From how learners go to universities to building jobs, the Board of Training mentioned a range of matters in 2021.
If a year could make a large entrance, 2021 did for Newtown General public Schools: In January, all Newtown General public College structures opened for whole in faculty university student studying. A new routine was executed later in the thirty day period to make it happen for Newtown Substantial School and Newtown Middle University, and the young grades returned on January 4.
That identical thirty day period, the university board started inspecting the proposed 2021-22 faculty district budget. The lingering topic at the time was 2020. The superintendent’s proposed finances was shared by Superintendent of Educational institutions Dr Lorrie Rodrigue throughout a January 19 digital conference.
A community listening to was held later, and the university board unanimously accepted its model of the budge at a February virtual conference. The price range then went prior to the Board of Finance and Legislative Council right before likely to referendum in the spring for voter approval.
Also in January, the school board employed a new director of technology, Dennis Colclough, who began his place in February.
By March 2, Dr Rodrigue shared with the Board of Schooling that there was cause to be enthusiastic, as vaccinating Newtown’s academics was established to start on March 6. Dr Rodrigue prepared to operate with Newtown Community Schools’ Nursing Supervisor Anne Dalton, RN, to draft an update for district staff members that 7 days relating to the vaccinations, in accordance to assembly discussion.
“We’re just at the moment truly excited that we will be in a position to attain as lots of employees [as possible],” Dr Rodrigue claimed. “This Saturday by itself, we will vaccinate more than 550 staff members.”
At that exact meeting, Dr Rodrigue shared reflections on her 2020-21 targets, which have been beforehand presented to the college board, and how the faculty yr is progressing. People ambitions involved adhering to tactics and protocols concerning COVID-19, efforts to talk the district’s operational prepare with the local community, and building “a systemic solution to the expectations and outcomes regarding variety and equity.”
COVID-19 remained a matter for the Board of Education through the 12 months. By May well, Dr Rodrigue made available approaches the point out was making ready districts for the 2021-22 college year. The point out would no extended obligate districts to give distant discovering, the superintendent shared, for the new college year.
At that exact same conference, the board figured out from Director of Organization & Finance Tanja Vadas that the district’s contract for propane fuel for college buses for the 2021-22 college calendar year was introduced in early March for companies to bid on it via a request for proposal (RFP) system.
“It also bundled a just one-yr extension to the contract,” mentioned Vadas.
The bids ended up been given on April 23. Just after board discussion, the associates existing for the May possibly 4 virtual meeting voted to settle for Hocon Gas as the service provider for the contract.
Profiles In Professionalism
At its up coming conference, the university board fulfilled in person at Newtown Large School’s auditorium. The district’s Profiles in Professionalism awardees ended up celebrated at the May possibly 18 meeting. NHS Athletic Director Matt Memoli available a presentation about the district’s Athletics Plan, and Bob Gerbert Jr, Newtown’s director of facilities, presented information and facts to the BOE to award the agreement for the Reed Intermediate Faculty lighting and boiler job to Greenleaf Vitality.
With faculty even now in attendance for the 2020-21 university 12 months, community speakers at the June 1 Board of Education and learning conference urged district leaders to imagine about allowing pupils to not wear masks in the tumble, in particular in the reduced quality levels.
The Board of Education also celebrated retiring educators at its June 1 conference. Dr Rodrigue shared that, in whole, the retiring educators accomplished 439 yrs in Newtown and 653 yrs in training, which includes other districts.
The Board of Instruction unanimously hired Hawley Elementary School direct trainer Jenna Connors at its June 15 meeting to be Reed Intermediate School’s new assistant principal. The position was remaining open by Reed Assistant Principal Jill Beaudry’s retirement.
With preparing for Hawley Elementary School’s heating, air flow, and air conditioning (HVAC) task in approach, the Board of Education and learning realized July 6 about two prospective options for finishing the work in the 2022-23 college 12 months.
The Board of Instruction then voted at a July 20 specific conference to assist an solution to relocate learners for the 2022-23 school yr for the duration of the completion of a Hawley Elementary University heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) job.
“This is definitely the most effective [option] for the children,” then Board of Instruction Vice Chair Dan Delia stated just after transferring to approve the solution over another that would have kept some pupils in the university even though the project was underway. “It’s the safest, the healthiest, and it is the most conducive to mastering. I’m in comprehensive assist of this motion.”
On August 11, a quorum of four Board of Training members unanimously approved Dr Rodrigue to make alterations to its 2021-22 Return To College Approach adhering to an govt buy by the governor.
Director of Company & Finance Tanja Vadas shared summaries of the school district’s 2020-21 fiscal yr-finish budget report, and the initially finances report for the 2021-22 fiscal yr at the Board of Education’s conference on August 25. About $366,000 remained in encumbrances for the 2020-21 fiscal 12 months, according to Vadas.
“The balance improve from Might to June accounted for an additional $13,281, bringing our year-stop stability to $27,238,” Vadas mentioned. “This unexpended sum is well underneath the 2{22377624ce51d186a25e6affb44d268990bf1c3186702884c333505e71f176b1} of spending budget and is suitable for deposit into the nonlapsing account.”
The Board of Education and learning approved its 10-yr funds enhancement prepare (CIP) at its September 8 meeting. Its CIP then moved to the Board of Finance for evaluate. The CIP maps out prioritized proposed setting up tasks and predicted expenditures.
At the very same conference, the BOE accredited a pilot for a new district-vast scholar evaluation i-Completely ready.
The Board of Education and learning celebrated Newtown’s Teacher of the Year and Paraeducator of the Calendar year at its September 21 meeting.
“Tonight we are celebrating two fantastic employees associates,” reported Superintendent of Colleges Dr Lorrie Rodrigue at the assembly.
Finest Of The 12 months
In advance of the conclude of the 2020–21 faculty year, Jill Gonski was named as the Newtown Trainer of the 12 months and Dorothy Kelly was announced as Newtown’s Paraeducator of the Yr, both equally for the 2021–22 faculty yr. Kelly is effective at Hawley Elementary School and Gonski is a distinctive instruction teacher at Newtown Superior School.
There was an additional reason to celebrate at the September 21 conference: Immediately after years, Newtown Substantial School’s New England Affiliation of Universities and Colleges (NEASC), Inc, accreditation procedure was concluded, and it is just about time to commence all over again. As NHS Principal Dr Kimberly Longobucco stated in an update on the higher school’s NEASC accreditation approach at the Board of Education’s September 21 assembly, the unique NEASC go to was in Oct 2015.
Variety, fairness, and inclusion was a principal subject for the Board of Training for the duration of its Oct 5 meeting. Ahead of a report on variety and inclusion attempts from the previous yr, Dr Rodrigue released the recently hired college district Coordinator of Range, Equity, and Inclusion Wesley Johnson at the conference.
According to Rodrigue, Johnson was strongly endorsed by two interview committees.
“We are so fired up to have you be part of Newtown General public Colleges,” explained Rodrigue.
“I’m actually enthusiastic about the possibility to enter into this space,” explained Johnson at the meeting. Later on he reported he is “ready to go” while recognizing that there are “strong positions” regarding the function of coordinator.
A different subject that the Board of Training oversaw concerning September and October was bus driver shortages, which Dr Rodrigue said all districts ended up dealing with. The superintendent spelled out “for very excellent reasons” individuals had referred to as out of function and the bus driver shortage meant there have been not plenty of substitute motorists. The district had been making an attempt to rotate which bus routes are “parked,” and Rodrigue said later on pickup and early fall-offs have been created available for dad and mom.
“In talking with [All-Star Transportation], we have motorists testing in early November, which is the earliest date DMV has been ready to accommodate presented the backlog throughout the state,” she said. “Meanwhile, All-Star is performing its most effective to watch bus driver absences and to search for out guidance from other town bus depots.”
Student performance and take a look at information was reviewed in mid-Oct, such as outcomes from the pilot i-Ready pilot.
Also in November, the Board of Instruction denied a grievance filed by the Newtown Paraeducators Affiliation that questioned the software of wage increases. Shipman & Goodwin Legal professional Richard Mills spoke for the district, even though Neubert, Pepe & Monteith Attorney Lucas Rocklin represented the paraeducators union at the conference. Discussion on the main disagreement centered about which decades an personnel would attain the upcoming wage tier.
At its last conference of the Board of Instruction prior to freshly elected persons took their seats, 3 members who are stepping down ended up celebrated by Dr Rodrigue.
“This evening’s Celebration of Excellence is bittersweet as we say farewell to 3 very dedicated Board of Education customers,” mentioned Superintendent of Educational institutions Dr Lorrie Rodrigue.
Dr Rodrigue mentioned she was talking on behalf of the whole university district in recognizing the three Board of Instruction members who are stepping down from their positions — Chair Michelle Embree Ku, Vice Chair Dan Delia, and member Debbie Leidlein. Ku was elected to the Legislative Council and began her time on that board in December.
On December 7 the university board accepted obtaining December 14 be a distant studying day for Newtown Public Faculties.
At that exact same meeting, the college board elected new management. It was also the to start with meeting for recently elected members Don Ramsey, Janet Kuzma, and Jennifer Larkin. Board of Training member Dan Cruson, Jr, was also elected to return to the university board. As voted at the assembly, Deborra Zukowski was elected as chair, John Vouros was elected as vice chair, and Ramsey was elected to become secretary.
As the calendar year was coming to a shut, the college board uncovered Superintendent of Colleges Dr Lorrie Rodrigue will retire at the finish of the 2021-22 school 12 months, as lined in the connected tale in this week’s print edition.
Training Reporter Eliza Hallabeck can be achieved at [email protected].
Superintendent of Educational institutions Dr Lorrie Rodrigue, still left, stands with retiring district educators present for the Board of Education’s June 1 assembly.—Bee file photos
Jenna Connors, appropriate, was employed to be Reed Intermediate School’s assistant principal, together with Reed Principal Dr Matt Correia, still left, at the Board of Education’s June 18 meeting.
