Madison Board of Education policy committee forwards multiple policy updates; trustees to consider at full board

The Madison Board of Education policy committee reviewed a package of revised and new policies and agreed to forward most of them to the full board for consideration, with the committee waiving second readings on several items and reserving two‑read consideration for longer or substantially rewritten policies.

The committee considered changes to the district Visitors and Observations policy (policy 1361), a new Restorative Practices Response policy, edits to the Administration of Medictions policy, updates to Student Attendance/Truancy and Chronic Absenteeism, a rewritten Title I Parent and Family Engagement policy, a revised Instructional Materials policy, edits to Class Size guidelines, and consolidation of several Field Trip/Student Travel policies into a single student travel policy.

Why it matters: several of the updates incorporate recent Connecticut legislation and state guidance, add or clarify district responsibilities (including required timelines), and change how the district will present or enforce some procedures. The committee recommended moving those policies that reflect statutory changes or housekeeping edits to the full board, while recommending further review or maintaining two reads for policies that are substantially new or reorganized.

Board discussion and key details

Visitors and observations (policy 1361): Legal counsel Shipman and Goodwin provided a revised model policy that reflects changes following recent state action on immigration enforcement at schools (the packet cited a Public Act referenced by counsel). Committee members debated and then agreed to remove a sentence that explicitly listed "including but not limited to any health screening or personal protective equipment protocols," saying the shorter phrase "school health and safety protocols in place at the time" is sufficient. Committee members also noted that the district's security and safety plan—referenced in the policy and used to determine who is authorized to interact with federal immigration authorities—remains confidential and is not part of the public packet; the superintendent said building principals and the district lead would follow written protocols and contact counsel and Madison Police Department when appropriate.

Restorative practices response (new policy 5123): The committee reviewed a new policy required by state law that requires boards to adopt a restorative practices response by July 1, 2025. The draft directs administrators to develop a continuum of strategies (including mediation and use of student handbooks for procedural detail) for responding to nonviolent, noncriminal challenging behavior. Committee members said the district has already trained staff and implemented many of the practices in recent years and that the policy largely formalizes work already underway. The committee agreed to move the policy forward.

Administration of medications (policy 5120.303): Edits reflect recent statutory changes expanding the training requirement for employees who administer epinephrine (with and without prior written authorization) and the addition of a definition for "qualified school employee." The policy also removes language specifically addressing bus drivers because drivers are employees of the contractor; the committee discussed that bus drivers receive training under contract and therefore the district removed bus‑driver language from the policy. The committee recommended waiving a second read and advancing the policy.

Student attendance, truancy and chronic absenteeism (policy 5113 and regulation): Shipman and Goodwin redrafted language to incorporate statutory changes requiring a truancy intervention model developed by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) if one exists; otherwise, districts must adopt a plan meeting the statutory standard. Committee members discussed that no CSDE model is yet available and that the district currently uses procedures (home visits, counseling, loss of credit, referrals to DCF when appropriate) that will be labeled and aligned with a formal truancy intervention plan. The committee recommended waiving the second read on the policy and moving it to the board; the regulation will accompany the policy.

Title I parent and family engagement (policy 6090): Shipman and Goodwin provided a near‑complete rewrite of the district's Title I parent and family engagement policy to match the model. Superintendent Cook summarized Title I as "a federal grant available for school districts," and said, "We do not currently receive any money under Title I." The committee noted the district already performs most of the activities described in the draft policy (family engagement, outreach to EL families, required reporting) but decided the rewritten policy is substantially different and will require two reads before it goes to the full board.

Instructional materials (policy 6100): The policy was shortened and edited to confirm that teachers participate in curriculum development and to incorporate the statute governing textbook changes (which requires notice and a two‑thirds vote to change certain textbooks). The committee agreed to waive the second read and forward the policy.

Class size (policy 6151): The committee reviewed updated class‑size guidelines and agreed on edits to grade bands (for example, clarifying grades 3–5 and 6–8 ranges) and to remove a short‑term "level 3" designation that is being phased out over the next two years at the high school. Members emphasized that the guidelines are recommended ranges, not automatic triggers for hiring midyear, and that special‑education classes remain organized to meet student needs. The committee agreed to send the revised policy to the board.

Student travel/field trips (consolidation into 5100 series): The administration proposed consolidating multiple field trip and student travel policies into a single student travel policy and associated regulation. The policy clarifies approval authority (building principal for day trips; superintendent or superintendent's designee for overnight or out‑of‑state travel), fundraising and budgeting expectations, and a recommended prohibition on staff acting as private travel agents for school trips. Committee members asked the administration to align policy and regulation language (the draft packet contained a small inconsistency about whether board approval was required for multi‑day trips) and agreed the policy should come to the full board after two reads because it reorganizes several prior documents.

Votes at a glance (committee recommendations)

- Visitors and Observations (policy 1361): committee recommended moving policy to full board with the recommended deletion of explicit COVID/health‑screening language; second read waived. Outcome: recommended/approved by committee consensus; no roll‑call recorded. - Restorative Practices Response (new policy): committee recommended moving new policy to full board. Outcome: recommended/approved by committee consensus; no roll‑call recorded. - Administration of Medications (policy 5120.303): committee recommended waiving second read and moving to full board; edits include expanded epinephrine‑training language and removal of bus‑driver text. Outcome: recommended/approved by committee consensus; no roll‑call recorded. - Student Attendance, Truancy and Chronic Absenteeism (policy 5113): committee recommended waiving second read and moving to full board; regulation accompanies policy. Outcome: recommended/approved by committee consensus; no roll‑call recorded. - Title I Parent and Family Engagement (policy 6090): committee agreed to move draft forward but kept it as a two‑read item because the rewrite is substantial. Outcome: move to full board for two reads. - Instructional Materials (policy 6100): committee recommended waiving second read and moving to full board. Outcome: recommended/approved by committee consensus; no roll‑call recorded. - Class Size (policy 6151): committee recommended moving revised guidelines to the full board (edits include clarified grade bands, removal of phasing level). Outcome: recommended/approved by committee consensus; no roll‑call recorded. - Student Travel / Field Trips (consolidation to 5100 series): committee recommended the consolidated policy and regulation proceed to the full board after two reads; committee asked staff to harmonize language about approvals. Outcome: move to full board for two reads.

Discussion vs. formal action

Committee discussion included legal counsel dvice from Shipman and Goodwin on statutory changes, operational clarifications from Superintendent Cook and administrators, and board member questions about confidentiality (FERPA) and how particular procedures (for example, how the district would respond if an immigration enforcement action occurred at a school) are documented. Where members raised concerns (for example, whether a student seeking Board permission to attend adult education should be handled with privacy safeguards), the committee discussed options (executive session for confidential deliberations; anonymized public votes) and agreed to follow FERPA and counsel guidance at the full board level. Formal committee action generally consisted of recommending policies to the full board and, in several cases, waiving second reads; no formal roll‑call vote tallies were recorded in the committee transcript.

What comes next

The committee will forward the recommended policies and accompanying regulations to the full Madison Board of Education. Several items will be presented with a waiver of the second read (allowing final Board consideration at the next full meeting) and others will be scheduled for two reads because they are substantially rewritten or reorganized.

Ending

The meeting concluded with the committee noting there was no public comment during the session and that the packet's regulations will accompany the policies when presented to the full board for action.