[{"_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",6611678,"mediaKeyId","2893130-57bbd1ba17f54a6bca2a8d428e918d2e","parentId",2893130,"title","District climate survey shows strengths on rules and norms; district highlights anonymous reporting and mental-health partnerships","audioSeconds",2285,"startMs",1354000,"endMs",3639000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2893130-57bbd1ba17f54a6bca2a8d428e918d2e&start=1354&end=3639","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2893130-57bbd1ba17f54a6bca2a8d428e918d2e/thumbnail_1354000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6611678/Connecticut/District-climate-survey-shows-strengths-on-rules-and-norms-district-highlights-anonymous-reporting-and-mental-health-partnerships","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611678-2a401c73121577dfa6364d401135eb56/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213468&Signature=alIxxPIYkzSMGUfntPIYvgsQX8JQKKDaUgs~zCBVAQVs-07lBLtimgwr8DNf625a8K8OuZRx8MPxN2r9ry20eQmCnLb9zZiB65YKLUyWnaEJpkCCqmJgIbVNth4s0Wz8DJXv8kYirT5WZv2-Ilqn8VQ6HvDLlrDLTOt1vp-bF4Rd4JBXizv0q8e0DMs~ocyokqz-X7M7O9DGly6ueF4jOQmFEmQLrpeheTp7ruib1hPgc57tkyWVLz3nFWszAwbxgT89vmN1LKZ7iuDJoTI4aPsb1sNYausFSyY-lQqsS2ERBTD3bqwcVZ8JYgVWYJGHiZ3POVSvRYMVvaiCgngKtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Canaan School District","date","2025-04-08T01:25:08.127Z","article","The New Canaan Board of Education received a comprehensive school climate update that showed generally strong results across elementary, middle and family surveys, while identifying social emotional security and social media as areas for continued work.

Dr. Bliss, the district\u0000presenter of the update, told the board the district used the Comprehensive School Climate Inventory (CSCI) in spring 2024 and compared those results with a CSCI administration in 2022. \"School climate is not an afterthought. It's, not a luxury. It truly is the foundation of academic excellence,\" Dr. Bliss said during the presentation. District staff reported high response rates for the K-8 CSCI: elementary students 94%, middle school students 96%, families 24% and certified staff 96%.

Across K-8 populations the district reported median scores approaching 4.0 on the CSCI's five-point scale, with particularly strong results for safety rules and norms, support for learning, and respect for diversity. Dr. Bliss flagged two consistent areas for improvement: social emotional security and behaviors tied to social media, and noted the survey included a substantial number of \"neither agree nor disagree\" responses that complicate interpretation.

Dr. Bliss described district actions and supports tied to the findings: school-based climate committees required by state mandate, targeted professional development including restorative practices and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills for staff, student leadership programs such as Start With Hello (a Sandy Hook Promise initiative), and digital citizenship curriculum revisions. \"We are getting some anecdotal data from schools saying that they're not seeing quite the same amount of difficulties without the phones,\" Dr. Bliss said about the district's phone-free schools work.

The presentation also reviewed the Say Something anonymous reporting system, which allows students to submit tips online or through an app. District staff reported training 1,976 students this year and, for the period November 2023 through January 2025, recorded 65 total tips, 13 of which were labeled \"life safety\" tips that prompted immediate follow-up by central-office staff and, if needed, law enforcement. \"I really do believe we've saved lives this year,\" Dr. Bliss said, describing cases where the system enabled immediate intervention.

Dr. Bliss described community partnerships supporting climate and mental-health work, including Silver Hill Health and Human Services, New Canaan Cares and a regional Fairfield Youth Cannabis Prevention Project. She said Silver Hill's assessment resources had helped the district find counseling services for families, while acknowledging some provider shortages remain.

Board members asked questions about survey selection and longitudinal comparisons; Dr. Bliss said the district chose the CSCI after reviewing several instruments and that changes to the survey instrument by the vendor can complicate direct comparisons over time. The high school used a separate survey tied to its New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) accreditation visit, Dr. Bliss said, and the district chose not to re-survey families twice in the same period.

Next steps described to the board included planning for the next climate survey, revising district policy to reflect recent state legislative changes to the definition of bullying, and continued monitoring of the anonymous reporting data and best practices for increasing student reporting.

Details presented to the board included: CSCI administered 2022 and 2024; high elementary/middle student response rates; families 24% response rate; certified staff 96% response rate; 65 Say Something tips Nov. 2023\u0000Jan. 2025 with 13 life-safety tips; 1,976 students trained on Say Something; and plans to review new state legislation affecting bullying policy.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education April 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","New Canaan\u0000district officials told the Board of Education that 2024 climate-survey results show strong scores for school rules and norms but identify social emotional security and social media as areas for further work.","taxTitle","New Canaan School District, School Districts, Connecticut","taxId",59443,"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},6611683,"New Canaan middle schoolers present Sideline Saver and Mopper Walker in Shark Tank spotlight",848,291000,1139000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2893130-57bbd1ba17f54a6bca2a8d428e918d2e&start=291&end=1139","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2893130-57bbd1ba17f54a6bca2a8d428e918d2e/thumbnail_291000.jpg","/articles/6611683/Connecticut/New-Canaan-middle-schoolers-present-Sideline-Saver-and-Mopper-Walker-in-Shark-Tank-spotlight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611683-0ec9a5098faa3da6fc8821980119f343/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213468&Signature=FPDxkFAgkOm-xEnpMSqO33ccnT943aMsP2zkOLIoURnuzbD9jFzpW9i~tf~yX-DHlv-hVlWETXnB4mOlY7mEJwB4iGn6NRTgAE9DtHct3B0tmHl2zFC0K1zxJtHi1QynIKTrgJCmLW1ACB8trJFfdNkOLMrsv2iKATmjzR4sQJ-u1g0zTAG9rWO3ME-NSNILwl5CUBLvFjrpP69nFbn1eIyZ6tGAxCNr8M8GGlbW0KtNY9dy0oUDxjWcti1S5z2RGScY6Mg2MBFyTe16uI2xmVZ63I7tmByPeGbtj9i-TMntCWEk~ke9kArb0oNMRv16Lzlb79TN2Rs3rnQd6Iznwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Students from Saks Middle School presented two student-designed prototypes during the Board of Education\u0000student spotlight: the Sideline Saver, a helmet-mounted cooling device for athletes, and Mopper Walkers, mop-attached shoes intended to make household chores more child-friendly.

The Sideline Saver team, represented by students Logan and Charlie, described a prototype that clips onto helmets and delivers a cooling breeze. \"Our product is the Sideline Saver, which is a solution to all of your problems,\" Logan said during the presentation. The students told the board their first prototype used 3D-printed casings and off-the-shelf components; they reported a planned retail price of $25 for a version 1 with a production cost of $15, and a planned version 2 priced at $40 with a production cost of $30. The students also said they were seeking $200,000 in investment in exchange for 10% of annual income to expand production and marketing.

Charlie described ongoing development: version 2 is intended to include a small misting spritzer and cosmetic changes to make the device smaller and more ergonomic. In a brief question-and-answer, students told a board member that identifying safe, reliable fans during prototyping was difficult. \"A lot of them weren't spinning at all,\" Charlie said when asked about setbacks during fabrication.

A second team presented Mopper Walkers, a mock-up of foam-and-fabric shoes with Velcro-attached mop and drying pads. Student presenters said the prototype is made from foam insulation, fabric and cardboard, and that it is intended to be easy for children to put on and use. The students provided a cost estimate: $14.09 to make each pair and a proposed retail price of $24.99, yielding a per-sale margin of $10.09. They said current models are on display at the school and have not yet been tested extensively in homes.

Melinda Meyer, introduced by the board as the district\u0000K-12 innovation director and science coordinator (K-8), framed the Shark Tank course as part of a hands-on STEM and design-thinking curriculum begun in 2016. Kevin DeAlton, identified as a seventh-grade science teacher and one of the Shark Tank instructors, introduced the student teams and noted the program\u0000\u0000which includes 3D printing, electronics and a recently added laser engraver\u0000gives students experience in problem definition, prototyping and pitching.

Board members asked technical and market questions and praised the students\u0000process skills. The presentations concluded before the start of the public comment portion of the agenda.","Two student teams from Saks Middle School presented product prototypes — the Sideline Saver, a helmet-mounted cooling device, and Mopper Walkers, mop-attached slipper shoes — during the New Canaan Board of Education\u0000student spotlight. Students described prototypes, costs and lessons learned from design and testing.",{"_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},6611674,"Board receives brief budget update; accepts All Sports Booster donation to fund coaches",129,3061000,3190000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2893130-57bbd1ba17f54a6bca2a8d428e918d2e&start=3061&end=3190","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2893130-57bbd1ba17f54a6bca2a8d428e918d2e/thumbnail_3061000.jpg","/articles/6611674/Connecticut/Board-receives-brief-budget-update-accepts-All-Sports-Booster-donation-to-fund-coaches","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611674-eaf27e6bdd53351aeb878ee35c4831c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213468&Signature=h3VOHfPEsGjAFmUVM0GkNieeDnvVC3DxorqfedZzu2TQcSb7JMAwV3K~9Y8hXOAanZgmpZbSyq8qMvU9VH6e~PNYiL4vg2x3Kl5DaePXkLQLAJD8c20GBSxwGsMheDIOZwVEZBy-aLOAa9ddh3CKhJ0C0yv7-z05Go8HAtqy62V-~mn78L~YbLwfigdqiShblz6TKJBbnWpAGI5KfXaD7mV6rchZ5-WRI39iWJIleFl1px0AmT9H9J4W4y8ugNDkmdbUFHj4eB1UK8uJ9I40JyUFGDKDbD5JvhR1cFJOTVfMW6Gy-~1kCe0-R-QYIBIZkKhhLTLbArQZuLOjSXQoMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New Canaan Board of Education received a short budget update and accepted a donation from the All Sports Booster Club to support winter coaching positions.

A district presenter reviewed recent budget iterations and adjustments made since the superintendent\u0000s budget was submitted to the town council. \"In the end, it looks like $555,000 is our turnover assumption. That is a high assumption. We will be monitoring it very closely,\" the presenter said. The presenter described turnover savings as an assumption the district will track through the fiscal year and said additional management steps would be identified if the assumption is not met.

Board members then moved to accept a donation from the All Sports Booster Club intended to lower coach-to-athlete ratios across winter programs including basketball, swimming and ice hockey. A board motion to accept the donation was made and seconded; the board chair called for the vote and the motion passed. The motion language given on the record identified the donation amount as $50,006.83. During discussion an administration speaker referred to the total as $50,683.76 when describing how the funds would be used across numerous coaching positions.

The board approved the donation with an affirmative voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to approve meeting agenda: moved and approved by voice vote during opening proceedings; no roll-call tally recorded.
- Motion to approve minutes of March 17: moved and seconded; approved by voice vote; no roll-call tally recorded.
- Motion to accept All Sports Booster Club donation (amount reported in the motion at $50,006.83; administration later referenced $50,683.76): motion seconded; approved by voice vote.

Board members thanked staff and volunteer groups for participation in budget discussions and in supporting athletics; the board adjourned after a scheduled budget update and other business.","Board members heard a condensed budget update showing a $555,000 turnover savings assumption and unanimously approved a $50,000-range donation from the All Sports Booster Club to support additional coaching positions across winter sports.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District climate survey shows strengths on rules and norms; district highlights anonymous reporting and mental-health partnerships

New Canaan middle schoolers present Sideline Saver and Mopper Walker in Shark Tank spotlight

Board receives brief budget update; accepts All Sports Booster donation to fund coaches