Madison policy committee forwards four policy updates, recommends waiving second reading

The Madison Board of Education policy committee voted to forward four policy items to the full board and recommended waiving the second reading so the changes can be considered sooner.

The four items were: a rewritten family and medical leave policy (4030.5) updated to reflect Public Act 25-174 and revisions to the Connecticut Family and Medical Leave Act (CT FMLA) and Connecticut Paid Family and Medical Leave (CT Paid Leave); a new model policy on equitable identification of gifted and talented students (6080.101); a bylaws amendment (9510) to change regular meeting start time from 7:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; and a concise homework policy (6154) that would replace the current policy while the old policy becomes an administrative regulation.

On the family and medical leave item, staff pointed out a small wording error in the draft (missing the word "from" in the medical certification line, near line 258–260) and said staff would correct it before final submission. Staff also explained the district is required to distribute the policy to employees multiple times per year.

The bylaws change is a single time adjustment that requires the formal bylaw vote at the board level. The homework policy revision would convert the existing, more detailed policy into a regulation and adopt a shorter, grade-appropriate policy statement in its place.

Committee Chair asked for a motion "to approve to forward all 4 policies we discussed this evening with only the 1 change, that I said in the family and medical leave 1, and waiving recommend to waive the second read." A motion was made, seconded, and members responded "Aye." No public comment was recorded.

The committee forwarded all four items to the full board with the recommendation to waive the second reading so the items can proceed at the next available board meeting.