UPDATE: This story has been updated to reflect further comments from a board member made after the print edition went to press.

The Board of Education approved school calendars for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years at its meeting on March 3.

Superintendent of Schools Dr Lorrie Rodrigue explained the calendars were presented at multiple meetings with district staff and parents for review.

The first day of school for students in the 2020-21 calendar is set to be August 31, 2020. The last day of school is projected to be June 11, 2021. The winter break is set to begin with an early dismissal on December 23, 2020 and run through January 1, 2021. A spring break is set for April 12 to 16. Regarding the last day of school, the calendar notes, “[The] State of Connecticut mandates 180 calendar days for students. Beyond the projected June 11 date, school cancellation days will be made up by adding days through June 30. By [March] 12 if there are more than eight cancellations, April 30 will be a full day of school.” Otherwise, April 30 will have schools closed to students for staff development time.

The first day of school for students in the 2021-22 calendar is set to be August 30, 2021. The last day of school is projected to be June 9, 2022. The winter break is set to begin with an early dismissal on December 23, 2021, and run through December 31. A spring break is set for April 11 to 15, 2022. Regarding the last day of school, the calendar notes, “[The] State of Connecticut mandates 180 calendar days for students. Beyond the projected June 9 date, school cancellation days will be made up by adding days through June 30. By [March] 11 if there are more than eight cancellations, April 29 will be a full day of school.” Otherwise, April 29 will have schools closed to students for staff development time.

The calendars are both available off of the district’s main website newtown.k12.ct.us.

Coronavirus

Dr Rodrigue also shared an update regarding CoVid-19 (Coronavirus) with the board.

“As you know I sent out a letter about the Coronavirus with some information from the CDC [Center for Disease Control] and our health director,” Dr Rodrigue said. Her letter to district staff and parents is available here. “As you know there are no confirmed cases yet in Connecticut, but we do continue to take our cues from the local health department and district and the CDC.”

Dr Rodrigue said thought is being given as to what kind of impact CoVid-19 may have on schools as everything progresses, like what kinds of practices may be put in place and what actions may be needed “in the event we have a confirmed case and may need to close a school or the entire district.”

“Currently we are asking folks, again, to stay calm and take precautionary measures,” said Dr Rodrigue. She added later, “We also made the choice to cancel all of our overseas travel. I know that parents have questions about that, and I believe that parents and students now understand why we did that. This is a rapidly changing environment right now for everyone.”

Dr Rodrigue said there is a “dynamic environment right now for everyone traveling” and the CDC has asked for no unnecessary travel.

“We are working with our tour companies right now... to potentially look at alternative dates in that area, maybe some summer travel. Again, we don’t have any definite solutions to that yet,” Dr Rodrigue concluded.

Other Business

In other meeting business, the Board of Education heard a presentation on two proposed new curricula — for an algebra course and a statistics course — at Newtown High School. Board members are expected to review the curricula and bring them up for possible approval at the next meeting, slated for March 17.

After discussion, the school board approved revisions to three of its policies — Bylaw 9326 Taping/Recording Board Meetings, Bylaw 9327 Electronic Mail Communications, and Bylaw 9330 Board/School District Records. The board also approved rescinding one policy, Bylaw 9350 Hearings. During deliberation on the policies, board member Deborra Zukowski voiced varying concerns and offered possible revisions.

Later, Zukowski voiced issues with board meeting minutes up for approval by the board for January 28 and February 4 meetings, which were both postponed from being approved at the board’s previous meeting. Zukowski suggested changes for both minutes. A motion to change the minutes of January 28 to reflect what Zukowski meant, rather than what she said, failed and the minutes were later approved, with Zukowski voting against the motion. Motions on the meeting minutes for February 4 were split, one passed — reflecting corrections— and one failed — reflecting what Zukowski meant. The February 4 minutes were later unanimously approved by the board members present. Board member Rebekah Harriman-Stites was not present for the meeting.

After the meeting, Zukowski reached out to The Newtown Bee to share that her proposed changes to the minutes were corrections “that she believes reflected the actual discussions” based on her transcriptions of the meeting video.