From curriculum to the Superintendent’s Search, the Board of Education’s April 19 meeting covered a range of topics.

Along with approving two curricula, the Board of Education also heard an update on the district’s Superintendent Search, some educational plans for Hawley Elementary School’s upcoming HVAC project, and heard a presentation on a new state mandated African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino course for Newtown High School, set for next school year.

Superintendent Search

Board of Education and Superintendent Search Committee members Dan Cruson and Janet Kuzma shared an update on the search at the meeting.

Superintendent of Schools Dr Lorrie Rodrigue announced her retirement in a letter to the community in December. The letter was addressed to parents, staff, and community members, and it explained that the superintendent shared the news with the school board in October that she will be retiring at the end of this school year, as previously reported by The Newtown Bee.

The Newtown Board of Education engaged the New England School Development Council (NESDEC) to conduct the search, which included community meetings, virtual and in person, and an online survey. Results from the survey were shared on the district’s website, newtown.k12.ct.us, as gathered by NESDEC’s Dr Randall Collins for a “Superintendent Search Successful Candidate Profile.”

Kuzma said the committee appreciated the responses for input.

In the report, Collins wrote, “My task was to gather input from the community of Newtown so that the qualities desired in the next superintendent and the challenges that would be faced by that person would be known and would be factored into the search for the right person to assume this position.”

According to the document, the school board also reviewed and analyzed the community’s input to create the Successful Candidate Profile.

“The Successful Candidate Profile is designed to guide the Search Committee as it considers candidates for the position of superintendent of schools. It is a critical step in determining the best superintendent for Newtown and guides the BOE as it develops questions to ensure the community’s priorities are addressed,” the report reads.

The top listed “key areas” of significant depth of skill and knowledge the ideal candidate would have, as listed in the profile are:

*Has the ability to cultivate an environment of academic achievement for all Newtown students, address their social-emotional needs, and support the district’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts.

*Has demonstrated collaborative leadership and team-building success.

*Has excellent organizational and people skills and is a good communicator; proven ability to resolve organizational conflicts.

*Demonstrates the ability to involve the community in goal setting and implementation.

*Has the ability to recruit and retain high quality staff; strong personnel management skills.

*Understands school budgeting and financial oversight.

Ways to measure those points were also outlined in the profile report, and community responses were shared.

As Cruson shared at the school board meeting, 22 applicants applied for the position by the deadline.

Curriculum

Following a presentation at its previous meeting by Reed Intermediate School’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) teacher Peter Bernson, the school board held a “second read” vote on the proposed new grades five and six integrated STEM curricula. The school board typically hears curriculum presented during a “first read” then votes the following meeting on the curriculum’s “second read.”

Bernson explained at the board’s April 5 meeting the Integrated STEM courses for fifth and sixth grade are new and are based on Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). At the April 19 meeting the school board unanimously approved both curricula, with Board of Education Secretary Don Ramsey saying he is hopeful that the district’s educators offering related courses across grade levels communicate with one another.

While Assistant Superintendent of Schools Anne Uberti explained a first and second read of the new NHS African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino course was not necessary, due to it being mandated by the state, it was presented to the school board like other curriculum proposals. NHS Principal Dr Kimberly Longobucco and NHS Social Studies Department Chair Amy Deeb presented the curriculum, which is available to read in full online at pa1912.serc.co, thanks to the State Education Resource Center.

“You can tell that it was very well thought out and put together,” Deeb said, adding that she rarely sees curriculum with roughly 300 pages.

The course is a full-year elective that is being offered to juniors and seniors, and roughly 20 students have signed up to take it already, according to the presentation. Deeb said the course “fits naturally” with other courses NHS juniors and seniors take, like US History.

Hawley HVAC Project Update

With Hawley’s HVAC project set to start this summer and most of the 2022-23 school year, Rodrigue told the school board that school representatives from Hawley, Sandy Hook Elementary School, and Reed Intermediate School have been working together to coordinate housing Hawley’s community between the two other schools. The district’s preschool program will also be moved to Head O’Meadow Elementary School for the duration of the project.

Rodrigue requested early dismissal days for June 13, 14, 15, and 16 this school year to help accommodate teachers moving classrooms. NHS already has three-hour early dismissal days planned for the end of the school year due to testing, and would not be impacted by the change according to the superintendent. Rodrigue also suggested moving the school district’s convocation, which typically welcomes teachers back to school ahead of students returning, to the first day of school for students, to also give more time in classrooms before students begin the 2022-23 school year.

Also at the meeting, district Director of Business and Finance Tanja Vadas shared an update on the school district’s Request for Proposal (RFP) process for a district food service provider. Whitsons Culinary Group currently oversees the district’s food service program. With the contract set to end, Vadas said three companies conducted walk-throughs of some of Newtown’s schools near the end of March. Proposals for the new contract were due to the district on April 20, and Vadas said a committee will go over the proposals before reporting back to the school board.

Education Editor Eliza Hallabeck can be reached at eliza@thebee.com.