Board of Education

Middletown School Readiness Council Meeting Minutes Date/Time: February 28, 2024 Wednesday, 12:00 P.M. Location: https://mpsct.zoom.us/j/92473557464?pwd=WTdzSUdMR3RBZGpsYU9qaUhzYnlyUT09 Date: February 28, 2024 Facilitator: Dawn Dubay Note Taker: Council Wendy Berlind * Cliff O’Callahan Sheila Daniels * Dawn Dubay * Colleen Fitzpatrick * Dina Ford Members: Heather Granja * Izzi Greenberg * Marla Hinz * Jasmine James Beverly Lawrence * Sarah Mack* Rohan Manning Erin Marchese Christine O’Grady Michelle Peterson-Aresco Precious Price Stephanice Rush * Camille Smith Vacianna Spaulding Dr. Vazquez Matos Molly Zarnick * Others Present: Meeting Objectives: Meeting Norms: 1. Share & inform the group of various happenings to improve the lives of children and families 1. Listen Mindfully; Limit Distractions in Middletown 2. Agree/Disagree Respectfully 2. Brainstorm any new ideas for families 3. Assume Good Intentions from All 3. Share any new updates from the OEC regarding School Readiness 4. Participate 4. Update the group on where the district is at in the K entry age process School Readiness Council Purpose: The SRC is a collaborative network charged with planning to serve all 3- and 4-year-old children in high quality programs. The intent is: To engage in shared and informed decision-making; for example, informed by the cross-sector membership of the SRC. General Policy C-01 School Readiness Council Membership, Responsibilities, and the Role of the Liaison District Purpose: Middletown Public Schools strives to ensure that ALL of our students, teachers, & staff feel safe, seen, & supported. MPS will boldly unlock the potential in ALL students by providing an education that is student centered, collaborative, responsive to data, and demands critical thinking. For more details: MPS Instructional Vision Agenda Item Discussion/Motion Recommendations/Action Items Introductions & Announcements Sheila: BOE approved the prek transition program, hoping the state  Wendy: been on from 1997 got a call from Betsy and was preschool teacher for 30 years; shared excited family news Heather: partner with Help Me Grow to offer to providers, great opportunity to learn what 211 has to offer; 5 joined the fiscal preparedness class Acceptance of Minutes Izzi made a motion to approve to January 2024 Minutes Wendy seconded it All in favor, no opposed Coordinator’s Grant Report including All School Readiness Spaces are filled OEC: Grant Update: Still waiting if new programs can financial update apply and the new Early Care plan in legislation Building capacity for COS, FELs running groups; girls circle groups State partnership: https://www.ct-fsp.org/ K districts are working on information nights and schedule and registration dates I can do hard things: Dawn offered PD to close to 130 people March: mindfulness and how we show up; vs. what we do! Thursday April 4th ACEs Diversity Prek working on a new curriculum w/ lots of support: Karen gray supporting all purposeful play/executive function work ACES early childhood staff monitoring classrooms and offering trainings in programs Town and Country issue; Jan 30th met w/ the OEC, Friday Jan. 19 Teacher arrested from a toddler room, parents requested her Early Care Connection Updates; Any Izzi: 2/27/24 advocates and lawmakers met at the capital to legislative updates discuss early childhood needs; legislative caucus Izzi Greenberg Dr. Dana Suskins http://ct-n.com/ondemand.asp?id=22715 Researched language in the home: wrote book Organized by the early childhood alliance to get legislators to take the ECE system change seriously; changing their mindset Child Care Campaign: Public hearings have begun: short session, trying to make some headway to make a bigger push next session K start age stuff is on people’s mind, legislators don’t work in the fall, but in the spring, part time legislator, that’s our system, not a lot momentum but feel free to contact legislators, asking them to take seriously to put money into this transition, some subsidy allocation, care4 kids bumped up, something to help families is what advocates are pushing for Bill coming to push for child care educators, want the legislators to approve the Blue Ribbon panel recommendations, this is just a start in the right direction Testimony builder April 3rd Morning Without ChildCare: Early Childhood Program and Resource Fair March 23, 2024 at Middletown Recreation Let Dawn know if you are interested in ideas having a table and/or sharing materials! K Entry Age Legislative Changes 108 Ber Babies Where we are at 2 screenings another 3/18/24 New Kindergarten Entry Age Info Document all of the skills are they documenting in that moment;  Before/After School Barrier: Per the YMCA: difficult for us to do based on OEC regulations. Depending on the number of students who need care, we may be able to do it at one school and the district would have to bus the kids. Continuous Thinking & Ongoing Middletown Early Childhood Collaborative Improvement Efforts Please add your ideas! ● Ideas on Jamboard Early Childhood Jamboard Other Middletown School Readiness Council Shaping our Children’s School Success