Policy committee forwards a package of mandated policies to full board, sets June target

The Bridgeport Policy & Personnel Committee on April 9 voted to refer a package of state‑mandated policies to the full Board of Education and set a timetable to submit remaining mandated items to the board before its June meeting.

The committee moved seven policies forward during the special meeting and approved waivers of first and second readings for several items so they can be implemented immediately. Committee members emphasized that the draft policies came from an outside policy vendor and were written with state statutes in mind. Chair Mister Medina said the district must bring its policies into compliance with state requirements.

Why it matters: the committee described the package as required by state law and said failing to adopt the mandated policies would leave the district out of compliance. Committee members and staff said some practices named in the draft policies are already in place in schools but not yet codified in district policy.

The most significant procedural move was a timetable: the committee set a target to have the remaining mandated policies ready for the full board by June 6 so the board can consider them at its June 9 meeting. Committee members said the administration will continue presenting batches of policies in special or committee meetings until the work is complete.

Votes at a glance - Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco (P5131.6): Motion to forward to full board for approval. Voice vote recorded as "Aye." Outcome: referred to full board for approval (no waiver requested at committee). - Nondiscrimination Policy and Notice (P0521(a)): Motion to forward to full board for approval. Voice vote recorded as "Aye." Outcome: referred to full board for approval. - Restorative Practices (P5144.12): Motion to forward to full board and request bypass of first and second reads for immediate implementation. Voice vote recorded as "Aye." Outcome: forwarded with recommendation to waive the first and second reads for immediate implementation. - FAFSA Completion Program (P6148): Motion to approve with waiver of first and second reads for immediate implementation. Voice vote recorded as "Aye." Outcome: approved by committee for immediate implementation and forwarded to full board. - Gifted and Talented (P6172.1, Version 2): Motion to approve with waiver of first and second reads. Voice vote recorded as "Aye." Outcome: approved by committee for immediate implementation and forwarded to full board. - Preschool Special Education (P6171.2): Motion to approve with waiver of first and second reads. Voice vote recorded as "Aye." Outcome: approved by committee for immediate implementation and forwarded to full board. - Duty‑Free Lunch (P4113.12): Motion to approve with waiver of first and second reads. Voice vote recorded as "Aye." Outcome: approved and forwarded. - Physical Exercise and Discipline (P5144.4): Motion to approve with waiver of first and second reads. Voice vote recorded as "Aye." Outcome: approved and forwarded. - Health Education Program (P6142.10, Version 1): Motion to approve with waiver of first and second reads. Voice vote recorded as "Aye." Outcome: approved and forwarded.

Discussion highlights and directions Committee and staff repeatedly noted that the draft policies were prepared by an external vendor (referred to in the meeting as “CAVE”) and written with state statute language in mind; members cautioned against changing statutory wording without legal review. Staff said policy changes that require additional clarity will be incorporated into professional development for the remainder of the school year and into next year’s PD plan.

On translations, a committee member asked that finalized policies be translated into Spanish and Portuguese; staff agreed and also raised adding Haitian Creole. The committee directed administration to translate policies into the district’s commonly used languages.

Timetable and implementation Committee members set an internal deadline to have all mandated policies submitted to the full board by June 6 so the board can act at its June 9 meeting. Administration and committee members described a plan to continue meeting in special sessions as needed; the chair said some policies will be presented in batches and that the committee may request waivers of first and second readings when the policies are state‑mandated and uncontroversial.

Ending The committee adjourned after approving the motions and reiterating that the committee aims to complete mandated policy adoption by the June board meeting. Several members said the work is overdue and that codifying existing practices will help the district meet state requirements.