September 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM - Bethel Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale:  Cathy Lakatos, a former BPS employee, donated a trumpet to BHS.

Rationale:  David & Carol Morey donated $25,000 to the district.  

$24,000 to start a fund for annual recognition of paraeducator work.  Funds will be invested into a Fidelity account.   We will establish criteria for an annual award, to be given at our annual awards ceremony of a paraeducator who has gone above and beyond their job responsibilities.  

$1,000 for mental health supplies.  This will be overseen by the Director of Special Education and Pupil Personnel.  Supplies would include games and toys that promote development of prosocial behaviors and emotional regulation. 

Rationale:  A donor, who wished to remain anonymous, donated $2,000 to the district.  The funds will be used to pay the meal account balances for students who qualify for reduced lunch, to be free or .40 per meal.  The donor plans to provide additional funding if needed.   The estimated cost over the course of the year is approximately $10,000.  In the past, the State of Connecticut made up the cost difference last year.   Families were notified of the change, subject to continued donations.  

Rationale:  In the fall of each school year, each principal will present their school improvement plan for the 2025-2026 school year.   The presentation will include student outcome goals, climate goals, action steps and evidence of implementation.  Please note, baseline data have not been established as the assessments will start to be administered at the end of September/early October.  

Rationale:  CCM (Connecticut Conference of Municipalities) emailed a flyer for the #LoCoolGov Scholarship contest.  CCM is actively engaging Connecticut's youth through this scholarship opportunity. The contest is open to all students attending a Connecticut middle (grades 6-8) or high (grades 9-12) school. Students can work by themselves, or they may collaborate with peers and submit group projects of no more than 3 people. There will be one middle school and one high school project selected. Each winning project will receive a $1,000 prize.

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

Rationale:  Data includes SBAC (ELA & Math 3-8), NGSS (Science grades 5, 8 & 11) and SAT (school day, grade 11). 
 

Rationale:  Policy 6140 was recommended for revision by CABE to reflect the legislative changes to curriculum expectations.  Our existing policy has not been reviewed since 2007.  

Rationale:  Policy 6159 was revised in 2024, but due to State changes, there were suggested revisions.  The model policy also provides greater specificity.  Dr. Sipala and her team will also be reviewing it and, as appropriate, providing input.  

Rationale:  Policy 3171 With the recent changes in law, Boards of Education now have sole control over non lapsing education funds.  This policy provides oversight of those funds and specifies reporting based on current law.  These changes in state law overrides the current agreement that we have with the Board of Finance with regards to the use of the funds.  

Rationale:  Policy 5118.21

Rationale:  The Policy 4133 and Regulation 4133 is being reviewed with the 4000 series.   The suggested changes align to our current practice and reimbursement rates. 

Policy 4133
Regulation 4133



 

Rationale:  . Policy 4234 is being reviewed with the 4000 series.

Rationale:  Policy 6141.322 

Rationale:  Policy 4118.52

Rationale:  The Board of Education recently received a donation to establish a Paraeducator Recognition Fund.  We recommend that the board create a new brokerage account with Fidelity Investments to house and manage these funds.

The Bethel Board of Education adopts the attached resolution to establish a new brokerage account(s) at Fidelity Investments to hold the Paraeducator Recognition Fund.  This resolution appoints Jennifer Variale, Director of Finance and Business Operations, and Suzanne Rodgers, Accounting Manager as individuals authorized to act on behalf of the above mentioned accounts.

Rationale:  The signers on the Board of Education Bank Accounts at Union Savings Bank (listed in the attached document) need to be updated.  The current signers are First Selectman Dan Carter, Treasurer Paul Szatkowski and Comptroller Brad Heering.