[{"_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",6073858,"mediaKeyId","2988715-fedc9f268a7301d9557688b72709e0cd","parentId",2988715,"title","Committee reviews PAC/PTO spending and parent engagement; staff to survey school-level participation","audioSeconds",295,"startMs",4951000,"endMs",5246000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2988715-fedc9f268a7301d9557688b72709e0cd&start=4951&end=5246","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2988715-fedc9f268a7301d9557688b72709e0cd/thumbnail_4951000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6073858/Connecticut/Committee-reviews-PACPTO-spending-and-parent-engagement-staff-to-survey-school-level-participation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6073858-86118171211b5d5f6fc21a1bbd27a9d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770778396&Signature=ICbOZCoqO2wSTrxEnD5SNjECkFseikpDQdl9M793hO9AzO45xlrCmkrBrwyWWlhZXRQuvk0tiV3h7VIxIKYMfZGCad4A5YI~-4Pjo5DQhDuCf~etMZfzxaOywDbE2uLMJtmk--k8Qaj8C1UtHjoPcuSDe4c3NylPlWxB-3NwJI6PiqvG3S9SzTqXFB6PkRUJYsyxnX~ythqiv44zxQm-hi~~~f3kQg~O5772uFCEd334DAa9xsDE4tAiWs1NJGnZwyAkZwlhpbcmZzZX2ZnjHExdog8cBprnfzj3g8WCYC4Kn781KN9jvFaZh9GN3WrVYtv1joV8G~BuHMQbbJUDYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bridgeport Public Schools","date","2025-03-27T00:00:00Z","article","The Instruction and Support Services Committee on March 26 received a year-to-date PAC/PTO expenditure report and discussed parent engagement, low participation at some schools and internal deadlines for encumbering funds.

What the report showed: Presenters said 98% of required action plans have been submitted and provided a breakdown of spending ranges across elementary and high schools. At the elementary level, presenters reported six schools with 89% or more of funds spent, seven schools between 50% and 75%, seven schools between 25% and 49%, ten schools between 25% and 49% (the transcript gave overlapping ranges), and six schools at 24% or less. At the high school level, presenters reported two schools at roughly 70% spent, and others ranging from 48% to 0%; one high school lacked an action plan earlier but that was resolved, presenters said. Presenters said they were working with executive directors, community liaisons and principals to increase PAC/PTO spending and to encumber funds before the district's internal deadline; the district extended the internal encumbrance deadline to April 21.

Parent engagement and training: Presenters said they provided one-on-one training for PAC presidents on planning, budgeting and entering purchases into the district system. Committee members and parent leaders discussed practical barriers: some PAC presidents are new and need one-on-one help, some purchases stall in administrative signoff steps, and some schools have low turnout for PAC meetings. A longtime parent leader urged the district to provide more hands-on support, to publish a district calendar of PAC events and to rebuild a district-level PAC structure to centralize support. Committee members proposed asking principals to post PAC meeting dates on school websites and to send flyers to the district office so the communications team can share them.

Deadlines and process: Presenters emphasized that PAC funds must be encumbered or spent per internal city deadlines; they said the grants office gave a one-time extension to April 21 to allow principals and PACs time to process purchases. Presenters described ongoing outreach (calls, emails, trainings) to PAC presidents and principals to close remaining action-plan and spending gaps.

Next steps: The committee asked staff to survey PAC health (meeting frequency, event postings, presence of elected officers), to collect flyers for district posting, and to schedule additional parent trainings. Staff said they will follow up on schools with low spending and continue one-on-one support for PAC leaders.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bridgeport Public Schools In Person Meeting of the Instruction & Support Services Committee Wednesday, March 26","oneSentenceSummary","Committee received a year-to-date expenditure report for PACs/PTOs and discussed low participation at some schools, deadlines to encumber funds and plans for parent training and a districtwide parent convention.","taxTitle","Bridgeport School District, School Districts, Connecticut","taxId",12999,"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},6073863,"Committee reviews disproportionate suspensions; staff to produce disaggregated data and pilot steps",1006,2790000,3796000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2988715-fedc9f268a7301d9557688b72709e0cd&start=2790&end=3796","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2988715-fedc9f268a7301d9557688b72709e0cd/thumbnail_2790000.jpg","/articles/6073863/Connecticut/Committee-reviews-disproportionate-suspensions-staff-to-produce-disaggregated-data-and-pilot-steps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6073863-45fd93fc8caf379e73aae11ba921c8d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770778396&Signature=hIUG0Dv28mima5Va~9CzWR8arYyTpc-TZdIotT7uQjTRAlqcevbP4bZ~ZZNYDiG1bAJe8ih~OgEGbYIq0gsddhN1TOIiAX4N162nzGuRyDCtrFjHfYd-ld-XfVApvOk-J8f-6mS-G1Mm9RUpiHRvvRdcIC4w59JfHxoGs0GlFAVrJnUol8FhWlCMSljKR7KtAnHcO7j3moB3h8BkmzxlqipU~PKYsNkXSnVA7ptBNV7IEKQN8Q8K4u1v-8okikouyW71dLqHtTxHJyPxRM0VeOBxp7lCMjdixkmg7AltEv94e7gp8Pp8Hnl4cUMaEApbL9DBn8cqCfrByLAbs0Pxzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Instruction and Support Services Committee on March 26 reviewed district concerns over a disproportionate number of suspensions affecting students with disabilities and African American students and asked staff to provide a deeper, school-by-school data analysis and to pilot immediate interventions.

Why it matters: Committee members said the district's suspension data indicates a pattern the committee wants to address promptly because it affects special education students' access to services and may reflect broader disparities for African American students, particularly males in the ninth grade.

Discussion summary: Committee members and district staff described a recent meeting among administrators and supervisors that examined suspension and expulsion procedures, the district code of conduct and special education requirements. Staff said the group identified short-term steps the district can take this spring while planning systemic changes for the fall.

Suggested steps discussed included: highlighting special-education-related policies and procedural safeguards in suspension letters and family communications; translating informational materials into multiple languages; adding housing insecurity as a consideration when determining in-school suspension (ISS) versus out-of-school suspension (OSS); ensuring students with disabilities receive required services during ISS/OSS and that administrators document service delivery; reinforcing reentry meetings after ISS/OSS to plan supports; and offering additional professional development and tiered intervention toolboxes to teachers and administrators.

Data direction: Committee Chair Rob Traver and others asked staff to return with disaggregated data that distinguishes (a) whether suspensions reflect multiple incidents by a few individual students or many students with single incidents, (b) school-by-school and grade-by-grade patterns (committee members singled out ninth grade), and (c) month-to-month trends to identify seasonal spikes. Staff agreed to produce that deeper dive and report at the next committee meeting.

Next steps: Staff will implement immediate communication improvements (including parent-facing one-pagers and ensuring parental receipt of procedural safeguards), reinforce that students with disabilities must receive services while suspended, and schedule reentry planning and staff professional development. The committee scheduled a follow-up data review at the next meeting to determine whether further systemic action is needed.","Members discussed a district review of disproportionate in-school and out-of-school suspensions for students with disabilities and for African American students, and directed staff to gather school- and grade-level disaggregated data and to pursue immediate and fall-term interventions.",{"_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},6073867,"Committee advances library refresh purchases and subscriptions to full board",1270,1367000,2637000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2988715-fedc9f268a7301d9557688b72709e0cd&start=1367&end=2637","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2988715-fedc9f268a7301d9557688b72709e0cd/thumbnail_1367000.jpg","/articles/6073867/Connecticut/Committee-advances-library-refresh-purchases-and-subscriptions-to-full-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6073867-b2c3d55d6f671c5611f5b83efa743399/orig.mp4?Expires=1770778396&Signature=exc0bwbRY7K~9-fBcURHa0Qib4IDTKTFYX7r8uEHPFCCmKOVr7nBHo~kLttlY2ba~ayEEydaIVCl-yRpDGzVFfO~5UuAzqZCsjb6dftB2ra-yCOteYWbwrhcDRI7e7BWBCZM1LpcHsjQHq51YcdOjVyijk~MAfo63Fo~dDBIjjQY1beeoyhDs9N5VoA7VCbSZ5O9eEagJjgPO7whfP2bsarOk0-fIi9eLCISV3P~xv5ZAZeUe0iojrDvfNAtpGvmTpZ1AbOA1l87pOdssqGjfSs51K-bSUDNorOMBIkxDP69nxGXaddBRia-BDbGQJPoDxpU-HRG9ULZ4iyQGq1JZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Instruction and Support Services Committee on March 26 voted to forward the district's library refresh purchases and digital subscriptions to the full board for final approval.

Presenters said the purchases are funded by a federal library refresh grant and will expand print and digital collections, districtwide digital reference access and educator professional development. Lisa Page (presenting as \"Lisa Bage\" in the transcript), a district librarian, and Theresa Welch from information services outlined three major elements: Bookalicious hard-copy purchases, a Britannica School subscription and a New York Times district subscription.

Bookalicious: Presenters described a $170,000 allocation for print book purchases (hard copies) to serve high schools, special populations and the residential center. The package was described as broken down across Central High School, Bassick High School, Harding, Fairchild Wheeler, Bridgeport Military Academy, the Bridgeport Learning Center and the Bridgeport Residential Center; presenters said the residential center population (approx. 33 students) spans grades 5\u0000to 12 and requires state consultation for allowable content. Presenters emphasized that the Bookalicious funds are hard-copy purchases and separate from online subscriptions.

Britannica School: Presenters said Britannica School would be a districtwide digital subscription integrated with the district portal; they described accessibility features (reading-level switching, translations, dyslexia font, citations and educator supports) and included five-and-a-half hours of annual professional development. The presenters stated the Britannica package cost is $175,750 and described it as a five-year contract including professional development.

New York Times: Presenters recommended district access for students ages 13 and up. The presenter gave a subscription total of $25,989.60 and described multiyear access and off-site (home) availability through the student portal. (The transcript alternately referenced a five-year term in one explanation and a nine-year reference elsewhere in the presentation materials; presenters described the NYT subscription as multiyear during the meeting.)

Committee action: A motion to approve and send the library refresh purchases and subscriptions to the full board passed on a voice vote. Committee members asked about inclusion of special-population students in the residential center allocation and whether funds must be used only for the grant's stated library purposes; presenters confirmed the funds are federally restricted to library materials and described plans to consult state guidelines for the residential center.

What comes next: Staff will finalize vendor contracts and bring the package to the full board for action. The district also plans professional development and guidance to help teachers and librarians integrate the resources.","The committee approved forwarding a package of library purchases and digital subscriptions funded by a federal library refresh grant, including Bookalicious hard-copy purchases, a Britannica subscription and a New York Times subscription.",{"_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},6073873,"Committee approves three student field trips, sends them to full board",761,82000,843000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2988715-fedc9f268a7301d9557688b72709e0cd&start=82&end=843","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2988715-fedc9f268a7301d9557688b72709e0cd/thumbnail_82000.jpg","/articles/6073873/Connecticut/Committee-approves-three-student-field-trips-sends-them-to-full-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6073873-ee35951528297ad8004896b7d88b771d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770778396&Signature=XWt2gHm2GCLS~ATi5eyNxi~0U1~7QZlShqrmS4CtGqgvkDtOejj2unoNnec0iDn~x5BTOPIYwIPIcqNhfIrYPoERB153DdmHnzgxcDUerCUUncVSyxe1ZdCoq90AJAjDILozoCRFhZnx66Ko-WyRgxk62DcqzT9yMsfkGzXHq3LW5rbFfsrMH9t7qkyo0tsSw-Ois0HsbuSUIK8tsZBh2SFL5ZxmC7xUFVBbbtS7YAaohso07NUJdkvp~Y8C9z4WhbKXI3kVeW5p-dP0QagFRhOhWaMpGEqMgnHYe1PQKAf-thjL4cHahjqo5NB6B0keD5nJDvVIN3QaYKA~23jL4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bridgeport School District Instruction and Support Services Committee voted to forward three overnight student field trips to the full board on March 26.

The committee approved a High Horizons Middle School out-of-state trip to Washington, D.C., June 3\u0000through 6, 2025; a Discovery Magnet Schools multi-day trip to the Outdoor Classroom (formerly Nature's Classroom) in Lakeside, Connecticut, May 14\u0000through 16, 2025; and an overnight Discovery Magnet School trip to Washington, D.C., in May 2025. Committee Chair Rob Traver moved one of the motions; members recorded the approvals by voice vote.

Why it matters: The votes authorize the district to send the items to the full board for final sign-off and document basic safety, supervision and budgeting details the committee reviewed.

High Horizons principal Francine Carbone described the High Horizons itinerary, security and supervision plans. Carbone said the trip will run four days and three nights, that students will visit the U.S. Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery, the Smithsonian museums, the National Museum of African American History and Culture and other sites, and that chaperone and hotel security measures are in place. Carbone said students will be housed four to a hotel room, with a security guard coordinating with the lead chaperone each night. \"Safety and security is my primary concern when students are out of my vision and sight during the school day,\" Carbone said.

Discovery Magnet's Overnight (Outdoor Classroom) presentation came from Alicia Gadsett, a Discovery science teacher. Gadsett said the trip to the Outdoor Classroom in Lakeside, Connecticut, runs May 14\u0000to 16, 2025. She said the trip historically focuses on environmental education, team-building and experiential science; the cost is $331 per student, reduced by fundraising to $260 per student. Gadsett described cabin arrangements, on-site medical personnel and a separate family packet that collects medication and routine information.

A separate Discovery Magnet trip to Washington, D.C., presented later in the meeting, was described as an eighth-grade-only trip. The presenter described a packed itinerary including the Holocaust Museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Arlington National Cemetery, monument tours and possible visits to the U.S. Capitol and Mount Vernon. The group will travel with security support and a private transport company that remains with students throughout the trip, the presenter said.

Committee action: A motion to approve each trip and send it to the full board carried by voice vote. Committee members verbally indicated their support during roll call; the committee chair called the motion \"made, seconded, and passed.\" The committee did not adopt any amendments to the trip plans during the discussion.

What comes next: These items will appear on a future full-board agenda for final approval. The district will continue to collect family permission packets, medication forms, and the individual student safety and emergency information required for travel.","The Instruction and Support Services Committee voted to send three overnight student field trips \u0000to the full Bridgeport School Board for final approval: High Horizons to Washington, D.C.; Discovery Magnet to the Outdoor Classroom in Lakeside, Conn.; and an overnight Discovery Magnet trip to Washington, D.C.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee reviews PAC/PTO spending and parent engagement; staff to survey school-level participation

Committee reviews disproportionate suspensions; staff to produce disaggregated data and pilot steps

Committee advances library refresh purchases and subscriptions to full board

Committee approves three student field trips, sends them to full board