001Okay. Thank you. All right. >> You want to go? >> Okay. >> I'm calling the regular meeting of the policy committee in person of February 10th, 2026 to order at 4:31. >> Joey Palagi >> here. >> Lorraine Rosner >> here. A Coutach >> here. Patricia Munan here. Also in it attendance, Dr. Ken Sinich, Kristen Santilly, and Carol Ponazo. >> All right. And let's rise for the pledge of I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. >> We have minutes from the November 11th meeting to review and approve. >> I'll move to approve the minutes. >> Second. >> Motion by Rosner, second by K, second by Koutach. All in favor? >> I. >> Any
002opposed? Motion carries. Anyone for public comment? First call, second call, third call. Moving on to agenda item percentage. You have more to explain? >> Yes. Thank you. So, everyone should have their packet. >> One of the things that we find with our policy committees is they could be a little overwhelming at all the things that we have to look at. I want to acknowledge Haley's hard work in pageionating and coming up with the table of contents and everything so that we can all follow along. What what I would like to do through the chair is go through some policy updates that we need to discuss. Um so that's why the agenda is written in the way it is. Um, and I will talk you through. Uh, one thing that we did include, I hope, but
003I don't know if if the board members were able to read the policy update service. There was kind of like on page one and two, it was a summary about why we need to do the policies that we're doing. So, that should pretty much um alleviate some of the stress and strain or some of the not necessarily discussions. We can discuss whatever we want, but obviously why these policies are done. Um, I will remind everyone since we haven't had a policy meeting yet board, but just we we are members of CABE, the paid service that we have as members of CABE, they they they will update our policies for us and make us aware when there's legislative changes um so that we stay current. So that's a lot of the driving factors of what some
004of the policies are with us today. Um but even though CAE is a service that we get provided, the board themselves has to take action to make policies official um for the Shelton public school system. So first we will turn to page three and the first policy proposal that I'd like to discuss um is policy proposal 5113-13. this particular proposal um given to us by CABE um they give us a sample it's a policy it would be a new policy that the board has not adopted um before because this is being put forth based on new legislation that was passed recently requiring all school systems to have such policy. Now um what this policy does is just give the framework to allow for students over the age of 16 to apply for a work study
005employment release. Um we don't have such a program in the school system. I have discussed the potential um with our high school administration. Obviously we can't put the horse the cart before the horse. So, the board would have to enact the policy before we would move forward to do it. Um, obviously the policy by the board does not require us to have a work um a student work study release program, but it enables us to put one in place once the policy is installed. Um, and that's the law requires that you have to have such policy. If you've had the time to read through the sample itself, it just gives us the guidelines and reasons for such a policy to exist. Um, we do somewhat have, I would say, aspects of this exist within our
006school system where we have students who will get high school credit for some of the programs that they work with based on some pathway areas, but it's not formalized through a board policy. It's more of a administrative practice through the high school credit system. this would kind of give it a little bit more teeth in the policy itself and then see if we want to expand such a program later on in the future. So it would I mean obviously my recommendation as a superintendent is that you pass said policy because it is a requirement from the state. I don't know if there's any discussions or questions that I can answer about this or I can move on to the next one. >> Not a member. >> Yeah. I don't I don't I pre >> life.
007So under this current policy we don't have any anything. Okay. >> So we have students who will work it's usually with our CTE program and through the Perkins grant. Some of them do some programs with maybe construction companies where they'll do internships >> and by doing those internships we give them credit in CTE uh for course credit. So if this was to pass, we it would it would formalize it through the board policy. But then what it also can basically do is that some of those companies can then obviously pay some of those they could be paid internships with also a combination of of high school credit. >> Don't have some of better word life skills work and like >> that's different. It's not applicable to this. This is for you know Jed students over
008the age of 16. That's a whole another policy of word release for 18 and over. >> Oh, okay. >> But it but it's similar in nature, but that's part of a special ed IEP issue that we do have a policy on. This is for general ed. >> Got it. >> Yep. >> Policy says elig. >> So that would >> Yes. >> Correct. All of the above. What would happen is we would have to develop administrative regulation which would dictate what the what the procedures would be to make you eligible. Okay. Very much like we have I'm going to use the equivalent of that exists. We have eligibility for sports. You need to maintain a certain grade point average and such. We I would I would imagine again no such procedure exists but that's what we
009would work on if the board does pass said. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yep. So, what this does is basically allow a kid's Yep. Yep. Yep. >> Kind of, >> right? >> I say it's the same thing, but >> I would >> there's a difference in pay, but the more >> I would presume >> Yes. They go to school the first five periods and last year >> again. And um not knowing this, everything is hypothetical, right? Um one, you'd have to be over the age of 16, which means that you'd have to provide your own transportation, have a driver's license. I'm sure that would be eligibility. Now, you're putting in students of the age of juniors and seniors. Um which they have more flexibility with their schedule based on where they are with credit. And
010as we know, some of our seniors can have what they call the senior schedule. So, it would give them some time off to have this work release program. That would that would probably be part of the criteria agenda that would be put in place once the policies. >> Shall I move on to the next policy? >> Yeah, I think we'll do everything. We'll recommend it at the end >> at the end and I'll just go through that's fine. >> Um but I'll stop after each one so that questions aren't convoluted. >> Yeah. So the next is a again a new policy. Um it's a policy proposal 4152-6. This policy has been recommended by CABE. Again, this policy is directly related to changes in federal and state law when it comes to FMLA. So, um there
011has the policy itself is more applicable for non-certified staff. It defines a lot of um parameters for our non-certified staff. Um, the state of Connecticut has a pretty solid uh, FMLA procedures in place for our certified staff. I think that's where the legislation decided to put some of these measures in. Um, this also goes in line with a new Connecticut aspect that is that is put in place where a percentage of withholdings on non-certified staff has to come out of their paycheck um to support FMLA which we had to put in place. So, we're in compliance with that aspect of the law. Now, the board just has to make sure that we have the policy that puts in place. Mrs. Panazo may have questions about this cuz this really >> this is your wheelhouse >>
012really goes into her wheelhouse of her past life and she probably could explain more about FMLA than I could ever explain. But I'm just trying to give um it's truly the policy itself is just um need needs to be recommended and passed to be in complant with federal and state law. Well, we can't prevent that or write that into the policy. >> They have no experience trying to find it. >> Any other questions about this policy or I'll move on to the next one. >> Okay. Our next policy is a revision. Now, this revision is to a current policy that we have, policy 0521, which is a non-discrimination policy. Um, attached in your packet, pages 8 and 9. 8, 9, and 10 are our current 8 9 10 and 11, I'm sorry, are our current
013policy that we have, which was derived from Cab's recommendation. What you'll see is starting on page 12, CAB's new recommendation on the policy that just again covers changes in the law based on certain uh I'm going to say language associated with this. So, we're we're all encompassing on all areas defined by the law. Um some legal statements and language with it. you will see specifically in red where some of the updates would be inserted into our current policy. Um the form would be applicable as such. Uh but as I as with all of these policies, these are reflected on changes that happen to statute. Was this just additional language that was passed by statute or was this language that was revised after they >> stat? >> So the statute started talking about um traffic human
014trafficking. >> Okay. >> Uh which is now a category in which someone can be discriminated against. So, we had to update a lot of this language to reflect that now that it's a category under the law. So, you'll see in some of the form updates that that's now a new checkbox in terms of an individual can use as a form of being discriminated against. So, that that's that's where some of the language changes are coming in. >> Okay. Uh and again um for us in terms of a school system, this is a policy that's already in place that we enforce that we have. Um and we're really just going to do the updates to be in compliance. It's not a major shift in anything that we're doing with the with the board currently. >> Now,
015is it going to be mandated that the kids get the the awareness training? Uh, I don't I gota I would have to look that up. I don't know the answer to that. It's >> an easy fix to do. >> Correct. But I don't I don't I don't know about the mandate aspect. That one I'd have to research for. >> I don't want to be misqued. >> I knew it was recommended. I knew it was almost outside of not believed it. >> Yeah. and and we do training with our students already whether it's mandated or we're just doing it in terms of uh we have uh organizations like the Milford RA crisis crisis center have come in and met with our kids to talk about these and and educate them. So >> that would be >>
016that's currently a practice in our school system >> and pardon me >> correct >> test. Okay. >> Human trafficking, if you didn't hear what Kristen said, human trafficking is now part of the DCF training. >> Staff or staff? >> Yep. Yep. >> This is I get it. >> So, this this is what >> it's a pretty lengthy >> Yeah. >> policy because there's a lot of um there's forms in there. But there's also um signage that we have to put throughout the buildings to make people aware of who who the person are they refer to as such. So >> this change >> there have been changes on the federal and state level with this. Yeah, there's there's it's kind of going back and forth terms of we we've done current changes on this and new
017changes are being put in place. Yeah, it it seems >> how the federal >> the federal government changing regulations and then the state government making reflections to it. It's kind of like a >> It's like a tennis match, but going back and forth. >> Not obliged to make any political comments as a superintendent. I I have a >> I stopped. I'm not sure if you had a phone, >> but if a parent someone else's child, there anything our policy >> wait a parent >> like >> who is not >> child parent A has child A parent B is saying bad conflict parent does that come under discrimination or is it because it's two parents not even our problem >> I'm I'm going to say that we are in charge of the safety and welfare of
018the student >> right >> so at any point in time if the student was to make any claims whether it's about a parent one parent or the other. >> We are responsible to make certain that we follow through. >> Parent A called me B saying >> I will remember that we were being recorded so I wouldn't say anything further than that. >> I'm not I'm not >> I was just going to >> and we'll we'll talk about the >> I have a question. >> Yes. >> It's basically for poor Kaye. >> Oh no. Oh yeah. Um I see the changes. Um we're going to hopefully at the end of this meeting move to go for adoption. But what you hand us for the meeting night will be >> edited in format the whole deal. >>
019Which will keep the red line so that people can see what the changes are. >> Black line. Perfect. Because that's what we'll use for the until the next board meeting for the adoption. Perfect. Thank you. >> Yes. And we only bring like current policies to this body. It's too much stuff to bring to the full board. Yeah. >> That's great. >> If this if this body is recommending the change, we just bring the change to the full board. So, >> perfect. Any other questions about the non-discrimination? Okay, so the next three are are extremely interesting because those of you who are on the policy committee may remember that we just adopted these brand new policies and in the time that we just adopted them at the last meeting in November, there has been updates to
020them. So, uh you'll see the current policies. Uh these are all dealing with our our library and how we have materials, how we distribute materials, how we display materials. Um you will not see dramatic changes in the revisions and you'll see things literally word for word because we just adopted these cave policies. So when you get to the samples >> new >> as new brand new. So when you get to the samples, you'll see literally the same policy, just insert shelter public school with the red line. So what we're doing is based again on changes with the legislation, and this is coming from the federal level. Um adding language into our library um policies that we just recently adopted. Um I'm going to just take those three as a as a packet deal like we
021did the last time. You could just look at them. the members who were on the policy committee. The last time this board met is when we adopted these library policies and since then it's been a few months. >> That explains why I was having deja vu. >> Yeah, it's it's we just adopted them and they've already made recommendations for changes based on some legal outcome. So, I feel like the ink hasn't even dried before our librarians have learned the new policy and we're going to send them new ones. Very true. >> And and it'll literally take you all the way through. You look at all these packets in its entirety uh through pages 58 in your packet >> all library >> and the revisions. There's only one revision, not choice A or choice B. >>
022There's no Yeah, it's just adding language to the current policy. And those languages have been denoted in red in your packet. >> Right. Correct. >> Know sometimes we've had a couple of choices. >> Yeah. Nothing else has changed because the board already spent the work on changing >> and making decisions. They gave us options with forms and such like that. We made those decisions the last time. So now all we're doing is just adding headline. >> Is there because there's so many pages? Is there anything here in about being? >> No. >> On the contrary, I'm going to say that these policies actually um are in place to give equity to books. Mhm. >> We have to make sure that all topics and titles um no matter on which side you find yourself have equal
023display time. So not a it's a it's not a ban issue more than an equity issue. >> And I'm assuming just like with classroom materials, parents can opt out >> as always. >> Correct. >> Library book. >> Correct. And if a parent has a concern about a library book or display, these policies have forms that they can submit >> based on what their concerns are. >> Yes. >> Thanks guys. >> Any question about our up library updates? >> Nope. >> Not for me. >> Our our last policy update I know the board is well versed on because it's been discussed at our last meeting. It is um you see the current policy on 59 this is an actual bylaw. So this policy if it moves forward to the full board would have to be separate
024from the consent agenda. We can't put it in the consent agenda because it's a bylaw. It has to actually be voted on and it has to have a 2/3 majority to vote as a bylaw. But Cave gives two samples. I would like to bring your attention to the second sample that starts on page 62 as my recommendation as superintendent. It follows the format that we've had in our previous policy. What you're seeing in the red, you know, our current policy goes 1 through five. Theirs goes through eight. Um, but you can see number eight, the addition that they recommend is that first-time board members have to go through training, >> which I know Patty has communicated to the board as our cave rep. Um, and I know we're current we're actively pursuing training. >> Did
025you get responses? >> I did not get responses from everyone. I'm waiting for everyone to respond because currently we're tied when that when that would take place. >> Oh, >> yeah. I I don't think I answered. >> Okay. I did. I'm I'm good. >> So, I would say after this meeting since it's not an agenda item for this meeting, I will just follow up with any board. You got my I thought I typed it. >> I didn't even Sometimes if I don't hit send. >> So, um my recommendation to the board is you look at page 62 and 63 as the newly adopted policy. Um adding the bullet points that they give to our current policy. Then there is not you'll notice one and two and three there's really dynamic the only thing that Abe
026recommends is alternative language uh that they put in there which we don't have in our current one so I do not recommend it we can just add >> alternative language and just add the red line by recommendation and unless there's any other discussion points answer questions about that. Um, that's all the presentations on revisions before we get into a discussion about 9,000. So, I recommend to the board chair that if they want to take an action, policy presentations or decisions that were made tonight and you do that before we get to the 9,000. >> Yeah. I'm going to make a I'm going to seek a motion for a recommendation of the superintendent's recommendations to the full board. I >> make a motion All the as recommended by the superintendent forward. I'll second it. >> I
027have Kach with a motion. How do you move with a second? All in favor? >> I just I know >> they I guess for the minutes itself >> they're not all revisions. I know >> two of them are new adoptions. So I don't know if it needs to reflect that in the minutes adoption. >> Okay. All right. And could I just add that the the 9,000 should >> 9230 >> Yes. >> has to be presented separately and voted separately >> in this packet. Should it not rather than >> you I mean you you could discuss that as a board right now. You can either say we're going to hold off until we revise all the 9,000 together or you can just send this 9030 separately because you know it's a mandated change by the state
028statute. >> That's okay. Flip it in as mandate. >> Yeah. >> And then it will still be a part of the packet. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I see what you mean. Yep. Okay. It took me a minute. So then we're good. This will >> we've gone through A through G on the agenda >> and Kaylee will work her magic. >> Kayle's on top of it. I'm sure all the notes in order. >> She We have to bring her extra water or something. So obviously since I'm a newer board member and I was install this chair I I wanted as the superintendent called me about a week ago or so for nine for the series of bylaws for our series of policies for the bylaws of the board. >> I just wanted to get
029what is the feel of the committee and then we will work towards getting those passed. I know there is one in particular which we tried on multiple occasions a year or two ago to revise number five. >> I don't know. It comes up in nightmares every once in a while. >> Do you do you remember the one Kaye was like the last two >> 922 was the repetitious digits at the end. nine. It's somewhere >> this one >> somewhere. It's >> Yeah. From office censure. >> Yeah. >> I remember that one. >> That's kind of like unfinished business because we kept bringing it up and >> Yeah. >> Um I think in here I am the owner of >> I was going to say I have this. >> You don't cuz >> Okay. >> Oh,
030>> then that's great cuz this was put >> our homework. >> This was put together. Kaylee did this for us last time. Um, and basically just listed all of the 9,000 series theories and then the ones we have and the ones we don't have. So that's really our homework to see whether or not >> if I may go right ahead >> go off of was saying for those of you who weren't with the policy committee where so the 9,000 series are the bylaws off the board as I already discussed um they have to be voted on separately and and they can only be passed by a two-thirds majority. So, we we we need to make sure that I think my recommendation and and what Lorraine is referring to, I came prepared with copies thanks to
031Kay um of all of our current 9,000 um by laws. So, there's two there's two aspects here. Reviewing the current ones we have because it's we don't have to change. some of them are, you know, so we don't need to spend hours on reviewing policies that don't necessarily require a change. Um, but these are our current. Then we have, which we did not bring today, unless Kaye, correct me if I'm wrong, um, recommendations of admissions from CAD that were missing in that's a whole other topic. >> Yes. So since it could be extremely overwhelming with the number of policies we have in 9,000 series, my recommendation to this committee is as someone right referred to homework is that we pass out these packets and each of you on your own time till the next meeting
032review what currently are our bylaws and which ones we want to discuss for review >> and >> is it a wheel it'll we whittle down that list? >> Yeah. >> Before we even tackle new ones like like new ones that we haven't even ventured on to before. >> It's online. >> So we don't we don't actually Yeah. Everything all our policies are >> we're blue book >> and we're >> we never used to get them back anymore. >> Right. >> Can I flag people's attention whichever one whatever number has to do with Yeah, committees the board because I know we have committees meeting that are not outlined in policy and it could be vice versa. Haven't looked but for instance next have athletics building your grounds I don't know policy >> building your grounds is
033athletics is not but athletics is an ad hoc committee >> right so I mean we have to look at what we need to delineate permanent comm so that should be think about >> what I'll do is pass these Yeah, I do. >> We have enough copies. Thank >> You're going to enjoy the recreational >> and you get a copy and you get a copy. >> It's It should be. It used to be but >> because okay >> though again my recommendation to the chair at this point is I don't I don't know how productive it would be for us to go through each of these as a group. will be here for quite some time and I think people need the time to read at their own pace and determine >> what what my recommendation
034is is that the members who are here are participating with the policy committee and anyone on the board who's outside of the policy committee if they want a packet like this maybe at the full meeting of the board this month as the policy chair you can make a recommendation to the full board to say if anyone would like a copy of this packet to put an input because they're going to have to vote on it. >> I would particularly like can provide them this packet. >> Yeah. >> The new members to have it in hard copy like this. >> Anybody who's not here should get that. >> Yeah. >> They know what we're governed by. >> Well, and also the fact that it has to be adopted by twothirds. It it's a higher bar than
035just >> and don't just vote no because >> well even if this committee all all approved, there'll be shy a vote. >> Correct. >> To make it pass. But that's why everybody needs to have it in their hand, >> right? So, and then for the next policy meeting in preparation of that, people can give the input in terms of which policies we want to discuss. So, that we'll bring it up at the next policy meeting and we'll have this >> that's that's my recommendation on how >> our next agenda is >> the next agenda is the house. >> Okay. Okay. as it exists >> with the exception of one policy I'll bring up on my super comments >> and Kaylee you'll be able to get the list of the mandatory by then right >> I
036have a list >> I >> yeah yeah and for two separate >> packets of that's great >> well that will make our life a little bit easier Agreed. >> So, I'm gonna turn it back over to you in terms of that's if that's how you want to proceed with this. >> All of that. >> I don't know if we need to make a motion to no >> do that, but sounds like a better idea than what I had. So, >> um but yeah, and then we'll turn it over. Do you have any additional comments or >> No. Uh I know we're going to focus on the 9,000 series. There is a policy that has been discussed in the past before by the policy committee that continues to just get kicked down the road that um
037I'm recommending that the policy committee review and that's our transportation policy. Um our transportation policy has not been changed since prior to the Shelton transportation services becoming our bus. >> All right. So it still refers to like language of an outside service and and and I just feel I mean we're going on 5 years now of Belton Student Transportation Services and that policy has not been updated since then. So I I I know you're tackling the 9,000 series and I know the importance of that, but if we can my recommendation to this board, if we can take a look at the transportation policy, we can put that on the next agenda as well as a policy for review. >> Okay, that's all I have to say. All right. Uh, just want to f getting all
038this together. Um, and should be interesting for the next few months working on working on bywalls. All I have. Anyone else have any comments? Right. Motion for adjournment. >> I move to adjourn. I'll second it. And the meeting is adjourned at 506.