[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6088899,"mediaKeyId","2878729-ee0ca11c66147bb865bf174b6bb12dbe","parentId",2878729,"title","Board approves travel and roof-specification items; district hears requests for contracts, grant amendments and budget briefing","audioSeconds",2762,"startMs",3393000,"endMs",6155000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2878729-ee0ca11c66147bb865bf174b6bb12dbe&start=3393&end=6155","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2878729-ee0ca11c66147bb865bf174b6bb12dbe/thumbnail_3393000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6088899/Connecticut/Board-approves-travel-and-roof-specification-items-district-hears-requests-for-contracts-grant-amendments-and-budget-briefing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088899-bc6d717e8934257786fdd6724526f84c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149760&Signature=QOq4v0uqcmOmcxDFHgOLEXf1IeJlkOlhBBTr9i9WoyiYZNcyTXNZiRja49x~V9tIw0FSDx2kFg2zi8GI0SL2VV79z1iL4f206nKjxZNqZIDmqg8~Rmr70NLdlVGVwUWjyW8~GXgcpqimcxo2XrOyqMDT5Ss536S6JrP0lKCj64kwPidG5UodFjEUyaeNFmrpIBr-5nLjxLXuhEa0uSw6AwSXnAIOulivupO~DgqjS1Y6JV5I-~fWbNZ5nxKu6lkbYeX8rbITCE87pId2uTt6sCkPwLD0TCZE6N3i5h-Le~az1vjOrcWxniLK24z3zA-Y-ST6xq5hgu5nsdooDMPhJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Waterbury School District","date","2025-04-04T11:34:50Z","article","The Waterbury Board of Education approved a consent calendar during a special meeting on April 3 that included (1) a travel agreement for Wallace Middle School’s trip to Washington, D.C., and (2) an educational-specification name correction and related capital transfer for a proposed Bergen Education Complex partial roof replacement project.

Vice President Brown moved to accept the consent calendar items as read; the motion was seconded and the board voted in favor. The special-meeting minutes record the motion, a single verbal second and the chair’s call for votes: “All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.” The travel agreement covers a three-day trip, June 11–13, 2025, for 35 Wallace students and chaperones; the district staff said all expenses are covered in-kind by Student Youth Travel Association, the Youth Foundation and the American Experience Foundation.

Several other district contract and grant items were presented during the regular meeting but the transcript does not record board votes on those items. Presentations included:

- An amendment request to extend the end date on a Professional Services Agreement with Positive Coaching Alliance (Health and Physical Education). The department said ESSER 3 funds originally funded the contract, there is no additional cost for the requested amendment, and the proposed new end date is Sept. 15, 2025 (previous end date Aug. 15, 2025). Staff told the board the full contract amount has already been paid and the amendment only extends the service window for professional learning.

- A requested amendment to a subgrant with New Opportunities, Inc. for Muriel Moore Child Development Center to add four infant/toddler school‑readiness slots; the presenter said state grant funding will reimburse the provider about $27,689 for care from January–June and that there is no cost to the city because the money comes from the state school readiness grant.

- A request to approve an agreement with Klingberg Family Centers (Raymond Hill School), an out‑of‑district special education day placement. The education department described a three‑year contract (July 1, 2024–June 30, 2027) costing $943,822 from the general fund; staff said the placement can serve up to three students with complex clinical needs and that related services and tuition are bundled into the stated amount. The transcript records discussion about the high cost per placement and the district’s efforts with state legislators to pursue caps on tuition.

Fiscal and budget items drew extended attention. The district finance director presented a monthly expenditure report through February and warned of tightening conditions: special education, busing, utilities and overtime costs are key pressures. The interim superintendent also told the board that federal approval to draw down roughly $1.45 million left to complete several cooling‑center/HVAC projects had initially been granted and then, on March 28, rescinded by the federal program administrator; the State Department of Education is advocating for honoring the extension but the district says if the funds are not restored it will need to use capital reserves or board‑allocated funds to finish projects and pay vendors.

Board members asked clarifying questions about reimbursement processes for the school‑readiness amendment and about the Klingberg contract’s rate breakdown. The presenters said the school‑readiness reimbursement is determined by the state and flows through the city as fiduciary; the New Opportunities amendment required only a provider attestation of capacity and no additional city appropriation. For the Klingberg agreement, staff said they will provide a detailed rate sheet to the board on request and that the district continues to press for state action on excess‑cost reimbursement and tuition caps for out‑of‑district placements.

Items explicitly approved in the special meeting consent action were the Wallace Middle School travel agreement, the Bergen Education Complex name correction for the roof‑replacement application (a correction to cover Crosby and Wallace facilities as a complex), and a capital transfer tied to that project. Other contract and amendment requests were presented for board review; the transcript does not show recorded approvals for those items during the April 3 proceedings.

No litigation or legal actions were presented for vote. Several members urged district staff to prepare contingency plans should the federal funds for cooling‑center projects remain unavailable.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Waterbury Board of Education Workshop & Special Meeting - April 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Waterbury Board of Education approved a consent calendar at a special meeting April 3 that included a Wallace Middle School travel agreement and a name correction for a roof‑replacement project; other contracts and grant amendments were presented for review but the transcript does not record board votes on those items.","taxTitle","Waterbury School District, School Districts, Connecticut","taxId",14343,"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},6088905,"Multilingual department outlines growth in services, 57 languages and surge in Seal of Biliteracy candidates",1283,2100000,3383000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2878729-ee0ca11c66147bb865bf174b6bb12dbe&start=2100&end=3383","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2878729-ee0ca11c66147bb865bf174b6bb12dbe/thumbnail_2100000.jpg","/articles/6088905/Connecticut/Multilingual-department-outlines-growth-in-services-57-languages-and-surge-in-Seal-of-Biliteracy-candidates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088905-57f449f3838e87c0bec34c9df44a450b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149760&Signature=hRCJ6ye4Rq0rJu0Q0igX0sUKytYcFitgzI4YVm6-b~RfBQbOahioGrGEJrrHwx1AtW56FemvdDFTu5fyyAPP3GRSasWGUJTSPlpaByd~31pcbKdrlLXwK0w21kYVXhejJf9cmFh4ZTMaYPeGM06Swzezt1v3Y2mwD5xnwlZHRnR01Uvkqz-Ap0aQi98xwtpxx7d82ruGdtQ-zpiETsKoM0mWBEBsNww9G~N2YBNCOHZBx59TbzA15c5aoQa6KbWSzbIYpbp6njS5SEuQq8jRhrn2ve9e3ramiSjP8pSveCFGJUBvrogGytaboBxoGsm0-cKUG4SgHua5glYMxKZw6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The district’s Multilingual Department director presented a needs assessment and program overview to the Waterbury Board of Education on April 3, saying multilingual enrollments have roughly doubled over the past decade and currently range near 4,040–4,060 students.

The presentation covered program types (bilingual classrooms at several elementary schools, ESL services across schools, and a dual-language program at the International School), state exit criteria for multilingual services, and a district goal to expand biliteracy options in the long term. The director said Spanish remains the most common home language, followed by Portuguese and Albanian; the district now counts 57 languages spoken by students and 47 languages among English language learners.

The director highlighted the Seal of Biliteracy, a State of Connecticut recognition awarded to students who demonstrate proficiency in English plus another language. She said the district has grown Seal participation sharply: 93 students earned the seal in 2023, that number dipped to 78 in a later year, and the department now expects more than 225 students to receive the award in 2025 (final totals subject to assessment completion and state reporting).

The department director described curriculum frameworks in use: Benchmark (and Benchmark Adelante) in bilingual and dual-language programs; Benchmark Express for K–5 ESL; and alternative curricula for secondary ESL settings. She said the district administers annual language assessments and follows state criteria before exiting students from multilingual services.

On planning, the director said the department is reviewing identification and placement protocols, working with a State Department of Education consultant to align local systems with state requirements, examining grants and funding use, and seeking partnerships to recruit bilingual teachers. She noted a state pilot program with another district is pending results before broader state approval of certain partnership models.

Board members asked about parent outreach and assessment protocols. The director confirmed assessors at welcome centers conduct language screening when students enter kindergarten or later grades; the state does not require routine multilingual assessments for preschool. Vice President Brown asked whether assessors explain program options to families; the director said that is part of the assessors’ role and that the department is working to ensure assessors are well-informed.

The director closed by noting long-term goals include exploring ways to convert bilingual transitional programs into biliteracy-focused programs, but she emphasized that such a transition would require multi-year planning and research.

No board vote was recorded on the presentation; it was informational.","Waterbury’s multilingual department told the Board of Education the district now serves about 4,040–4,060 multilingual students across 57 languages, has expanded dual-language and bilingual programs, and expects a sharp rise in the number of students earning the Seal of Biliteracy.",{"_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},6088909,"Wilson School principal reports gains in student engagement, lower suspensions and new family supports",1675,389000,2064000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2878729-ee0ca11c66147bb865bf174b6bb12dbe&start=389&end=2064","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2878729-ee0ca11c66147bb865bf174b6bb12dbe/thumbnail_389000.jpg","/articles/6088909/Connecticut/Wilson-School-principal-reports-gains-in-student-engagement-lower-suspensions-and-new-family-supports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088909-2bbe6693c43a96a52771920e2c3dc38b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149760&Signature=DBb~tE4Ojyryd4QSYM6Mdqn74r-T4rk3j-mCWsvKNNqH-mfqTyD96Yne6xZ3k~vW1dBFtYMhyiA-g3tgfRgWwLNBxK97UUqntfHZq8lOC1jssVyVt0zjPkv0-p8o2N9c-RQxBhBV7jMd9ur3Z~OILDu0e2JDtwoH0V1yKfj96dZYGnNlRWUa~FUvhZnrKH5UMLUKJJRG0x56Rv~Vspr24Hd-Brj8Oc8~CCHwxT9B3CKhQRD6I~kwqKq68eC5JY3y9qPgufMIAPEur1fxiSkmUYpDRQYeu3ThA4r-BYLku5ymIfFM~BMGXq1uxRBEN-37qmdfE8rEb6ewRP8y47t3Jw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mr. Theriel, principal of Wilson School, told the Waterbury Board of Education on April 3 that the school has made “nice gains” in culture, family engagement and student behavior during his second year at the building.

The principal said the school is completing a painting and beautification project, installing two new water bubblers, adding safety locks on gates and expanding student leadership opportunities such as an ambassador program and partnerships with Waterbury Career Academy. \"Where Mr. Theriel goes, improvement follows,\" Commissioner Van Stone said during the meeting in praise of the principal's work.

Wilson’s principal described classroom configurations and supports: four prekindergarten classrooms, four kindergarten classrooms, multiple combined first- and second-grade classes, and departmentalized fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms for English language arts and math. The school operates one co-taught pre-K and one co-taught kindergarten, and two behavioral classrooms (one for K–1; one for grades 1–2). The principal also described a program of recess buddies and teaching mentors supplied by Waterbury Career Academy students and said two foster grandparents now volunteer regularly.

On student outcomes, the principal presented year-to-year comparisons for behavior and academic-screening measures. She said in 2021–22 Wilson had nearly 60 total suspensions (in- and out-of-school) and that number fell into the thirties last year; she said the school is on track to reduce suspensions again this year. For midyear academic screenings the school showed increases in the number of students in the “green” performance band; the principal said midyear 2024–25 scores have already surpassed midyear 2023–24 by about 10 students. She cautioned reading scores remain “very flat” and that rising performance will require more work.

The principal reported Wilson ran 93 play groups this year that served 35 families from across Waterbury. She said the school is experimenting with attendance incentives on half-day Wednesdays and other strategic dates to reduce chronic absenteeism, which remains “not exactly” where she wants it. The school reported hiring 13 teachers who were new to Waterbury or new to teaching, and the principal credited community partners — including a local ice-cream truck donor and corporate clothing donations — for supplemental support.

Board members asked how often family surveys are sent; the principal said surveys are sent quarterly. Commissioner Latoya Arley asked that question specifically and the principal confirmed the quarterly cadence.

Wilson’s principal closed by asking the board if students and staff could perform a song; the board allowed the brief performance before the meeting moved on to other agenda items.

The school’s presentation was made during the regular April 3 meeting and included public discussion from several commissioners; no board action was required or taken on the principal’s report.","Wilson School principal Mr. Theriel told the Waterbury Board of Education the school has boosted family engagement, reduced suspensions and is expanding student leadership programs and on-site supports, while chronic absenteeism remains a concern.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves travel and roof-specification items; district hears requests for contracts, grant amendments and budget briefing

Multilingual department outlines growth in services, 57 languages and surge in Seal of Biliteracy candidates

Wilson School principal reports gains in student engagement, lower suspensions and new family supports