At the special meeting on Wednesday, June 21, at the Newtown Municipal Center, the Board of Education (BOE) did a first read for nearly ten new school policies looking to be implemented.

The first portion of the items presented to the BOE were 5131.914 Safe School Climate; 5131.911 Bullying Prevention and Intervention; and Newtown Safe School Climate Plan (which is not considered a policy, but a plan).

BOE member Michelle Embree Ku introduced guest speaker Keri Snowden to discuss this particular group of items.

She explained that Ms Snowden has done "a lot of work on these policies" and would be able to answer any questions about them.

As Ms Snowden made her way to the front of the room before the BOE, School Superintendent Dr Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, took the opportunity to thank her and said, "If you've worked with Keri, you have worked with the absolute best."

He explained that she had launched her leadership career as lead teacher at Hawley Elementary School and went on to congratulate her on accepting a full-time administrative position in the town of Sherman.

Upon describing the three items, Ms Snowden explained the reasoning for these policies and plan is because the State of Connecticut is making changes to refocus its energy more on creating a safe school climate and less on the topic of bullying.

"They took a policy, which is the bullying policy, and have recommended the bullying policy become an appendix to the Safe School Climate policy," Ms Snowden said.

However, she later stressed, "[it] is not to say that the bullying policy is not important, because it is."

She acknowledges the there is still a need for rules and procedures for bullying incidences, but the idea is to hone in on developing safe school climates in a whole building so there will be less bully investigations.

Ms Snowden said that the town of Westbrook is leading the way using this policy implementation and that the State of Connecticut approves it. Now the state is looking to have other areas' districts adopt these policies.

"The Safe School Climate Plan is what outlines how an investigation is done, how reports are made, literally the step-by-step responsibilities," Ms Snowden said.

It has been a district-wide effort to make it happen, as it details many definitions and protocols.

BOE member Rebekah Harriman-Stites supported the policies and plan presented that evening and said, "I think it is really important, and I love this movement toward proactive intervention and [safe] school climate."

Another item that the BOE went over was policy 5141.25 Food Allergies. Ms Ku said it pertained to addressing allergies through the Safe School Climate Plan and that it encompassed treating students with "dignity and respect" for their needs.

Ms Ku went on to explain that many of the updates being incorporated pertained to the 24 recommendations given to the BOE from a group of "aspiring administrators" that make up the Food Allergy Task Force. The changes mostly are about preventing certain foods in specific areas and the food policies for those looking to rent any area of the school buildings.

Additional policies that had a first read at the meeting were: 6146 Requirements for Graduation; 3515 Community Use of School Facilities; 6142.101 School Wellness; 3542.43 Food Service Charging Policy; and 5145.122 Use of Dogs to Search School Property - all of which were looking to be updated.

After reviewing the first read for the various policies being discussed, BOE member Andrew Clure told policy subcommittee members Ms Ku and Ms Harriman-Stites, "I know it is a lot of work... and I just want to say thanks to you [both]."

Ms Ku concluded the discussion by saying the BOE will finalize the various policies and the Newtown Safe School Climate Plan at its next meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, July 18, at the Newtown Municipal Center.