[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6277907,"mediaKeyId","2644310-be0d7bff1bd3fb5ed17ada5bb62c6325","parentId",2644310,"title","Board adopts multiple policy revisions; votes to cancel March 26 meeting","audioSeconds",1078,"startMs",4384000,"endMs",5462000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2644310-be0d7bff1bd3fb5ed17ada5bb62c6325&start=4384&end=5462","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2644310-be0d7bff1bd3fb5ed17ada5bb62c6325/thumbnail_4384000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6277907/Connecticut/Board-adopts-multiple-policy-revisions-votes-to-cancel-March-26-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277907-3375319266fa55b2849362188301d3b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1777077750&Signature=iGvqEY7JMIKO9-hZembhZdt6ZMOfUw6VMC5OvHbGRVKXeMa-fLZGGUnXUIcpdY1Hmb6Ls6eUgP1qJ-Z0YrCQRvm7gSeG8MTF0WhDhA4AFlbs2xlnIUpbiM~s~~YZRCMqtGDciPhGrJ6OIvEgKoRzG8TWA-xUhGtM0Zn-8SNc3m~d8Pyl3YUWyLTKZVG-dWpzvXNiLqX2CThosonAVH6QFpFUalldWo4b6TqZ3BphI0L2OTG9z0wqYbb6lqcFWdcJeLnQCplgafRB3Aj1Y79JQz5pSbk7q00CcrPjagCYbimPU3vnpsOdGAwDb9xD-pBaI20IRN6bdfBbB6sLZNUaTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-13T20:20:30Z","article","The Newington Board of Education considered and adopted a group of revised policies and voted to cancel its March 26 meeting during the March 12 session.

Policy committee chair Jessica Weaver and committee members summarized proposed revisions and organizational changes to the community-relations and facilities policy series, smoke-free environment policy (updated language to include vaping and cannabis in line with state statute), law-enforcement collaboration language (reworded for clarity), and a policy prohibiting possession of firearms and gun-like objects on school property (language clarified in line with statute). Committee members noted most edits were organizational or editorial; some policies were reworded for clarity and to align with statutes.

The board held a roll-call vote to cancel the March 26, 2025 meeting. The motion to cancel was moved and seconded and passed by recorded roll call; the chair announced the motion passed unanimously (8–0). The board noted that, if needed, a special meeting can be scheduled later for urgent matters.

The board also moved to replace multiple existing numbered policies with the updated set recommended by the policy committee. Roll-call voting on the replacement/adoption of the listed policies was conducted and recorded; the chair announced the adoption passed unanimously (8–0).

Earlier in the meeting the board approved minutes with a proposed amendment (changing “special meeting” to “regular meeting” on the first page). A motion to approve the minutes with that amendment was made and seconded and the board voice-voted in favor; the minutes were approved as amended. (Transcript contains one garbled line during that vote; the approval was announced and recorded in the minutes.)

No individual dissenting votes on the cancellations or policy adoptions were recorded in the meeting transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","NPS BOE Meeting - (3/12/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","The Newington Board of Education voted to adopt a suite of revised policies, approved canceling the March 26 meeting, and approved minutes with an amendment; roll-call tallies were recorded for the cancellation and policy adoptions.","taxTitle","Newington School District, School Districts, Connecticut","taxId",51980,"location","Connecticut","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6277912,"Curriculum committee reports mixed assessment results, proposes grade-5 schedule changes and textbook purchase",274,3262000,3536000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2644310-be0d7bff1bd3fb5ed17ada5bb62c6325&start=3262&end=3536","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2644310-be0d7bff1bd3fb5ed17ada5bb62c6325/thumbnail_3262000.jpg","/articles/6277912/Connecticut/Curriculum-committee-reports-mixed-assessment-results-proposes-grade-5-schedule-changes-and-textbook-purchase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277912-5f58510f2273bc2e3026ddfca18b0ba0/orig.mp4?Expires=1777077751&Signature=ZCJCkflSBmygUiQz041O7HMyVUqXF8hMFIO0uAr7evVTwhZd9ylnRmR-J~W0CaaCU0O8gtaeMKldTLQMIQt6UbnVT58xElUTLcm64La~rqHL8QANyoJBbQJr91hELUSP1XgMI9M3G1FWomkG1Ym~7OYntVWrKhCXgBnHBtYwBkRtEsdEW1spAjzRNo99NwR5iMKlwRM2-qseZDyy--Zs3Hzirz7zWW~EQLdTzdtB68~yX0xpHVvcVAAHsInn8iTsDUXSMYkdZC3xU1cYlsbEi7FhsrwlunepFFmxwvc2qZvUsqp-dUuxOy2pd8gnljxFnFkpxVCHPtpnWnznRVcbYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newington Board of Education’s curriculum committee reported student-achievement trends and recommended instructional adjustments at its March 12 meeting.

Committee members said elementary-level student achievement improved in both mathematics and reading compared with prior measures, but the committee noted the performance gap between white, Black and Hispanic students did not narrow despite overall gains. At the middle-school level (grades 5–8), committee staff said math achievement improved across all student groups, while the percentage of students at benchmark for reading decreased by 1 percent; the reading decrease was most pronounced among Black students.

The committee recommended a schedule change for grade 5 that increases daily math minutes from 53 to 70 and expands ELA (reading/writing) minutes from 53 to 115 to align fifth grade more closely with elementary instructional practice. Staff explained the extra minutes for math and ELA are being taken primarily from science and social studies instruction time; they said Benchmark Advance’s informational texts will continue to deliver content aligned to social studies and science standards within the expanded ELA block.

On accelerated math, the committee discussed early acceleration pathways and noted that students who were accelerated earlier do not uniformly enroll in advanced high-school math: roughly 26 percent of students took four credits of math at Newington High School, 15 percent took AP Calculus, and 25 percent enrolled in at least one AP or ECE course (figures cited by staff). Committee members said the district aims to keep multiple pathways for students to advance in math without “predetermining their fate.”

The committee recommended purchase of required copies of a UConn dual-credit textbook for the ECE Health 2 course (An Integrative Approach to Personal Health, by Linda B. White) at a total cost cited in the committee discussion as $1,523.75; the committee said funding would come from the ARPA dual-credit expansion grant.

Beverly Lawrence gave an update on Benchmark Advance implementation, reporting growing teacher familiarity and collaboration; staff characterized the rollout as a work in progress but receiving generally positive feedback from teachers.

The committee scheduled a follow-up meeting for April 1 at 6:30 p.m. in the same room. Several board members praised data-driven discussion and the instructional time shift to support reading and math.","The board’s curriculum committee reported improved elementary math and reading results, a middle-school reading dip, proposed longer math and ELA minutes for grade 5, a recommended UConn dual-credit textbook purchase, and ongoing Benchmark Advance implementation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6277917,"Board members participate in kindergarten play-based learning demonstration",482,1227000,1709000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2644310-be0d7bff1bd3fb5ed17ada5bb62c6325&start=1227&end=1709","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2644310-be0d7bff1bd3fb5ed17ada5bb62c6325/thumbnail_1227000.jpg","/articles/6277917/Connecticut/Board-members-participate-in-kindergarten-play-based-learning-demonstration","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277917-6a2a0aec3fbe91947ec4161386c59517/orig.mp4?Expires=1777077751&Signature=TuSzwxD9CdU6Le1JHz52Pa926lob6PWC06ayWzV5B-L18YzPK8Ah1A1MvR-Vl8jEHkbnl-w6ArkeZdJNwq3lvbecztN6D0J34atGFfZ1h2QNbojNdxcqHVM2vWjC7l1pjPhhfWb8SQ~bX8JjwYunB7irtTFhCUkyHI7-SNpBrJjEz9WdJ~kNZlTITW9Ol8-fh1CNT~M4oWU24OdMmUjmHXH65QU~qndORN6mHDyo6jpCarZzo52YXl8afwc~N~JoEs7Tm0wR6~xAjgzSr~pNnHGvaKQBRJIdH-akcK79WFvd8bS~cEzoPRqluqJ61SNT5L907oMQnlxMrecQZ6bLKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members observed a play-based learning demonstration led by Room 12 at Anna Reynolds Elementary during the March 12 Newington Board of Education meeting.

Principal/administrator Michael Smith (presenter) told the board the district adopted a board policy on play-based learning last year and that the practice is now part of all pre-K and kindergarten classrooms; teachers in upper grades may integrate it where appropriate. Smith said the classroom approach ties play to standards and gives students motivation for later academic work.

Teacher Mrs. Moden (Room 12) outlined four ways play appears in her kindergarten classroom: play-based games used in small-group extension times, open-ended provocations (an open question with materials to explore), daily play plans (students create a short written plan before play), and larger learning experiences (classroom transformations tied to content). She described play plans as a daily routine where students “think it, create it on the page, then execute,” with early-year plans in pictures evolving into writing.

Students demonstrated the classroom routine: choosing centers via a \"who picks first\" chart, writing a short play plan, and then playing at stations (Lincoln Logs, Magna-Tiles, Brain Flakes, Legos). Declan, a student, described a student-run “free paper stand” and a “vault of kindness” that sends positive notes to classmates. Teachers and board members highlighted social-emotional learning (SEL), self-regulation and cooperative cleanup as observable benefits of the routine.

Board members praised the demonstration. Board member Jessica Weaver said play-based learning helps students “reach them where they're at.” Board member Sean Holleran described social workers’ and teachers’ roles in supporting students’ navigation of school and community life. Members commented that the method fosters experiential learning, collaboration and a love of learning.

District staff connected play-based activities to curriculum tools (for example, Benchmark Advance), and said some play-based tasks can reinforce content such as fraction comparison and multiplication through games. The presentation was followed by applause and broad board support; no formal votes were recorded on this item.

The district said play-based learning is scheduled daily at the start of the kindergarten day and is reflected in requests made during the most recent budget season for supplies and materials that keep activities engaging through the year.","Anna Reynolds kindergarten students and teachers led a classroom demonstration on play-based learning and daily play plans; the board discussed curriculum and the method’s connections to standards and social-emotional learning.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6277922,"Board proclaims March 12 as School Social Workers Appreciation Day",162,126000,288000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2644310-be0d7bff1bd3fb5ed17ada5bb62c6325&start=126&end=288","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2644310-be0d7bff1bd3fb5ed17ada5bb62c6325/thumbnail_126000.jpg","/articles/6277922/Connecticut/Board-proclaims-March-12-as-School-Social-Workers-Appreciation-Day","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277922-1590bdf8dd206196793d89f728b5ddca/orig.mp4?Expires=1777077751&Signature=gRdRhddT8j2bNdFuxdaw-O6tIgGr~SBFJ~RFeRbcyiMV5bvjtDuCu25FsS0Imalwv5moUDIm3EWcWhbgXT0~827gAZPQB5wQ6ER3m4G8DRJuhQegoBV5BKecknDextgmTKC-TRXOit5rGeFAu-uzXl~-CfC9C4uqaD9U4soqCjIkC-QXz55trTOaQBlm1cGNYIbyy5sAinN9Irm0lyP~iQkTwBGRXGys2Re-3AKUylLsK7GtDMKeHk0KtTe0-kHfuu022zhRSIfrWXpoBrXC8GCKtkS~AyWyHJ0yMVBX1aNvc~OE5PHb3ei0OnxYNUsY3xT6~PPe58Wl4FcHJfgFpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newington Board of Education read a resolution at its March 12 meeting proclaiming that date as Newington School Social Workers Appreciation Day.

The resolution, read into the record by a board officer, said the board is \"committed to honoring its school social workers and recognizing their contributions to the educational system and their tremendous impact in helping students reach their full potential.\" It listed social workers’ roles including supporting students’ social and academic development, bridging school and home, providing referrals to community resources, and helping in crisis situations.

Marilena (staff member) accepted the recognition on behalf of social workers and described how a hospice social worker supported her family during a recent personal loss: \"There are not enough accolades to express the value of our social workers.\" She added that social workers “go above and beyond” and thanked the board for the recognition.

Board members offered individual thanks. Board member Beatrice praised social workers’ consistent advocacy for students at risk; board member Sean Holleran noted they help students \"navigate through your community\" as well as academics; and several other board members echoed appreciation and recounted personal examples of support from district social workers.

The resolution directs the board secretary to place the proclamation in the minutes and to provide a copy for presentation.

No vote or opposing comments on the proclamation were recorded in the transcript.","The Newington Board of Education read a resolution honoring school social workers’ contributions and recognized staff at the March 12 meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board adopts multiple policy revisions; votes to cancel March 26 meeting

Curriculum committee reports mixed assessment results, proposes grade-5 schedule changes and textbook purchase

Board members participate in kindergarten play-based learning demonstration

Board proclaims March 12 as School Social Workers Appreciation Day