[{"_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",6279932,"mediaKeyId","2618037-ad94ebc5cfea8f2d3c47bf716b8d1398","parentId",2618037,"title","Board accepts construction completions, financial report and several policies on first reading","audioSeconds",405,"startMs",4761000,"endMs",5166000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2618037-ad94ebc5cfea8f2d3c47bf716b8d1398&start=4761&end=5166","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2618037-ad94ebc5cfea8f2d3c47bf716b8d1398/thumbnail_4761000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6279932/Connecticut/Board-accepts-construction-completions-financial-report-and-several-policies-on-first-reading","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279932-e6c7d3a00da62d9075e8cf9c571f7f96/orig.mp4?Expires=1770864951&Signature=injYCwQHOm-gE94DuvDScvZG4U83u4MpX0rBScGTx1U-SP8vi7ZpkAbKULwCdDo4Fwl7ece6dJKd4pmudLaFFdchyqhbvG2WSa0O2LZGWT5JbIF-NYNPAFHGGxumdXCqJW7Zz6nvr0QQJuaoatO1Req3mtdYKmBt8tbiWq32gJEHmrHjSPCvSyxU48iH3HAXu-TFotbWXVFfvv~QNup-JuTF9rgE7i9cHIA5LENyQI~gaafzOgI67xGeBpBAJzKSf1WvMjD7WmRAIInJRghiNB5yuscvCKIlzXe~JOlFb1rcItmTV~YknE12MYingsrKGJ~pSeSjVHAH5G4-yiO6bQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Danbury School District","date","2025-02-26T00:00:00Z","article","The Danbury Board of Education approved a set of motions during the meeting, including acceptance of completed construction projects, acceptance of the January 2025 financial report, and first readings of several policies.

These routine but formal votes update the district’s project closeouts, financial status reporting and policy review timeline.

Motion summaries and outcomes (as recorded during the meeting):

- Motion: Accept specified school construction projects as complete and authorize the superintendent to certify required forms as recommended by the Sites & Facilities Committee. Motion made by Louise; seconded. Vote: motion carried.

- Motion: Accept the January 2025 financial report as recommended by the Finance Committee. Motion made by Kate; seconded. Vote: motion carried.

- Motion: Accept for first reading Policy 5112, Students’ Ages of Attendance/Admissions and Placement, as recommended by the Policy Committee. Motion made by Teresa; seconded. Vote: motion carried.

- Motion: Accept for first reading Policy 5113, Attendance and Excuses (policy number presented in the packet as 15113/51113 due to transcription); motion moved and seconded. Vote: motion carried.

- Motion: Accept for first reading Policy 5113.2, Truancy (first reading). Motion made by Al; seconded. Vote: motion carried.

- Motion: Accept for first reading Policy 5131.81, Electronic Devices. Motion made by Dr. Croner; seconded. Vote: motion carried.

Board members voiced clarifying questions in several instances (for example, the student ages/admissions policy discussion included questions about early-entry assessments and waiver terminology). The meeting record shows the motions were carried by voice vote; the transcript records “Aye” and “Motion so carried” without a roll-call tally for each individual member.

The policy first readings will proceed through the district’s policy-review process before final adoption; the action on construction project acceptance completes a closeout administrative step and authorizes the superintendent to certify forms.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Danbury School District 2/26/25 Board of Education Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Education approved acceptance of completed construction projects, accepted the January 2025 financial report, and approved first readings of several policies including student ages of attendance and an electronic device policy; motions were carried as read on the agenda.","taxTitle","Danbury School District, School Districts, Connecticut","taxId",13000,"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},6279937,"Superintendent updates board on immigration protocols, DEI guidance, college articulation and magnet enrollment",935,2706000,3641000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2618037-ad94ebc5cfea8f2d3c47bf716b8d1398&start=2706&end=3641","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2618037-ad94ebc5cfea8f2d3c47bf716b8d1398/thumbnail_2706000.jpg","/articles/6279937/Connecticut/Superintendent-updates-board-on-immigration-protocols-DEI-guidance-college-articulation-and-magnet-enrollment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279937-b2f46194b28d94ba20834e7cbba606ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1770864951&Signature=lmmYQT6xviu3LMkPJCuCpR4ZUD8YlrZKVLeWeuNBFG0158rAEXaYdNN3v-cS7uNZwVlQtYsKqOimAborhG~c-rXM9-3EObvMgLCLiXtqxjQif7V0MITH39nSiI0-3yoP7jfNF1emYN0ekGgJCIwaUIMrqQd~USfYdvGe0W~uqsroyXeU9uHlgqX33Rj5Sjd2zaoqQQKAwNGQFmzU4uewySars1CaLt4uxo7dW-1V5JuAbxTaiQd0-ozV6zN9Hm~b5DOHjDEcx4F6o4Kt6MJvFbCl~zZICHOaSD34Q6~DYg8V4DmQGronwtYzt5tZXbcNDeOofkB47W37zI656rexjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The superintendent reported on several districtwide issues affecting schools, families and staff: immigration-related community tensions and school protocols, federal guidance on diversity‑equity‑inclusion (DEI) programs, a new Post University articulation agreement for college credit, and enrollment and audit developments.

The superintendent’s update is important because several items — federal guidance on DEI, articulation agreements and audit findings — carry operational, legal or budgetary implications for the district.

On immigration concerns, the superintendent described a period of community anxiety and said district leaders developed and communicated protocols for how staff should respond if immigration officials interact with schools. He said absenteeism rose in some schools during the initial weeks of concern but later decreased after communication of protocols and security measures; he reported no district occurrences to date.

On DEI guidance, the superintendent summarized recent federal and state correspondence and quoted the Connecticut interpretation: “Connecticut is saying that letter does not order schools and districts to terminate DEI programs within 14 days,” adding that the federal letter warns only against programs that provide preferential or adverse treatment based on race and that would deprive students of educational benefit in violation of “title 6” (as referenced in the meeting). He said the district has been advised by state officials to continue legislatively mandated work such as the Increasing Educator Diversity plan.

On college access, the superintendent announced a Post University articulation so high school students can take college courses in eight‑week cycles; 81 students had registered to begin next week. He said Post University credits will be treated as transfer credits that can apply toward Danbury High School graduation requirements but will not count toward a Danbury High School GPA. Some ESL classes were included in the offer.

On the magnet/academy enrollment, the superintendent said total applicants numbered about 484 with 440 from Danbury families and 42 from out of district; 35 seats were extended but not all 42 out-of-district applicants were offered seats because of caps. He said the magnet is under-enrolled and district leaders have increased outreach and added a part‑time recruiter in the proposed budget to address declines.

On the audit, the superintendent said the district closed the 2023 audit and will begin the 2024 audit once an engagement letter is signed. Board members asked for further review to understand the drivers of a reported surplus; the exact surplus amount was not clarified during the meeting and the superintendent said staff will meet with city auditors and provide more detail once the documents are public.

Board members discussed next steps for policy review where required, and the superintendent said the district will not “knee jerk” react to federal correspondence but will continue to interpret and, if necessary, revise policies in consultation with counsel and the state.

No formal board action was taken on these informational items during the meeting.","District leadership described how schools have communicated immigration response protocols, outlined Connecticut’s clarification on a federal ‘Dear Colleague’ DEI letter, announced a Post University articulation for college credit access, and flagged declining magnet enrollment and a recent audit closure under review.",{"_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},6279941,"Teachers’ union urges immediate action on Pembroke special education staffing and class sizes",305,2181000,2486000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2618037-ad94ebc5cfea8f2d3c47bf716b8d1398&start=2181&end=2486","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2618037-ad94ebc5cfea8f2d3c47bf716b8d1398/thumbnail_2181000.jpg","/articles/6279941/Connecticut/Teachers-union-urges-immediate-action-on-Pembroke-special-education-staffing-and-class-sizes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279941-796ca98b38133891300f96696623f7cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770864952&Signature=CONrvkWxictp6tB5nJvx500MVfAIC5aP4VOjL0TDYuPcmarmPsPTyheGxjpb-rk29U-UnenQceFYD8zrPOaKEZ06Q6sYCsMPikg6QAaPTILeP96X4c28uu6Zit-1KBMfA9D6b4CazRDlJ-UgcqEItaP-JIvAnoKA1OssokQNDveYlkwhXhfzQmMM8Tb53T6YhQjMvbIcZrXa4Qu0mR5GeA3Xxbg1jFWfat6vbgopSj-HqElngbn7ZcpvHSF-b1iF6b2Rq3GDyGO84tD8h1iKGyf0Nd9lwuoVcUFV5U0g1mBCHZwy6YHDmfVqBB~gr~H~SUBZW7LzsoYJYyffUkPkpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A representative identifying herself as the president of the teachers’ union addressed the board during public comment to request immediate district action to address what she called an “unsustainable” special education situation at Pembroke Elementary.

The union leader said self-contained special education classrooms have grown without corresponding increases in staffing and supports and asked the board to reduce class sizes, provide reliable paraprofessional staffing, add administrative leadership devoted to the special education program, and create a clear improvement plan for 2025–26.

The union’s request matters because the speaker said current classroom sizes and staffing levels are affecting instruction across the school and contributing to staff burnout and turnover.

In her remarks the union representative said Pembroke’s self-contained classrooms are “overcrowded with some exceeding 14 students, far beyond the recommended events.” She said staffing shortages require general education teachers to step in frequently during crises and that the resulting interruptions “impact all of our learners.” The speaker praised the school’s principal for leadership but said additional district support is required.

The union outlined specific requests: smaller, manageable special education class sizes that align with national recommendations; a dedicated assistant principal to help lead and support the special education program; reliable, fully staffed paraprofessional teams and training; and a written improvement plan for 2025–26 developed with educator input.

The speaker also noted the union’s recent local recognitions during Black History Month and reiterated a broader point that public schools should continue to embody diversity, equity and inclusion.

Board members heard the comments during the public participation portion of the meeting; the remarks were presented as a public request and no formal board action was taken during that session. The board and district staff acknowledged receipt of the concerns and indicated the desire to work collaboratively with educators on solutions.","A teachers’ union representative told the board Pembroke’s self-contained special education classrooms are overcrowded, paraprofessional staffing is unreliable, and asked the district for a plan with smaller class sizes, dedicated assistant principal support and reliable paraprofessional teams.",{"_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},6279946,"Pembroke Elementary reports mixed test gains, cites attendance and targeted interventions",1450,84000,1534000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2618037-ad94ebc5cfea8f2d3c47bf716b8d1398&start=84&end=1534","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2618037-ad94ebc5cfea8f2d3c47bf716b8d1398/thumbnail_84000.jpg","/articles/6279946/Connecticut/Pembroke-Elementary-reports-mixed-test-gains-cites-attendance-and-targeted-interventions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6279946-3c723fe5472b413721f11d26bde0d153/orig.mp4?Expires=1770864952&Signature=L3blbu6Wxs-OY4GDSh2Zsc5onk3gn3kR-1fUXODRQqV0pvWkhQPvVqSKQ-NQisO-lbSlNBsl0zejUNCfgz3tEa3tTU~9zmsOV4PYEap9t6-DCxWxyHf1FHu~6C4hnDcRm~orLqbJG4do2tLglMyf9marMZxzvx1crE3AVHSSyF4f85eWfZLebync9NGLTLMKK5MTSOYxO17Htyz2eV9DWnKpCGU31ybM~eZekO~mnbPBIYbzlVTO565eHAFQqZv8vfqnWsK-wqjJ3ZvcxyT8WsAaGsHvVs101PhR2gCWUwrXwp1y0LMvAxDlWXDPg4gh4kiAXdZVrlzkQawL8II92g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pembroke Elementary school leaders summarized student performance, attendance trends and several classroom interventions during the Danbury Board of Education meeting.

The presentation, led by Dr. Perez, outlined last school year’s state accountability results and current in-year benchmark data, and said the school is emphasizing tiered instruction, small-group teaching and data-driven planning to raise proficiency.

The presentation matters because it links classroom practice and near-term benchmark data with state accountability measures used by the district and shows where school-level supports may be focused going forward.

Dr. Perez told the board that Pembroke served about 367 learners and that “We have about 112 MLO learners, so roughly around 31% of our population are MLO students.” She reported demographic counts and said the school’s Next Generation Accountability index reached 61.4% in 2023–24 after a recent uptick.

On state testing, Dr. Perez showed mixed results: third-grade English language arts proficiency rose from 19% (2022–23) to 28% (2023–24) while fourth-grade ELA proficiency fell from 26% to 19% over the same interval; fifth-grade ELA rose from 18% to 25%. Math performance was generally stronger: third-grade math proficiency moved from 33% (2022–23) to 30% (2023–24), while one cohort’s fourth-grade math rose from 23% to 37%. Dr. Perez cautioned that cohort comparisons are “rough cohorting” and cannot definitively track individual students year-to-year.

On literacy benchmarks the school reported progress on the DIBELS and I-Ready measures. Dr. Perez said Pembroke reduced the share of students scoring at the beginning level on DIBELS from roughly 27% (2022–23) to about 20% (2023–24), and reported average percent target achieved on a literacy measure rising from about 49% to 73% year over year. She added that oral scores improved from roughly 52% target achieved to about 62%.

Attendance and chronic absenteeism were a focus: Dr. Perez reported a district-provided attendance rate increase from about 93% to 94% and a drop in chronic absenteeism from about 19% to roughly 16% in 2023–24; current mid-year attendance stood near 94.13% with a current absenteeism rate of about 15%.

To build on gains, Dr. Perez described school actions: (1) strengthening tier‑1 ELA instruction and rolling out a K–5 core curriculum; (2) more frequent progress monitoring (DIBELS progress monitoring and I-Ready standard mastery assessments for grades 3–5); (3) expanded PLC time so teachers update and act on real-time data; and (4) intentional supports in whole-group and small-group instruction.

School staff and student representatives also summarized extracurriculars and school culture initiatives, including a PBIS token economy (“Pembroke Bucks”), a student leadership group, a spelling bee, chess club, math support groups and upcoming family events.

Board members thanked the presenters and noted the visible staff engagement with data and improvement work. The school’s presenters said current midyear results were similar to last year’s midyear pattern and expressed confidence that end‑of‑year outcomes could show additional growth.

The board did not take formal action on the presentation; it served as informational briefing and context for school‑level supports and upcoming district planning.","Pembroke Elementary presented state test results showing gains in some grades and subjects, rising attendance and declines in chronic absenteeism, and described school-level steps to strengthen reading, math and tiered supports.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board accepts construction completions, financial report and several policies on first reading

Superintendent updates board on immigration protocols, DEI guidance, college articulation and magnet enrollment

Teachers’ union urges immediate action on Pembroke special education staffing and class sizes

Pembroke Elementary reports mixed test gains, cites attendance and targeted interventions