Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Survey topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Thompson BOE to review student-survey policy after parents raise concerns
Summary
After parents raised concerns that a recent student survey contained questions they considered inappropriate for younger students and students with disabilities, the Thompson Board of Education voted to send a student-survey policy to its Policy Subcommittee to consider an opt-in model and review CABE guidance.
The Thompson Board of Education voted to send its student-survey policy to the Policy Subcommittee as a priority after several parents raised concerns about the content and implementation of a recent survey.
Chair Jessica Bolte told the board that the district had notified eligible families through standard channels and that additional reminders will be sent. Parents at the meeting said the survey included questions on “sexual activity, birth control, drug use, and family background,” and urged clearer notice, explicit parental consent for sensitive material, and assurances about anonymity and the role or funding of any outside organization involved.
The board’s motion, made by Kathleen Herbert and seconded by Justin Yong, passed at the Feb. 10 meeting; the minutes record one abstention by Rick Medeiros. The Policy Subcommittee will review a CABE sample policy at its March 2 meeting, with the stated aim of clarifying whether the district should move to an opt-in model to comply with Connecticut regulations.
Parents seeking changes asked who approved the survey, whether it had been reviewed for age- and developmentally-appropriate wording for students with disabilities, and whether families had been given sufficient notice. At least three public commenters—Seth Desjarlais, Ewa Pasiecka Krupa and Matthew Desjarlais—pressed the board on those points during the public-comment portion of the meeting.
The board framed the referral as a policy response: members said clarifying the district’s procedures would help prevent future misunderstandings and ensure consistent communications to families. The motion directs the Policy Subcommittee to return recommended revisions to the full board after reviewing CABE guidance and any district materials related to approval, consent and notification practices.
Next steps: the Policy Subcommittee will consider the CABE sample policy on March 2; the board directed staff to bring relevant materials and proposed language for the full board to review following that subcommittee meeting.
