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Board reviews policy revisions on registered sex‑offender posting, bus video retention and parental exemptions
Summary
In first readings, the New Hartford Board of Education considered revisions to its sex‑offender policy to reflect state posting rules, a bus‑camera retention schedule tied to vendor storage, and a new policy recognizing parental exemption rights for instruction.
The New Hartford Board of Education held first readings Tuesday on several policy revisions, including updates to Policy 3516.5 (Registered Sex Offenders on School Property), Policy 3541.313 (Video Cameras on School Transportation), a new recommended Policy 6144.1 (Exemption from Instruction), and a revision to Policy 9221 (Filling Board Member Vacancies).
On Policy 3516.5, the board reviewed language to reflect the district’s current practice of posting a registered sex‑offender list on the district website in accordance with Connecticut state law. Board members asked whether the revision is mandatory or recommended and discussed how parents should be notified; the proposal favors placing a link on the district website rather than direct superintendent‑to‑parent notices. Board member Timothy Russell asked whether a registered sex offender would be allowed to attend an open‑house event; Superintendent Jeffrey Sousa said any such individual would be accompanied by staff and that principals must approve presence at school events in line with state‑mandated restrictions. "Any time a parent who is on the sex offender registry is going to be present at a school; there must be prior approval by the principal," Ms. Young said.
On Policy 3541.313 the board reviewed how interior bus video is stored: the vendor DATTCO stores footage in the cloud and retains it for 20 days. Thomas Buzzi questioned the 20‑day retention window and whether the district should seek longer retention or alternative arrangements given the vendor’s private‑network storage practices.
Superintendent Sousa presented a recommended new policy, 6144.1, to clarify that exemptions from instruction for medical or religious reasons are a parent's right and that school administrative teams will meet with families to plan accommodations. Sousa framed the change as codifying an existing practice rather than creating a new requirement.
On Policy 9221, board members suggested edits to replace the term 'independent' with 'unaffiliated,' to specify whether the 30‑day appointment window applies to regular or special meetings (or both), and to explicitly reference Statute 9‑59 and Statute 9‑204 to clarify party‑composition rules for a nine‑member board.
All items were at first‑read status; board members requested clarifications and recommended edits for the second read.
