Brookfield Superintendent of Schools Dr. John W. Barile: State of District

State of the District: A Look Back, a Look Now, a Look Ahead

As we approach the conclusion of the 2023-2024 school year, I am pleased to present the State of the District report. This annual update is divided into three sections: Where We Were, Where We Are, and Where We Are Going. It aims to provide a concise overview of the progress and achievements of Brookfield Public Schools, made possible through the collaboration of the Board of Education, faculty, staff, families, and community members.

Where We Were

Students across the district have been actively developing and applying skills outlined in the Portrait of the Graduate. We've introduced new courses at Brookfield High School in STEM and Humanities, as well as added a bilingual teacher to support Spanish speakers and full-time paraeducators for kindergarten classrooms.

Our academic recovery efforts have shown strong results, with spring 2023 SBA scores demonstrating significant growth, especially for high-need students, placing us third in DRG B for growth scores among 20 comparable districts.

Investments in academic and mental health/wellness support include instructional coaches, summer school services, social workers, and tutors. Partnerships with organizations like the Connecticut Institute For Communities, Inc. (CIFC) have provided private mental health support for students and their families.

Digital Security Tools and School Security Enhancements

We've expanded access to digital learning tools and improved school safety with initiatives like the 24/7 anonymous threat reporting system in collaboration with Sandy Hook Promise. The district continues to use the Securly platform for online safety and has implemented multi-factor authentication protocols and advanced endpoint protection for cybersecurity.

Enhancements in school security include the presence of School Resource Officers (SRO’s) at all three schools, additional security monitors, and collaboration with the police department to institute an armed school security officer position in the evenings at BHS.

Where We Are

The adoption of the Strategic Plan in March 2023 has been instrumental in guiding district actions and providing stability. The plan aligns with the district's Portrait of the Graduate, focusing on Critical & Creative thinking, Collaboration, Communication, and Change. The plan strengthens our foundation for academic achievement, student support, professional development, and accountability.

Special Education and Athletic Program Reviews

A comprehensive Special Education Program Review has been completed, addressing all recommendations for excellence in Special Education programming. The athletic program review is also complete, with targeted recommendations anticipated to enhance our programs further.

New Facilities and Programs

The school year began with the opening of the new Candlewood Lake Elementary School, welcoming students to a state-of-the-art facility (see image). Whisconier Middle School has been "right-sized" for Grades 6-8, and BHS has transitioned to a later school start time and a Two Tier bus schedule.

The PikMyKid app has supported a safe and efficient dismissal process at CLES, and the District Wide PTO and SPEACS advisory council have been reinvigorated to enhance communication and engagement.

Where We Are Going

Communications & New Website:

We are excited to introduce ParentSquare, a new communication and engagement platform, which will be fully operational by July. Training for staff and parents will occur over the summer, with in-person and virtual sessions scheduled.

Thank you to everyone for your continued engagement and support. We look forward to a successful conclusion to the school year and continued progress in the future.

Teaching & Learning:

A new K-3 reading curricular tool is being piloted and will be proposed to the CAPE subcommittee in April before being presented to the full Board of Education for adoption. The plan is to have the new curricular tool in place for implementation this coming fall, with a plan to phase-in implementation for grades 4 and 5 in the near future. As soon as the new program is officially adopted by the Board of Education, we will share the information with you.

Currently, we are implementing our new math program, Illustrative Math, in grades 4-8, with plans to implement K-3 in the near future.

At BHS, we will be implementing two new courses in the 2024-2025 school year: College Algebra and Creative Writing II.

We look forward to implementing goals from the new Special Education Strategic Plan. The goals are born from collaboration with faculty, staff, and parents, as well as the CREC Program Reviews.

We are planning for a new Portuguese bilingual program at Candlewood Lake to accommodate the growing number of children enrolled who speak Portuguese as their first language.

Operations and Facilities:

The Board’s adopted budget for next year includes additional funds in the maintenance account. Now that Candlewood Lake school is completed, we are focusing our maintenance efforts on Whisconier and BHS.

Capital Improvement Plan and building conditions study are ongoing.

Next year's new state law regarding the Kindergarten age requirement begins. Students must need to be 5 years old by September 1st. Please see the letter from Dr. Pepsoski and Dr. Barile regarding kindergarten registration and the process for submitting an age waiver.

The first day of school for students for the 2024-2025 school year will be after Labor Day, September 3, 2024. It will be a full day.

Thank you to everyone for your continued support and engagement. We are committed to providing the best possible educational experience for all students.

For links to all referenced above as well as an array of photos, click https://www.brookfield.k12.ct.us/sites/g/files/vyhlif4196/f/pages/2024_spring_state_of_district_final.pdf