The New Milford Board of Education reviewed the district’s 2025–26 professional development and mentoring plans and approved several curriculum items for the coming year, including two new high-school courses and expanded alternate-credit (Option 2) experiences.

Nut graf: Assistant Superintendent Nora Daska said the annual professional-development and mentoring plans set measurable goals and define mentor hours required for novice teachers. The curriculum committee recommended two new courses and broader Option 2 experiences—alternate paths to earn credit approved under state guidance—which administrators said will be implemented with new verification and reporting requirements.

Details: Daska told the board the district’s mentoring plan is required for teachers seeking standard certification and includes a specified number of mentor hours and documentation. The board also approved heritage Spanish I (for students with Spanish exposure at home) and an updated, more focused introduction to music theory. Daska said the Option 2 program will include summer school, independent study, internships, online coursework and alternate physical-education options; the state allows districts to award alternate forms of credit under its regulations.

On Option 2 oversight, Daska said the district tightened eligibility and monitoring: participating students (primarily juniors and seniors in higher-level coursework) must meet course-rigor thresholds, sign in regularly, and report bimonthly to a supervisor; failure to meet benchmarks twice can lead to removal from the program. The board discussed how seasons and marking periods do not always align and agreed on grading windows to provide clean teacher gradebooks after a season concludes.

Quote: “This is not just a freebie time to walk around. These are set aside for time, like, promoting kids who are taking very rigorous courses,” Daska said, describing stricter vetting and ongoing reporting.

Personnel and other items: The superintendent acknowledged two resignations on the agenda and thanked departing staff. The board noted longtime coach Hartley (more than 30 years in New Milford; more than 40 years coaching overall, per the superintendent’s remarks) is retiring from coaching but will continue working as a substitute and leading a new substitute-management program that the superintendent said could save the district over $100,000 in substitute costs.

Ending: The board will place these curriculum and personnel items on the regular agenda for formal action; administrators said mentorship assignments and course details will be finalized before that meeting.