pons, Chair	Jill Fitzsimons-Bula
Shelby Pons	Kristen Giantonio	Russell Anderson	Eric Carlson	Jill Fitzsimons-Bula	Kristen Giantonio
Russell Anderson	Eric Carlson	Jill Fitzsimons-Bula	Maria Simmons	Kristen Giantonio	Maria Simmons
Alternates:
Lorianne Osenkowski	Shelby Pons	Lorianne Osenkowski	Jill Fitzsimons-Bula	Dante Tagariello	Eric Carlson

Rationale: 
Student representatives from Bristol Central and Bristol Eastern will share activities, surveys, suggestions, and topics of interest in their respective schools.

Bristol Central                                         Bristol Eastern
Isabel Paolina - Senior                             Rita Gao - Senior
Abigail Wasta - Junior*                            Peyton Troth - Junior*                                                        

Rationale: 
Chair Tagariello will update the Board and the public on topics related to the Board of Education.

Rationale: 

Dr. Carbone will report/update the Board on the following topics:

1. Strategic Planning Update
2. Reading Waiver 

Rationale: 
Cyr, Alicia - WB - Grade 1 Teacher effective November 23, 2023
Fitzpatrick, Amanda - Special Education Teacher effective November 6, 2023
Hubina, Jessica - WB - Grade 5 Teacher effective November 3, 2023
Morales, Kathryn - ID - Kindergarten Teacher effective June 30, 2024

Rationale: 
Alcide, Cristalba - STAF - Social Worker effective December 4, 2023
Pecora, Peter - BEHS - On Track Coordinator effective November 8, 2023
Wescott, Cynthia - CHMS - Grade 6 Special Education Teacher effective November 29, 2023

Rationale: 
Coderre, Michael - NEMS - Special Elementary/MS/HS Performing Groups (Choral)
Longo, Kelley - BEHS - Class of 2027 Co-Advisor
MacDonald, Theresa - BAIMS - Special Elementary/MS/HS Performing Groups (Choral) *
Revoir, Lindsay - BCHS - Class of 2027 Co-Advisor
Silva, Alyson - BCHS - Class of 2027 Co-Advisor

Rationale: 
Dudek, Caitlyn - BAIMS - Gifted Coach effective September 1, 2023
LaChance, Derrick - WB - Science Curriculum Coordinator effective November 6, 2023
Nadeau, Meghan - EDGE PreK - PreK Curriculum Coordinator effective September 1, 2023
Rubbo, Cary - WB - ELA Curriculum Coordinator effective November 6, 2023
Witkewicz, Rachel - EDGE PreK - PreK Technology Leader effective September 1, 2023

Rationale: 
Brower, Gina - BEHS - Social Studies Teacher effective on or about May 28, 2024 through the end of the 2023-2024 school year.

Rationale: 
Bristol FRCs are committed to supporting early childhood literacy development in our schools, including the new Edgewood Pre-K Academy. Barnes Foundation funding will be used for an FRC staff member to visit each pre-K classroom, read a story to the class, and allow each child to bring home a new, high-quality children’s book of their choice.

Rationale: 
The FRCs were awarded a grant to fund 2 separate initiatives:
1. Kith & Kin Support Services: Play & learn Groups/Resource Bags. Support & Training of Licensed Home Day Care
Providers (HDCP). Road to Reading, a literacy program offered to School Readiness Providers. ($5000)
2. Offer 4 separate parenting education classes to the community for parents of toddlers and preschoolers with information on child development, discipline, toilet learning, and kindergarten readiness information, in both English and Spanish. ($3000)

Rationale: 
The FRCs are providing 3 separate 12-week leadership groups targeted to girls in one selected grade level at each FRC school, using the evidence-based "Stand Up! Speak Out" curricula. The selected grade level and student invitations to participate are based on recommendations from the school guidance staff, administrators and grade-level teachers. Funding includes a follow-up activity from last year’s pilot group graduates.

Rationale: 
The WatchDOGS program encourages male parents/guardians to become involved in their child’s education and supports the development of stronger parenting skills. Fathers meet at least monthly at each
site, co-facilitated by a male administrator (Scott Gaudet, David Huber and Matthew Maddruga) and Ken Garay (through a partnership with Bristol Adult Education), who also serves as a bilingual translator for Spanish-speaking fathers as needed. This year the program was launched at both West Bristol and South Side Schools.

Rationale: 
The CDBG/FAST (Family Assessment Support Team) grant provides funding for FRC staff to provide targeted assessment and intervention for families in difficult or crisis situations to access the services they need as quickly as possible. Total awarded $1,000.

Rationale: 
SDE/Parent Trust Fund: The UConn People Empowering People Communities program will provide parent education, leadership and community involvement training for 8-12 parents, using the UCONN People Empowering People curricula. Total awarded $20, 645, for a combination of salaries, supplies and required staff training.

Rationale: 
The FRCs at West Bristol, Greene-Hills, South Side offer BOOST to grade level students (K-3) who need a boost in confidence, social skills, assertiveness and overall school adjustment. The program offers one-on-one sessions for 20 to 30 minutes weekly utilizing an "expressive play" intervention facilitated by trained FRC staff. The program is offered in two cycles. Cycle 1 from Nov - Feb 2024, and another group of students identified for Cycle 2: Feb - May 2024. This program is monitored with specific outcome measures through SDE/National Children’s Institute and through an on-line data collection center called COMET. Oversight of program is under BOE Special Education Supervisor Amy Martino and Sarah Holmes, FRC Program Director.

Rationale: 
The WORKS program (Working Parents: Options, Resources & Key Supports) connects families participating in afterschool programs at Greene-hills, South Side and West Bristol Schools with needed resources and supports, as these families often have difficulty connecting with schools taff during the day due to their work schedules. The program helps remove barriers for families to be able to meet their families individualized needs, as well as to advocate for themselves and others.

Rationale: 

The district has been allocated $162,736  from  Perkins V for the academic year of 2023-24. This allocation is used to support the development and technological advancement of our CTE pathways, spaces and faculty. This year's award funds a continued partnership with ReadyCT and deeper development of work-based learning opportunities within our career concentrations and pathways. Funds also support the further development and advancement of the CTE programming through the updating of equipment, professional learning experiences and or software. 

 

Highlights the budget include:

• Education: Transportation to Edgewood PreK Academy to support learners in the elementary pathway. Access to robust instructional videos to support learners in understanding the qualities of best instructional practice. 

• Health and Medical Sciences: Training to support the instructor in becoming a Dementia care trainer, allows students to be certified in dementia care. Development of the Emergency Medical Responder course. 

• Business and Communications: Revision of 5 courses in the Business and Communications concentration area. DECA conference and school store entrepreneurship resources.

• Hospitality Management: Professional learning opportunities for culinary staff. Student field trips to support understanding of business, events, entrepreneurship and food.

• Engineering and Technical Sciences: Revision of 5 courses within the Engineering and Technical Sciences concentration area. New/upgraded equipment for technical labs, including:laser engravers, honeycomb working tables, VEX robots and fields, CNC lathe, Belt/disc sanders, 3D Printers, upgraded safety equipment; manufacturing robot simulators.

Rationale:   

Members of the public are invited to comment to the Board on any topic related to school business. Items requiring consideration by the Board must be approved as an agenda item by a 2/3ds vote of the Board members present.  Such items may be referred for further study and not necessarily acted upon at this meeting.

Anyone wishing to address the Board should adhere to the following procedures:

Before a Remote Meeting - Submitted Public Comment must be received by 4:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

1. Send your comments to: susaneverett@bristolk12.org
2. Be sure to put PUBLIC COMMENT - BOE in the subject line.
3. Include your name and address.
4. Direct your comments to the Board Chair.
5. Your comments will be read at the meeting by the Board Chair.
6. All comments should be written in an appropriate manner, comments regarding personnel or confidential student information shall not be discussed under public comment.
7. Any comments not adhering to the guidelines will not be read at the meeting.

During a Meeting

1. Everyone is requested to address the Chair for recognition.
2. Each speaker must state his/her name and address.
3. All speakers must observe rules of common etiquette.  Personalities are not to be injected. Anyone violating this rule will be denied the floor. Unless waived by the Chairperson or a majority of the Board,
4. Each speaker shall limit his/her remarks to three (3) minutes.
5. A speaker will not be recognized for a second time on the same topic.
6. The public may speak as agenda topics come up for discussion or information.  Anyone digressing from the topic will be ruled out of order.
7. Written statements and materials may be made available, in advance of comments, for distribution to Board members.
8. Speakers shall state their positions on the subject being discussed.
9. Board members will not respond directly to comments during the Board meeting. The Superintendent will direct the question to the appropriate staff member for follow-up

Rationale: 
Board of Education Onboarding Training Session #1.

Rationale: 
Amy Martino Director of Special Services will update the Board regarding Special Services programs and topics.

Rationale: 
Policy 6146.2 - Statewide Proficiency Mastery Examinations was revised and reviewed in the Policy Meeting on November 21, 2023. The revised Policy 6146.2 was moved to the full board for approval.

Rationale: 
The Board will discuss any new business proper to come before the Board.

Rationale: 

Any communications/information regarding building projects:
1. Chippens Underground Storage Tank
2. BAIMS Building Update
3. NEMS Building Committee Report
4. ESSER/ARP Building Committee Update
5. Edgewood Project Update
6. Culinary Arts Project Updates
7. Athletic Fields and Site Improvements

Rationale: 

Commissioners will report to the Board on any groups/organizations in which they serve as Board of Education Liaisons and information pertinent to the Board.

Rationale: 
There being no other business to come before the Board, the meeting should be adjourned.