[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6639911,"mediaKeyId","2556569-55eff2101d2ea90b638670ed54796042","parentId",2556569,"title","Local family to make quarterly donations to Cromwell student activity funds, board to recognize gift","audioSeconds",119,"startMs",217000,"endMs",336000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2556569-55eff2101d2ea90b638670ed54796042&start=217&end=336","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2556569-55eff2101d2ea90b638670ed54796042/thumbnail_217000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6639911/Connecticut/Local-family-to-make-quarterly-donations-to-Cromwell-student-activity-funds-board-to-recognize-gift","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6639911-e2babf9c875a787f4ecc32faf5c15b82/orig.mp4?Expires=1771134996&Signature=A1S1yqx8h4m2oJFb~td3OAEBsMBNU8YkYGx6bNAu3m-ot2~3V1gxV-0d9C3MKPbfNEHv~8eYqhS5w8lJyLHGqrVxZtKGy7XqX8cvbC-gSN0zCxYYEbduSxvUa2KB9XZ7tSubxezj2PpDanm27mI-0Hl1KZpjxG9JNFuF~78V4Z6KDpVhNGBH6YCLGtDFPFnjKhWThj-MgNBLl5eTE5ZdMg3u7IWywqub~AmvPhvC54wVFwA3~eLaAvzA1MAkcMumXaQggMV6GbawEwPYq8cgylS7Go0oxux781waTzPfwhUr7I4XRF1mLB8XcCakc4pX-SgGXt14Ipn3F2zAf1g9dQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cromwell School District","date","2025-03-12T01:23:27.13Z","article","The Cromwell Board of Education announced a new recurring donation to district student activity funds from local residents David Butler and the Ruby Smalley Charitable Foundation.

Superintendent Dr. Macri read a letter from Butler describing the planned gift. According to the letter read aloud, the foundation has added Cromwell Public Schools to its perpetual charitable foundation and will divide donations equally among the district's four schools, depositing funds into each school's student activity account. \"The foundation will be making quarterly donations in March, June, September, and December,\" the superintendent read from the correspondence.

The donation amount referenced in the letter in the packet is $1,000 per quarter; the foundation listed several organizations it supports and said the gift is intended for \"fun stuff for kids to do,\" to be administered through student activity accounts. The superintendent said the district plans to have students write thank-you cards to the family and invited the donors to share contact information so the board could include a card.

Board members thanked the donors during the meeting and the superintendent said the district would acknowledge the gift and coordinate student appreciation.

Ending: The donation is scheduled to begin with quarterly checks; the administration will follow up with donor contact information and student acknowledgements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cromwell Board of Education Meeting, March 11, 2025 7:00PM","oneSentenceSummary","David Butler and the Ruby Smalley Charitable Foundation will make quarterly donations totaling $1,000 per quarter to be divided equally among the district's four schools and deposited into student activity accounts, the superintendent read at the meeting.","taxTitle","Cromwell School District, School Districts, Connecticut","taxId",55355,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6639916,"Cromwell district narrows K-5 math curriculum options, plans pilots and phased rollout",1204,4452000,5656000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2556569-55eff2101d2ea90b638670ed54796042&start=4452&end=5656","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2556569-55eff2101d2ea90b638670ed54796042/thumbnail_4452000.jpg","/articles/6639916/Connecticut/Cromwell-district-narrows-K-5-math-curriculum-options-plans-pilots-and-phased-rollout","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6639916-7b7ac7cde4f9792f149b0a3ea948a5ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771134996&Signature=RvT1nUAh5-CApMMKbBFbXVPz8cmjFtC1nlWosKmShtlcAPUvr-6hlf-NxMKNJhmysiYJBnI6Wiil4P1U~wxztVUoRyFDJKW8Xn0bVYb53XQHVwvSQBNkpZLMlpLFTppJyXY9j7k1C5WvpLs~8bu52ZQQ9ZBrSCC14zCjXaxluFsowB8W6vTNrlRHmRrbLtdoklzfSpWtjJH6swIbEBUlq0Ax8GbIFyOiGcTMmcCJIjZ9r3so94eh~q0y2gC6lxddiDN8NXGvWH7xwoyINd7j1GYXQ5bgMUCmQcVC0Fb2psYouTFnmI7fzWhekqucdfbJnxF8pBbbiNRHnEhDGSeqDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cromwell Public Schools officials told the Board of Education they have narrowed options for a new K-5 math curriculum to three programs and plan classroom pilots before selecting a single curriculum by May.

Julie Shepherd (curriculum review lead, as identified in the meeting) and Dr. MacLean outlined a three-year implementation plan: teachers across kindergarten through fifth grade will participate in evaluation and pilots this year; the district expects to roll the chosen program into grades 3-5 in the first implementation year and expand to K-2 in a following year. \"Our goal is to really, by the end of the year, adopt a new program, that supports our rigorous math instruction and that's fully aligned to our, curriculum standards,\" Shepherd said.

The committee has evaluated three programs: Open Up Resources, Amplify Desmos, and Illustrative Math (Kendall Hunt's I'360). Officials said all three follow a problem-based approach and align to the state model curriculum; the Amplify Desmos option includes interactive, differentiated online components, while Open Up Resources is available as a free publisher resource though full implementation carries costs for printed materials and teacher resources.

Administrators and teachers cited gaps in the district's current Bridges program, especially in problem solving and fractions instruction. The district said it has been supplementing Bridges with materials from Open Up and other sources in grades 3-5 to address those gaps. The curriculum committee is using an evaluation rubric that examines alignment to standards, differentiation, assessment supports, equity and access, and technology components as it pilots lessons and consults other districts using the programs.

The district said teacher professional development will be required for the instructional shift toward problem-based learning; the district will pilot units and gather teacher feedback before recommending the final program to the board.

Ending: The board will receive updates as pilots are completed and the committee prepares a recommendation in May; any final adoption and full rollout will include a plan for teacher training and staged implementation across elementary grades.","District administrators and a K-5 committee said they are reviewing three math programs, will pilot lessons this spring and seek to adopt a new K-5 program by the end of the school year with a phased implementation beginning in grades 3-5.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6639921,"Town approves $1.085 million of capital requests; Cromwell schools outline 19-project plan and middle school move timeline",488,1597000,2085000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2556569-55eff2101d2ea90b638670ed54796042&start=1597&end=2085","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2556569-55eff2101d2ea90b638670ed54796042/thumbnail_1597000.jpg","/articles/6639921/Connecticut/Town-approves-1085-million-of-capital-requests-Cromwell-schools-outline-19-project-plan-and-middle-school-move-timeline","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6639921-33f3b01391ffb32aee08c55b496995c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771134996&Signature=eXs8-dPa~5C7YvfX3OaIo2ivbbTW1vw9QW9pN6nUxDdgvgIh1KdUiZUwTt2vPjHLzdZw2wahKXL5~SIdzhPjSu1SFlVFT8nmrcXsdAfyUsB5PJQawoGIhq3GqE7tY4-7z~Y2wqX0uWp1HB0llsHetU41OOCcM5lniFzyLuDcbEGtxkGdkvt11NrQ4GDvgUhtzomPJo2U~sk0o3g4Uny-aMVxwZC66Bl9aEARa0RpyKDximo6mxFOePCrRIXXglVm06glnXDvP~Xky5us8M5tCSLx6HdGP9D~JhImVe-NP4NWZar~-KdSSZLWcBneGZbL6QF7hueMfx0qZnStTj1p3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cromwell town leaders approved $1,085,000 in capital requests that the school district had submitted, district officials said at the Board of Education meeting. The town and district are coordinating on a slate of 19 projects the superintendent described as totaling about $2.8 million.

Claudio (last name per transcript: Bozzano) told the board the original package included 20 projects; one item'the high school LED project, estimated at about $670,000'was moved back one year to allow capacity to complete the others. \"We started out with 20 projects totaling about $2,800,000. Of all those ... all those projects have been approved by the town council. We moved that (the LED high-school) back 1 year,\" Claudio said.

He said work scoped for WIS (the middle-school facility referenced in materials) totals about $400,000 and includes interior, exterior and controls work. The town will perform three of the projects with town crews; the district will cover materials costs within the approved amount.

Officials also said the town has applied for state bonding support for the track through Senator Lesser's office and asked the school board for help coordinating a writing campaign in support.

Separately, the district updated the board on the schedule for moving into the new middle school: teachers and staff will receive packing materials the week ending March 27 and training on March 26; the school will close June 13 for packing, with central office remaining open about one to two weeks longer. The district said movers will relocate materials on June 27 and the building becomes operational afterward; administrators noted logistical details remain to be finalized.

Board members and administrators thanked the town for the collaboration and said progress is the result of extended committee work with town staff and the mayor's office.

Ending: The approvals and coordinated plan clear the way for a large set of facility upgrades and the new middle school move; the school administration will return to the board with implementation details and any required follow-up for town-level approvals.","The town approved $1,085,000 in capital requests tied to school projects; district officials said 19 projects totaling about $2.8 million were advanced and outlined packing and move dates for the new middle school.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6639924,"Cromwell Board of Education approves 6.25% budget increase after vote on electricity estimate for new middle school",1806,2536000,4342000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2556569-55eff2101d2ea90b638670ed54796042&start=2536&end=4342","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2556569-55eff2101d2ea90b638670ed54796042/thumbnail_2536000.jpg","/articles/6639924/Connecticut/Cromwell-Board-of-Education-approves-625-budget-increase-after-vote-on-electricity-estimate-for-new-middle-school","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6639924-6ccb0173159033f04fa9f565c254a0c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771134996&Signature=XgCoPxu1kykSZI3NKwOx176T6QdC3g9cq7RK7L3J3KIa4j5tf644HrAl~OM~HhPBbgjnUXaLSgyw2VDUxeMwGCyBRoorlkLbYcPXASeAGgEhXwR7EzXjaD6BUmrGRx0DufloM-oVXh5xtKuqhxucIlKCOS5PZY5q28hkovVKcJraKl2D0zwaqaEnwKAfWzevQkCFWXPVSE-Qx8kREkC-K6DvpNpgNygSmsolmcTFl3XMxHHtnlvVz2RfQ9BYQeXhfnwu4aPQAxJ7YY4rvaK3mFUhFvYH6l8ibKepwsBAzDLdH1wblTJtQwlmMjqscuF0cxaMTI1xgzj3CuZxdYjucw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cromwell Board of Education voted to increase the district'wide proposed budget to a 6.25% year-over-year increase, approving an adjustment that adds $209,887 to the electricity line for the new middle school and reduces a pension estimate by $44,612.

The board approved the change after a discussion about the timing of planned solar-panel installations at the new middle school and the uncertainty about when they would begin producing savings. Chris Butwell, the district's director of finance, told the board the panels are unlikely to be installed and producing meaningful savings before the start of the next school year, and recommended budgeting for full electricity costs without assuming immediate solar offsets. \"If we did not have solar panels,\" Butwell said, \"we would budget the amount estimated for the bill,\" and he recommended the higher electricity estimate for safety.

The school'district also received a revised pension-share estimate from the town during the budget process; that reduction of $44,612 reduced the net increase from the adjustment. Butwell said the district had previously budgeted conservatively at a 60% special-education reimbursement rate; recent state action to add funds to the excess-cost grant has pushed the expected reimbursement closer to 72 percent.

Board members debated whether to draw on a projected surplus in the current year to buy items now and lower next year's ask. Superintendent Dr. Macri described one-time purchases the administration had already authorized, including an after-school tutoring expansion and equipment updates the district had deferred, and cautioned there are still unknowns (notably special-education outplacement costs) between now and June. \"I don't know who's gonna be walking in the door, between now and June,\" Dr. Macri said, noting potential late enrollments that could change cost projections.

After discussion, board member Kelly Cloutier moved to present the revised budget (6.25% increase) to the town board of finance; Kelly Franklin seconded. The board voted in favor; the motion carried. The approved 6.25% figure will be forwarded to the town Board of Finance for its April consideration.

The discussion also noted a larger context: capital projects the town is taking on separately that historically had been part of the district's budget but are being coordinated with the town. Board members emphasized that those capital costs are distinct from the operating budget increase now being sent to the board of finance.

The board did not quantify the roll-call tally beyond general assent in the meeting record. The administration will provide more detailed projections to the board of finance as requested.

Ending: The board's action advances the district's budget for the coming fiscal year with explicit recognition of higher short-term electricity costs at the new middle school and pending state reimbursement updates for special education; the revised proposal will be presented to the town board of finance on its scheduled date.","The Cromwell Board of Education voted to raise the district'wide budget increase to 6.25% after agreeing to add $209,887 for electricity at the new middle school and recording a $44,612 pension saving; the motion passed at the regular meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Local family to make quarterly donations to Cromwell student activity funds, board to recognize gift

Cromwell district narrows K-5 math curriculum options, plans pilots and phased rollout

Town approves $1.085 million of capital requests; Cromwell schools outline 19-project plan and middle school move timeline

Cromwell Board of Education approves 6.25% budget increase after vote on electricity estimate for new middle school