Along with approving curricula, the Board of Education was updated on the district’s monthly financial reports, and it approved a propane fuel contract at its meeting on May 21.

District financial analyst Tanja Vadas shared the April financial report with the school board.

“Collectively, all accounts are in good shape moving forward, with plus and minus accounts consistent with the more recent financial reports,” the monthly report reads. “The overall balance of last month has declined due to the inclusion of the security system update approved at the last board meeting.

“This amounted to an approximate $99,000 additional unbudgeted expenditure with $25,000 of this project charged to technology equipment,” the report continues.

According to Ms Vadas, other budget changes included a $31,000 reduction in the salary account; a $20,000 reduction for professional services; and added purchased property expenses, like needing to temporarily patch a crack on a boiler at Reed Intermediate School.

“As soon as school is out, we are going to replace that part of the boiler,” said Ms Vadas.

Later, Ms Vadas explained a request for proposal was released on April 26, and five vendors applied to supply the district’s propane fuel for buses. Hocon Gas was the lowest responsible bidder. Newtown’s current provider, Mitchell, also bid, roughly $8,000 more per year than Hocon Gas, according to Ms Vadas.

After discussion, the school board unanimously approved awarding the contract to Hocon Gas.

During her superintendent’s report, Superintendent of Schools Dr Lorrie Rodrigue shared an update on a continuing review of special education programs for students, specifically around reading interventions and dyslexia. A “checks and balances” practice will be implemented in the fall, following staff training.

“We are finalizing our work to review two early literacy intervention programs,” said Dr Rodrigue, adding that staff have completed observations of other districts. Funding options are being evaluated, and further information will be shared with the school board when the review is complete.

The school board approved two curricula at its meeting: A second grade social studies curriculum and a “Math 5, 5+, and 6” curriculum. According to discussion at its previous meeting on May 7, when both curricula were introduced, the new math curriculum includes a concept-based foundation with incorporated skill building to support mathematical understanding. Board members asked questions around how students are placed into the different levels of the math curriculum.

The second grade social studies curriculum was described on May 7 as having three units: learning what a community is, learning about Newtown, and understanding “me on the map.”

The school board approved the social studies curriculum unanimously on May 21, and it approved the math curriculum with one vote, member Dan Delia, against the motion. Mr Delia expressed concerns around fifth graders being “too young to be separated based on mathematical ability, in my opinion.”

The school board also celebrated the district’s 2018-19 Profiles in Professionalism Honorees. Coverage of the celebration will be in the May 31 print edition of The Newtown Bee.