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District reports: Benchmark curriculum rollout, high attendance and facility upgrades
Summary
Administrators reported on implementation of the Benchmark Advance reading curriculum, near-perfect first-day attendance (98%), summer program participation counts, nurse professional development, and district facility upgrades and renovations.
District administrators used the Sept. 10 meeting to summarize curriculum, staffing and facilities work underway across Region One schools.
Beth Johnson, Principal of North Canaan Elementary School, reported coordination over the summer with the CT Coalition, EdAdvance and the school safety team to plan a safe reopening and highlighted classroom-level work: Pre-K–3 teachers are planning and unpacking the new Benchmark reading program while grades 4–8 teachers developed Morning Meeting lessons and outreach to families. Johnson noted the first day of school was Aug. 27, 2024, and the school’s theme this year is 'Kindness.'
Assistant Superintendent Jeanine Rose described two regional professional learning days: one for mandated compliance training and a second for regional collaboration. Rose said the district is in Year 1 of implementing the Benchmark Advance curriculum, which includes intervention materials, multilingual learner supports, decodable readers, take-home consumables and an online platform.
Superintendent Melony Brady-Shanley said district administrators achieved an average first-day attendance rate of 98% and reported that nurses are participating in professional development on early dismissal days led by the School Nurse Consultant (hired as part of these actions) and a new School Medical Advisory, Dr. Ann Milanse of CCMC. Brady-Shanley also outlined facility improvements across the region—IT re-wiring, upgraded safety measures, library media center updates, air-conditioning installations and extensive high-school renovations affecting the cafeteria, auditorium, cupola and HVAC systems.
The Board received reports on summer programs and participation figures: a K–8 summer program with 91 students over four weeks and a Summer Mountaineer Experience with 68 students over two weeks.
Administrators said academic and social-emotional goals for 2024–25 will be developed in partnership with RSSC staff and presented with strategic plans and standardized-score presentations at the October Board meeting.
