[{"_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":44,"_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":73},"mediaId",6079834,"mediaKeyId","2953913-647f1e9549c54d6a4f20e2a97894dc59","parentId",2953913,"title","Board approves resolutions, policies and consent items including autism-awareness resolution and June 13 graduation date","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",3613000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2953913-647f1e9549c54d6a4f20e2a97894dc59&start=3613&end=3613","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2953913-647f1e9549c54d6a4f20e2a97894dc59/thumbnail_3613000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6079834/Connecticut/Board-approves-resolutions-policies-and-consent-items-including-autism-awareness-resolution-and-June-13-graduation-date","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6079834-f97b13df855ab1d4b5206bb272284f9f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771124419&Signature=OmxEHeC8WPYgGCCsCrVmo~0-z4yBUkKsGTGoKbe8wI51NpZm95NnYvClWUJ6S64jBXOImbeCBh0sDoFGaNT~yXOBm462R1PlPzDGgsteMUjnA66uGWQYXLV6gDF-YX0HbZSSIvlIYtV92P9cbF4fZGx~F0twPc~M7XdrDvKZuuHFDIVwyA-J3l--~ZZDOIV9gGkWIFyGVhfDWv9Ohmwd-NoyHDnkvRT87nIFuCNnbYPW4ahlSMP9d~YFUdRvvCQV1jQojf7BYixx7HVF0uQjzBIIq~72Fc6dv4U4doRWHOcqEN1Z-C5igBbHrvuzQNLJW0IBFmfiqasoA330vwXV3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Britain School District","date","2025-04-11T00:15:26.68Z","article","The New Britain Board of Education approved a series of routine and policy items at its April 7 meeting, including a resolution recognizing April 2025 as Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month, adoption of the 2025 high-school graduation date, approval of multiple policy updates, and acceptance of a state-funded early-care grant.

President Barbara Marino called for a motion to modify the agenda; the board approved the change by voice vote, adding two items: (1) the autism-awareness resolution and (2) a recommendation to set June 13, 2025, as New Britain High School's graduation date.

The board read and adopted a resolution recognizing April 2025 as Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month. The resolution cited prevalence data and district student counts referenced during the reading and was adopted by voice vote.

The board also approved a motion designating June 13, 2025, as the official graduation date for New Britain High School; the motion passed by voice vote.

Board members approved minutes from the March 4 regular meeting, accepted a report of personnel transactions and extracurricular appointments, and received the enrollment report. A consent-agenda item (Grant J: the state-funded Early Start/CT program combining three programs into one) was separately moved and accepted; the roll call on that grant recorded at least one abstention.

Policy updates approved on April 7 included proposed language from the policy audit: P-9012 (Legal Responsibilities of the Board), P-9020 (Public Statements), and a revised P-6115.3 (flag protocol) that includes language permitting schools with three flagpoles to fly a city or approved school flag on the third pole and an effective date amendment (effective July 1, 2025). The flag-policy change was approved after a request to set a future effective date so schools could obtain approved flags.

Board members conducted the votes by motion and voice; no roll-call tallies were read into the record for most items. Where a recorded abstention was noted (the Early Start/CT grant), meeting minutes show an abstention but did not name the member on the audio transcript.

No litigation, contract awards, or budget adoptions requiring recorded roll-call tallies were taken at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","New Britain Board of Education Meeting - 04/07/25","oneSentenceSummary","At its April 7 meeting the New Britain Board of Education approved an agenda modification, an autism-awareness resolution for April 2025, the high-school graduation date, several policy updates, personnel transactions, and an early-start grant; one consent grant vote recorded an abstention.","taxTitle","New Britain School District, School Districts, Connecticut","taxId",13001,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6079839,"Resident urges New Britain schools to recognize Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as district holidays",192,298000,490000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2953913-647f1e9549c54d6a4f20e2a97894dc59&start=298&end=490","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2953913-647f1e9549c54d6a4f20e2a97894dc59/thumbnail_298000.jpg","/articles/6079839/Connecticut/Resident-urges-New-Britain-schools-to-recognize-Rosh-Hashanah-and-Yom-Kippur-as-district-holidays","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6079839-5c096cd23cbb454eeedbcd1f224385f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771124419&Signature=WjYsClRsh5kPAVKuoQM3KZTYvt6VEAEJDfoWv9j8PC7pedxOIPHn~DuHdQYz5J~uo9ZwYmKsRdC~wNhFvXg48HWQXjcYTHM-dqJyHnIITfyC3mr6kCShEkYGgX~Chac2Zk838tyzopolJBFfBrql~uf6vuvszr-aG1dDxfqhjnQHz~0G-PhWZ29OZsKjMGgBl2p4ToV2T6sVlrPVSTFofqERi-Tv4BV3g4kXD14C2awU305AzCkLBug4X8KUrtQQ0gU~fIuBV8v43PThq156s7d2rYL7Z83ER-WsQ5niJSj5ijxuBPsGCQwomAQeiU~SomsEfZlEI8Wp2kGTCZWNBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","John Ward, speaking during public comment on April 7, asked the New Britain Board of Education to include Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur on the district calendar, arguing that the current schedule recognizes Christian and Muslim holidays but not major Jewish observances.

\"This is not just a matter of convenience. It's a matter of equity, respect, and inclusivity,\" Ward said, noting that Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are central observances in the Jewish faith and that students and staff are forced to choose between religious obligations and school when the district does not close for those days.

Ward pointed to other Connecticut districts — Hartford, West Hartford and New Haven — that close for these holidays and urged New Britain to revise the calendar to align practice with stated inclusion goals. He said he understood some officials might consider student counts when deciding which holidays to recognize but argued that equity should not be based on numbers.

Board members did not vote or direct staff to draft a calendar change during the meeting; Ward's remarks were recorded as public comment. He also offered brief praise for board member Anthony Kane's work on a separate flag policy discussion earlier in the meeting.

The board did not take formal action on the calendar during the April 7 meeting.","A resident called on the board to add Jewish high-holy days to the district calendar, citing equity and examples from neighboring districts; the item was presented during public comment and drew acknowledgment but no immediate board action.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6079843,"Graduate warns board against reallocating class funds; cites $6,000 in class-of-2016 account",218,129000,347000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2953913-647f1e9549c54d6a4f20e2a97894dc59&start=129&end=347","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2953913-647f1e9549c54d6a4f20e2a97894dc59/thumbnail_129000.jpg","/articles/6079843/Connecticut/Graduate-warns-board-against-reallocating-class-funds-cites-6000-in-class-of-2016-account","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6079843-28715c04c5fec2501d1316716cf8b4f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771124419&Signature=NFn5BNslhPu3-PXWxo7ZdqfkM76QpJlWzV0pGWfa14T5NGxk6p0WYbSmJko34A91r6q-6OrAPQNilCFK1p3r85aKIYFmFXbYMgnxtmZhVrwRTNf2OEiaP9tiQY4gE8PDG~1cRMxKliVydEiKtuTYB5XSwCVdP4yNt8Xn1pkip0fnPeEmukWKkF-m9QWWrM2DMAVCilsF3-pLktMUeCTinFT-VCya6i4Bwas5gTNyQMq00veLX52XwJd6ib0DGsk~PZO6MQtuyDAext7VAE4OPZNU7rBhP5jIElIrjCHMbH9BlY4QytPWmcJT5zw~FA9cjMahJ5t7HZ7VQ1kwWy6OZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Margaret Keithline, a 2016 New Britain High School graduate, told the board during the April 7 public-comment period that she and classmates discovered the district is reviewing a process to reallocate alumni class-account money into a general student-activity fund.

Keithline said the class of 2016 has more than $6,000 in its account from money raised for reunions and other alumni activities. \"In my communications with Mr. Pierce, he cited best accounting practices as a primary force\" for closing accounts, she said, and she told the board she reviewed board policy on student activity funds (policy 3403) and Connecticut General Statute 10-237.

Keithline said New Britain's policy does not specify a time frame for when funds must be used and that several other nearby districts (she named Avon, Ledyard and Simsbury) permit funds to be maintained at least until a first-class reunion. She asked the board to develop a clear policy going forward and to refrain from applying any policy retroactively to alumni accounts.

She also raised a procedural concern: the staff member asked to sign on behalf of her class was not the adviser who served when the funds were raised, and she said she had not seen documentation of any approvals or a board review when donations over $500 are involved (she cited board policy 3280 on donations).

Keithline asked the board to find a way to let her class use the money for its intended purpose and to avoid retroactive absorption of previously raised funds.

Board members did not take immediate action during the meeting; the matter was presented as public comment and Keithline said she will share comparative policies from other districts with staff by email.","A New Britain High School graduate told the board the district is moving to absorb inactive class activity accounts into a general fund; she urged a clear policy and argued retroactive reallocations are unjust.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6079848,"New Britain Board hears school climate survey showing students feel less safe and less engaged than adults do",898,1232000,2130000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2953913-647f1e9549c54d6a4f20e2a97894dc59&start=1232&end=2130","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2953913-647f1e9549c54d6a4f20e2a97894dc59/thumbnail_1232000.jpg","/articles/6079848/Connecticut/New-Britain-Board-hears-school-climate-survey-showing-students-feel-less-safe-and-less-engaged-than-adults-do","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6079848-25ea290e2b923ff554a8b47aba164c0b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771124419&Signature=Hsb34WuZsrehY3C~QVPESzT~shkt0UV4XHFVfw0FZA5IUo-ZQjra0QZ9YGTKl-OpoJVjIp3OSy783s0BeDKpxDgW9dGUxH1HuGIWd6ic05xBWrHy8ux04CoKimlSMMb4v9MxRSBHNyhxwpV5mkRx4NE80~0OheUm41CSLRwd8FFFyCqPMmdYFEYVpyjga6mDK0CmpstXrVmroJb9sI6lXLCXlt1AVUNrDrBbRlOwnEZEmVMlsY-1APp-uN-MvRWlw183Guco7Y93t32Ki1fSA9DPdfz4~wNSV5d8F3CclNP0XN9EDDZTU79~zZJh47DoZbPS-HJegEOUxuthlG2j0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New Britain Board of Education on April 7 reviewed results of a districtwide school climate survey that found strong ratings for school leadership and teacher-student relationships but notable gaps in student safety, peer respect and parent communication.

The presentation by district staff said 56 percent of students (grades 3–12) responded to the survey and that 82 percent of students agreed their teachers care about them. But only 68 percent of students said they feel safe at school — compared with about 85 percent of parents and 76 percent of staff — and only 55–56 percent of students said they like going to school each day.

District officials said the findings matter because the perceptions point to issues that affect attendance, school climate and learning. \"School leadership is widely respected,\" said Harold Richardson, summarizing a takeaway from the data, but he added that differences in safety perceptions and low peer-respect scores mean the district must improve supports and consistent practices across schools.

Kate Esolero, who led the slide presentation with Richardson, said strengths include teacher feedback and high expectations: 74 percent of students reported receiving regular feedback, and 89 percent of staff said they challenge students to use higher-order thinking skills. \"We'll show you what's working well for our students, our families, and staff,\" Esolero said at the start of the report.

But Esolero and Richardson highlighted three principal areas for growth: student perceptions of safety, student engagement and the consistency of positive school-to-home communication. They said only about 40 percent of students believe their peers are respectful and kind. The district plans targeted interventions including restorative-practice training for climate specialists and a first-year districtwide rollout of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS).

Richardson said the state will require a climate specialist in every school starting July 2025; the district said it already assigns climate responsibilities to existing staff (assistant principals or social workers in smaller programs) and is training them now to be restorative-practice trainers so they can return to schools and deliver consistent training.

Officials described specific steps to address gaps: district-led professional development, walkthroughs with feedback for principals, stronger school plans for regular teacher feedback to families, expanded outreach techniques (phone, text, email, multilingual materials, QR codes at events) and partnering with community-based organizations to support restorative practices.

Board members and other attendees pressed for details. Board member Annie Parker and others asked whether the data are disaggregated by grade band; staff said the decline in peer respect begins in middle school and becomes more pronounced in higher grades. Board member Tina Santana, joining remotely, asked about special-education family participation; staff said the presentation did not include a breakdown by special-education status but recommended approaches (student ID tracking or targeted outreach) to increase response rates.

The board noted the low family response rate (11 percent) and heard staff explanation of outreach methods: multiple rounds of phone calls, emails, texts, printed flyers in multiple languages, social media posts and school-level encouragement at events such as parent-teacher conferences.

Staff said the spring survey is limited (about 20 questions) to encourage completion and that the district decided to use in-house tools rather than a commercial survey vendor to reduce costs. Board members suggested additional tactics — on-site tablets during events, raffles or incentives (to be checked for policy constraints) and improved faith-based partnerships — to boost participation.

District leaders framed the survey as a starting point for annual school improvement plans and principal goal-setting. They said the findings will be used to inform training, PBIS implementation timelines and new communication goals for the 2025–26 school year.

Looking ahead, the district plans follow-up reports as PBIS and restorative practices are implemented and as climate specialists finish their trainer certifications this spring and summer.","District presentation showed high marks for school leadership and teacher relationships but identified gaps in student safety, peer respect and family communication; district to expand restorative-practice training and begin full PBIS rollout ahead of a state July 2025 climate-specialist requirement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves resolutions, policies and consent items including autism-awareness resolution and June 13 graduation date

Resident urges New Britain schools to recognize Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as district holidays

Graduate warns board against reallocating class funds; cites $6,000 in class-of-2016 account

New Britain Board hears school climate survey showing students feel less safe and less engaged than adults do