[{"_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",6169155,"mediaKeyId","5405085-dbf82d1a6555a653711c3d52caab022c","parentId",5405085,"title","Committee forwards assistant chief of special education job to full board amid compliance concerns","audioSeconds",467,"startMs",1463000,"endMs",996000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5405085-dbf82d1a6555a653711c3d52caab022c&start=1463&end=996","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5405085-dbf82d1a6555a653711c3d52caab022c/thumbnail_1463000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6169155/Connecticut/Committee-forwards-assistant-chief-of-special-education-job-to-full-board-amid-compliance-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6169155-aaee3c5186120dca5eb5636d1d2f91f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1773700169&Signature=gojIEZzw~ADg95X~DrcnnR6vaBQ1VnRqE9y2XbXc~cQNzDiceWg87pVcbvDWdZGHFIAR2O6D~~Fv4xbHfXovm5h1LKHDOMFGsNRKwwiej0rvvZdXizOXIye-x5NxGc4eKyUJ-NcFwr1B3eHevoggoMnz7DRGOa6fdLaSUdPQSZCaw0GtE24pmCen3RVaFQcooV-6Zbf~eoSj~8VFJ34~j1VBZF7OdpVHP18gnU6xUWufHEABdqXH1v17otanCMvz8AaoRF~whhqh6JE1CQh1A1PUSsMtT8CDMCJoEVn9lxlAjauMs5kAQ~XUnTQUej6uXVKXEjGGd2QbHlKupnJ-fg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bridgeport School District","date","2025-07-16T03:35:56Z","article","The Policy and Personnel Committee of the Bridgeport Board of Education voted July 15 to forward a proposal to the full board recommending creation of an assistant chief of special education to oversee IEP compliance, monitoring of out‑of‑district placements and chronic absenteeism.

The committee heard a presentation from Michelle McKinley, who identified her title as chief assessment team, explaining the role’s duties and justification. “I am requesting permission to add the position, assistant chief of special education to address the department's needs related to IEP compliance, charter schools, out of district placements, and chronic absenteeism,” McKinley said. She told the committee the district planned to eliminate two currently vacant positions to fund the new role and that anticipated savings in legal fees and compensatory services should make the change cost neutral.

Committee members pressed staff on potential gaps in student services if two behavioral‑specialist positions are not filled. McKinley said the district currently has three board‑certified behavior analysts and that supervisors spend large amounts of time on PPT/IEP meetings — “60 to 70% of their time” — limiting campus coaching and support for teachers. Superintendent Royce Avery told the committee the state technical assistance team is involved and that the district is working on a corrective action plan with the state.

McKinley gave the committee a preliminary estimate for compensatory services still under review: “roughly $4,700,000 in compensatory services,” and said staff are refining a per‑student tracker that could lower that figure from a high‑end calculation. Members repeatedly asked whether the special education expansion grant dollars could subsidize the position; Avery said state guidance on allowable uses of the new funding is still being clarified and that he will return to the board with more detail.

After discussion the committee moved the item to the full board for approval. The committee recorded the motion, a second and votes in favor; no abstentions were announced during the meeting.

The proposal and the related financial and staffing details will be considered by the full Bridgeport Board of Education at a later meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special Meeting of the Policy & Personnel Committee Tue 7/15/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Policy and Personnel Committee of the Bridgeport Board of Education voted July 15 to forward a recommendation to the full board to create an assistant chief of special education to address IEP compliance, out‑of‑district placements and chronic absenteeism.","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},6169145,"Committee approves forwarding Catalyst contracts for Bassett High assessment and SEL program to full board",62,1021000,1083000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5405085-dbf82d1a6555a653711c3d52caab022c&start=1021&end=1083","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5405085-dbf82d1a6555a653711c3d52caab022c/thumbnail_1021000.jpg","/articles/6169145/Connecticut/Committee-approves-forwarding-Catalyst-contracts-for-Bassett-High-assessment-and-SEL-program-to-full-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6169145-8788d0c1cbca842ed0e058c6232595ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1773700169&Signature=XiW-~LSxd0J0-ygdUFcjZ0AztNSQ4nbLDia31Xn01nVdnKKdzlMCTUex~fO6FGfNpY5AqPmHitlJYOFBbqexuV7N~0nHTsaOhk2m55g5TXYNaHsdIEMN6L6g-7kCHrjbc4Genv9Pm-IdgxAueVv7VhumfSPGlxXHGOGdB4yMDdMZ1Bd30UVXrE~nQqUCbycjwQStFJERRgFGqe36q-r44S2iOsS-h9YO1Ov2SohX9XwzM5owJbF4iZWCERjZjZcc-R9O8hLcIN8svXjR9ey1waZxPTi1v70jNOrZXCIliiE4xld7sByq~kLazfnxN8A5oFkOo0aiCoWuoDpvrF6M7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Policy and Personnel Committee voted July 15 to forward two agreements with Catalyst to the full board for formal approval: a comprehensive school‑wide assessment at Bassett High School and a follow‑up social‑emotional learning (SEL) program.

Miss Margaret Hughes presented the items and said Catalyst conducted a comprehensive school‑wide assessment this past school year and that a report and contracts were not included in earlier presentations. Staff told the committee the assessment and SEL work had already been performed and that the items were omitted from an earlier Catalyst presentation; committee members said contracts should not be processed in arrears but accepted the explanation that work was complete.

Hughes said the assessment work was covered by Title IV funds. In discussion a committee member estimated the assessment contract at about $35,000; staff said they would confirm exact totals and review any rollover provisions in the statement of work. The committee moved both agreements to the full board; motions were seconded and approved with no abstentions recorded in the transcript.

Committee members asked staff to produce a calendar of contract expirations so future agreements do not slip through administrative gaps.","The committee voted July 15 to send two Catalyst agreements for Bassett High School — a comprehensive school‑wide assessment and an SEL program — to the full board for approval; staff said the work was completed in the 2024–25 year and Title IV funds will pay contractors",{"_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},6169150,"Board members press superintendent over candidate resumes and interview policy",44,180000,224000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5405085-dbf82d1a6555a653711c3d52caab022c&start=180&end=224","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5405085-dbf82d1a6555a653711c3d52caab022c/thumbnail_180000.jpg","/articles/6169150/Connecticut/Board-members-press-superintendent-over-candidate-resumes-and-interview-policy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6169150-7c24be8b64f103ed2592ba467a30e604/orig.mp4?Expires=1773700169&Signature=eojr7tmgDxSZ5a0kgKojAISKfYsEZCm99zeiqlv8VR9EN~PyRrFBlMdxycXDVlPHzdpYGhGNlZ4GycRFtoBSaZkmbMMKoigaoUdlBAFgWqcx19Y31b7zZEbUlyURlWl168F8pM2hkMVcV7RDygctH5Lvt0XrUeTqNd2mcyT~s6M3K9CRONlXhnB0ZNUIcyri5EzAx-WYdBLm1lAmyIuZD84gIVmG6SHD8HJIfBDpj3HAsmyd1-htrdH2BqX5D0vzvT1KLID2hlDnrNl5eJGb0ZZL8rrpHuBIVdaZVZwLv4jfWVaVQx4b8EVC5u6XKFoIwdIUYRGaoi7N7k1hAttxdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the July 15 special meeting of the Policy and Personnel Committee, several board members raised procedural and transparency concerns about candidate interviews for executive and principal positions.

A board member told the committee the meeting was called on short notice and said, “this meeting was called rather abruptly into 36 hours. I'm still not in receipt of any resumes,” and argued that board members need resumes in advance to vet candidates. The speaker said board policy requires three candidates for executive positions and two to five for principal positions and expressed reluctance to vote without those materials.

Superintendent Dr. Royce Avery responded that he had followed legal advice and that attorneys had counseled limiting distribution of candidate materials to avoid legal risks. Avery said he sought counsel when he was unsure of historical practice and that he wants to comply with the law and with attorney guidance. He told the committee he would correct any missteps if they occur.

The committee moved into executive session multiple times to interview candidates for assistant superintendent roles, human capital and principal positions; the committee chair later said recommendations from those interviews would be forwarded to the superintendent.

Committee members suggested that disputes over procedure be handled through the union grievance process if necessary and asked that future practices be clarified and that the board receive candidate materials with adequate time when legally permissible.","At the July 15 Policy and Personnel Committee meeting, board members raised concerns that superintendent staff did not share candidate resumes in the board portal before interviews and said board policy calls for multiple candidates for executive and principal positions; the superintendent said legal counsel advised restricting distribution","actionData","errors"]

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Committee forwards assistant chief of special education job to full board amid compliance concerns

Committee approves forwarding Catalyst contracts for Bassett High assessment and SEL program to full board

Board members press superintendent over candidate resumes and interview policy