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Board adopts restorative‑practices policy; members press for clearer bullying‑victim protections
Summary
The board adopted a restorative‑practices response policy and advanced several Title IX‑related policy updates. A trustee expressed concern that a new bullying‑related policy drafted by CABE may omit language spelling out parent notification and meeting rights for students harmed by bullying.
The Farmington Board of Education approved a second reading of several policy updates and adopted policy 5153, "restorative practices response," at its May 12 meeting.
Kathy and staff described the policy work as driven in part by state and model changes: the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) drafted a model policy at the direction of state legislation, and the district used regulatory guidance from Shipman to review technical edits. "This was something that was mandated at the legislative level," Kathy said about the new CABE policy language.
Board member Angela said she would vote "no" on a particular policy update at that time because she believed the existing bullying policy (5131.911) explicitly listed parent‑notification and meeting requirements for students harmed by verified bullying, and that those protections were less explicit in the CABE‑drafted replacement. She asked whether regulation language could explicitly restore those procedural protections; staff said regulations are drafted by Shipman and they would forward Angela's feedback for the next reading.
Administrators told the board they still provide supports to students harmed by bullying (separation, social work supports and safety plans) and that adding explicit regulatory language would not change the district's obligation to address harm. Andrea asked whether there was a regulation tied to the policy; staff said Shipman prepares regulations and that the board is not voting on regulations at the meeting.
On Title IX, staff explained that the district reverted to the 2020 Title IX administrative regulations after a 2024 federal update was overturned; Shipman reviewed the district's policy revisions and made "very slight modifications" to the 2020 version. Board members asked for clarity on parallel provisions — for example, discussion noted the student policy language includes "gender identity or expression" while a personnel version as presented did not consistently include "expression," and staff agreed to review the inconsistency before the next reading.
The motions to approve the listed policy updates and to adopt restorative practices passed at the meeting.
