[{"_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",6264545,"mediaKeyId","3096276-e2228bbbc5a0dd77cac23b05c67d55f7","parentId",3096276,"title","Parent urges Wethersfield schools to expand neurodiversity‑affirming staff training for twice‑exceptional students","audioSeconds",2578,"startMs",568000,"endMs",3146000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3096276-e2228bbbc5a0dd77cac23b05c67d55f7&start=568&end=3146","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3096276-e2228bbbc5a0dd77cac23b05c67d55f7/thumbnail_568000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6264545/Connecticut/Parent-urges-Wethersfield-schools-to-expand-neurodiversityaffirming-staff-training-for-twiceexceptional-students","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264545-e8cfb2c84d3ffd8bb2432dc8ce204672/orig.mp4?Expires=1770573578&Signature=LAd0OxRcsgA9sVeFJwmcKH7n5mzo3ibKV6ybiGkXJE~ztvR~RrpykEsFbQrLe2zeVchyTz~ZFur0L9QhgHEhuKxt~5~7fxdoEcSA6pB7~ARPGOZ9XuBsX4VrRgPLdhnoYOeBE9aA9rWLEmcuJm-7QjAFVyzE3ExHT2w5fE83zQj03mD-1T8Q90bZHPoaQklYeeo-Jfxk18SMG9C7lrVzTMCVjmeBhrFPSGLHVPk8038KakTBPHVMuxSAbnEUWoiokuN7kwwpHLJJcUG715BlJKc5meo5GKQzmjTAspGt30Y7CaxStcxkXYmdtnA6odo-e42BsS4p1SPQjleuhpBseg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wethersfield School District","date","2025-04-23T12:38:31Z","article","Megan Glenovsky, a Wethersfield parent, used public comment at the April 22 board meeting to ask the Wethersfield School District to invest in neurodiversity‑affirming professional development for staff to better support twice‑exceptional students (students both autistic and gifted).

Glenovsky told the board, “We need training that helps staff understand how autism and giftedness intersect, recognize the difference between behavior that is willful and behavior that is communicative, [and] move away from exclusionary discipline and towards inclusive strengths‑based responses.” She argued that when educators view behavior through a deficit lens, neurodivergent students who “melt down” or “blur[t] out answers” are often punished rather than supported.

Glenovsky cited autism expert Dr. Barry Prizant and the National Education Association’s guidance on twice‑exceptional learners to support her recommendations. She urged the district to provide “real, in‑depth, neurodiversity‑affirming professional development that empowers adults to see the full picture of these students” and to change discipline practices that can exacerbate trauma.

Board members acknowledged the comment and later in the meeting Board member Liz (surname not specified on the record) requested an update from Superintendent Emmett and Assistant Superintendent Distoli on current staff professional development for neurodiversity; the superintendent said he would follow up. The board’s student services and human resources committees have upcoming meetings where staff training and professional development priorities can be addressed.

Why it matters: Glenovsky said twice‑exceptional students can appear typical at first glance yet still need explicit supports; she described exclusionary discipline as a preventable harm that better training could reduce. The parent’s request for district‑wide professional development dovetails with board interest in restorative practices and student support programs the district has discussed in prior meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting - April 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A parent urged the school board to require in‑depth, neurodiversity‑affirming professional development to support twice‑exceptional students, saying current practices too often treat neurodivergent behavior as willful misbehavior and result in exclusionary discipline.","taxTitle","Wethersfield School District, School Districts, Connecticut","taxId",53310,"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},6264550,"Board approves revised school security and visitors policies in second readings",15,1251000,1266000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3096276-e2228bbbc5a0dd77cac23b05c67d55f7&start=1251&end=1266","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3096276-e2228bbbc5a0dd77cac23b05c67d55f7/thumbnail_1251000.jpg","/articles/6264550/Connecticut/Board-approves-revised-school-security-and-visitors-policies-in-second-readings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264550-00d889ff68df842d56c515f4a26ba82b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770573578&Signature=SVogBXBXWp9XaDjsEmY4fSCczJ-y~v~syF1FqzH9Hg9nR39oAKwwEDnwSgqrku3lT3Bg3nf1jfFGOVLK433CoMjHeREUdMls5yrZtYU2nf138p3ZCAE4sKQM2~xLVYP2Wap2FKIHjC5lrrQ6cKhQ4rZmfte0KvTK4YLAsuGzvkEpTZREJE~AnsVq4HjD6VZJDoCQIQtQd8aoMCc-ZJwZmyXiue5-2UEWLaoTYkpviPb2-5JfmXClKFD2IXh8225HF8rj0wMglMAZUQctA1Je6dvHMr1A9Ono7qMibL8IJg9RCduYDQFS14mL317EClArYHk-Dl0C4bn7~axF6wrdyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wethersfield Board of Education voted April 22 to adopt revised versions of Policy 1400, School Security and Safety, and Policy 1600, Visitors and Observations in Schools, after second readings.

Matt Carey moved the revision to Policy 1400, which a board member seconded; the board then voted “Aye” with no recorded opposition. Carey then moved the revision to Policy 1600 and a second was recorded; that motion also passed on an unopposed voice vote.

The board noted that both items were second readings and did not generate extended discussion at the meeting. No specific policy language changes were read into the record during the vote; the revisions had been brought to the board as part of the campus safety and visitor‑procedures review underway this year.

Because the revisions were adopted at the second reading, the board signaled they are now the district’s standing policies pending any future amendments. The minutes will record the formal motions and the administrative office will publish the revised policy text with the district’s policy register.","The Wethersfield Board of Education approved second‑read revisions to Policy 1400 (School Security and Safety) and Policy 1600 (Visitors and Observations in Schools) during the April 22 meeting; both motions passed with no recorded opposition.",{"_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},6264552,"Wethersfield board authorizes grant application for new Highcrest Elementary, advances three-phase school master plan",3348,1306000,4654000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3096276-e2228bbbc5a0dd77cac23b05c67d55f7&start=1306&end=4654","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3096276-e2228bbbc5a0dd77cac23b05c67d55f7/thumbnail_1306000.jpg","/articles/6264552/Connecticut/Wethersfield-board-authorizes-grant-application-for-new-Highcrest-Elementary-advances-three-phase-school-master-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264552-c93b96a31e97b46eaa6dfe46a16462d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770573578&Signature=ajje5nvPly-ex0hOVlMxkRBvUrmTxfXotwoZ~YqJ1Wl3-nujwaHCMVBjX6n-8dBInms6nYnX8r4DkecwfoX2WT3BNpHBf7xEQki3Gvvm1iHWGpvUZkAIPttUzjf7J3TY6FCWPTFVTd3SW8xx~ZmS00QhvC83xR9bR-VLUB0qUnM~dGU7j~nHPLx-idb4dDafSgUBjuFJ3Gon~LkdMhtpjk0W7Qjm5mRGZ60VaI28xmUlHpPDJllIoWHZT4cJtJtt8SIqv04eV8HoNcZPOCtImZNo-tMXSgtpCVLFSUtXxtRmcE~pShfWKYs1VGuTUXNV9bFBGhOLxQxPEK63TTGD3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wethersfield Board of Education on April 22 approved a resolution authorizing the superintendent to apply for a state grant to design and build a new Highcrest Elementary School and to accept or reject any award, advancing the district’s multi‑phase elementary school master plan.

The resolution (Town of Wethersfield Resolution R2025‑4) designates Michael T. Emmett, superintendent of Wethersfield Public Schools, as the authorized representative to submit the grant application and related documents to the Commissioner of Administrative Services; the board voted in favor with no objection recorded.

The vote follows a 90‑minute presentation from Michael Scott of TSKP Studio and representatives from Downs Construction, who reviewed a three‑phase approach intended to (1) build a new “swing” elementary school on the Keisha Farm site to house students while other schools are renovated; (2) renovate and expand Webb to create a 5–6 intermediate academy; and (3) renovate Charles Wright into a K–4 academy. Scott said the first phase will also include expanded preschool capacity and that the district plans to submit a grant application by June 30, 2025.

Why it matters: the board and the building committee argued that packaging the largest and most disruptive work—new construction plus the Webb renovation—into the first referendum will reduce escalation risk and produce higher construction‑market value for referendum dollars. Downs’ cost model put Phase 1 hard‑and‑soft costs in current dollars and applied a 6% annual escalation assumption for future phases.

Details from the presentation: Scott described the master plan’s goals as creating parity in enrollment and classroom sizes across elementary schools, preserving a school at each of the five existing sites, and minimizing in‑school disruption during construction by using a new building as a swing school. He said the new Highcrest would be about 53,000 gross square feet including five preschool classrooms and estimated the town’s net cost for that school at roughly $34 million in current dollars after state reimbursement. The Webb renovation is projected as largely renovation (with some new construction) and qualifies for the state’s “renovate as new” incentive; Downs estimated a town cost under $48 million for that phase. Scott said abatement of hazardous materials at each site was included in estimates and that abatement costs typically ranged from about $1 million to $1.5 million per school in the consultant’s visual inventory.

Board members and the public asked for detail on contingencies, caps on soft costs, the mechanics of fee approvals, and the process that limits cost growth during design and construction. Scott said the state caps reimbursable soft costs at 20% of hard costs, that the team included construction and design contingencies and escalation allowances in its model, and that the typical procurement flow would produce a guaranteed maximum price from a construction manager once bid documents are complete. Board members asked the building committee and administration to return with more detail on approval workflows and controls for potential overruns.

Timing and next steps: the board chair and building committee chair said the town council will receive the same master plan presentation on May 5. The board expects to approve educational specifications on May 13; the town council is expected to set the municipal budget on May 14, and the board must finalize any budget reductions after that allocation. The building committee recommended moving the planned referendum from September 23 to September 16 to avoid a scheduling conflict with Rosh Hashanah.

The board’s action authorizes the superintendent to submit the grant application and accept an award if offered; it does not obligate the town to bond referendum amounts pending successful grant and referendum outcomes. The board will continue to refine ed specs, firm up cost contingencies, and present further detail to the public and council.","The Wethersfield Board of Education voted to authorize a grant application to the Commissioner of Administrative Services to fund design and construction of a new Highcrest Elementary School and to pursue a phased master plan that would renovate other elementary sites, following a detailed presentation from the district’s architects and builders.","actionData","errors"]

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Parent urges Wethersfield schools to expand neurodiversity‑affirming staff training for twice‑exceptional students

Board approves revised school security and visitors policies in second readings

Wethersfield board authorizes grant application for new Highcrest Elementary, advances three-phase school master plan