Newtown High School and Newtown Middle School graduation dates, the 2019-20 school calendar, and a Sandy Hook Elementary School lightning protection project contractor were all approved at the Board of Education’s April 2 meeting.

The date for the NHS graduation was set for Tuesday, June 11, at 4 pm, at Western Connecticut State University’s (WCSU) O’Neill Center in Danbury. The NMS Moving Up Ceremony was approved for Wednesday, June 12, in the NHS gymnasium. It will be conducted as two back-to-back ceremonies, one at 4:30 pm and one at 7:15 pm, to accommodate the number of attendees. Superintendent of Schools Dr Lorrie Rodrigue later explained there are slightly too many attendees expected to hold the NMS ceremony in the high school’s newly renovated auditorium.

“It was really a perfect lineup of dates that we were lucky to have,” said Dr Rodrigue. She also expressed interest in having the last three days of this school year be two-hour early dismissal days. June 13 is currently the last projected day of the 2018-19 school year.

2019-20 School Calendar Approved

Dr Rodrigue spoke about the 2019-20 school calendar at the board’s March 19 and April 2 meetings, saying the district opted to have three-hour dismissal days for the first three days of the 2019-20 school year for a smoother transition from summer and to allow for potential hotter days in August. The early dismissals would allow anticipated professional development time.

As approved by the school board at the April 2 meeting, the first day of the 2019-20 school year will be August 26 for students. Staff will return from summer break starting August 21. The last day is projected to be June 9, and school cancellation days will be “made up” by adding days through June 30, according to the calendar. The calendar also reads, “By March 13, if there are more than eight cancellations, April 3 will be a full day of school.” Otherwise April 3 is a planned staff professional development day.

Dr Rodrigue explained at both meetings that the calendar’s layout was presented to local PTAs, and input was used to design the calendar’s format.

Lightning Protection Approved For SHS

After hearing a report from Town Purchasing Agent Rick Spreyer, the school board approved awarding a lightning protection project contract for Sandy Hook Elementary School at the April 2 meeting.

While Mr Spreyer explained N&S Electric of Stratford was the second lowest bidder on the project, with $149,150, the lowest bidder was deemed to “not be able to meet their bid price” upon inspection. Since the bid from N&S Electric was over budget for the project, Mr Spreyer said the company lowered its bid price to $138,000 to “bring the project within bid scope” after negotiations.

“My recommendation is hiring N&S Electric to install the Sandy Hook lightning protection project,” Mr Spreyer said.

The project was unanimously approved by the school board members present.

Family Friendly Friday

During her Superintendent’s Report earlier in the evening, Dr Rodrigue thanked the district staff and families for honoring a “Family Friendly Friday” on March 29 and the following weekend. The event was announced by the superintendent on March 28 to request a “weekend free from homework, studying, projects, and assignments so that all students and staff can de-stress and spend quality time with family and friends,” according to an e-mail sent to district parents on March 28.

“We hope this gives our families and staff a chance to relax and rejuvenate... together,” the announcement read.

Community members were encouraged to share their Family Friendly Friday outings and activities through social media photos and posts, and Dr Rodrigue said she saw a number of posts.

“It was obviously needed,” Dr Rodrigue said at the April 2 meeting.