After meeting in an executive session, the Board of Education approved new goals for the board on November 20. The executive session included having Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) Attorney Nicholas Caruso attend to offer insight on a self-evaluation by the board.

Following the meeting, board chair Michelle Embree Ku explained the meeting focused on how the board can improve its operations.

“It was a really valuable exercise for us to do that reflection and to have [Mr Caruso there],” Ms Ku said.

Following the executive session, the board voted to approve three goals.

The first goal is that the board will develop an orientation program for new board members. Ms Ku said other boards in the state have orientation programs set up.

The board also passed a goal to continue to integrate the district’s Strategic Plan into the board’s work, and to develop meeting “norms.” According to Ms Ku, the school board plans to use the Strategic Plan more frequently, “so it becomes more of a part of what the board thinks about.” Ms Ku also thinks the board will look at the format of its meetings to determine new “norms” that can be created, closer to the spring.