Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, and Community Members:

Residency Regulations Update

Last evening, for informational purposes, the Administration presented to the Board some revisions to our processes in our registration process and annual verification of residency.  Connecticut state law (C.G.A Sec. 10-184) requires that to attend a school in a district, the child must reside in that district.   Reside means where the child physically lives.  There are some common misperceptions regarding residency:  

• Applicant Owns Property in Bethel but Resides in Another Community:   Many people assume that if you own property in a community, but live or reside in another community you have the authority to send your child based on choice.   This is not accurate.   The child must physically reside in Bethel for them to attend school in the Bethel Public Schools.

• Shared Custody in Which a Family Lives in Bethel and Another Community:  If parents have shared custody of a child and one of the parents live in Bethel, the child may attend our schools if they reside more than 50% of the time in Bethel.  If the custody agreement is 50/50, the parent may choose which district to send their child to. 

In addition, we require those who rent in Bethel to provide an updated lease upon the date of expiration.   For those individuals who rent month to month, annually you will need to provide a Notarized Landlord Affidavit and Certificate of Residency.  If you live with another Bethel Resident, you will need to annually provide the Residency Affidavit Form.  You will also need to provide two current utility bills at that address.  Lastly, you will be asked to provide the name and phone number of the property owner/landlord or the Bethel resident for which your child resides.   Falsifying documentation will result in the district withdrawing your child, reporting the fraud to the Bethel Police Department, and charging tuition.  Families who meet the criteria of Homeless under McKinney Vento, should contact Dr. Sipala, our Director of Pupil Personnel and Special Education and Homeless Liaison at sipalac@bethel.k12.ct.us. 

Time Schedule 2022-2023

As you are well aware, the traffic on the campus this year has been a tremendous challenge.  The increase in traffic is due to more parents driving their children to and from school as a result of the pandemic, consolidation of the BMS and BHS time schedules, and increased enrollment.  This year, the town was able to support additional officers with federal funds.  Next year, those funds will not be available.  As a result, we have no other option, with our responsibilities to bus students to Abbott Tech, St. Mary’s, and vo-ag schools, other than to adjust the schedule back to three tiers.  Therefore, the new bell schedule for next year can be viewed at this link

State Representative's Contact Information

At the Public Hearing, the topic of the State's share of funding for Public Education in the State came up several times in public comment.  A parent asked how to contact their State Senators and Representatives.  Those who represent you are linked to your street address.  To search for your legislator(s) by address, please click the following link.   The four Senators and Representatives who currently represent Bethel include:

• Senator Julie Kushner - julie.kushner@ct.gov

• Senator Will Haskell - will.haskell@ct.gov

• Representative Raghib Allie-Brennan- Raghib.Allie-Brennan@cga.ct.gov

• Representative Stephen Harding- stephen.harding@cga.ct.gov 

There was also a request for a summary of state legislation that affects education by year.  Here are the summaries for the last few years:

• 2021

• 2020 - COVID  Year No Changes to Education Law 

• 2019

• 2018

• 2017

Budget Update

The Board of Education wants to make sure you are informed and have a chance to be involved in the budget process.  On Monday, March 21, 2021, there was a Public Hearing on the Town of Bethel and School budgets.  The Board of Finance met on Thursday evening (March 25th and voted to move the school budget (4.43% increase over last year’s budget) to the Annual Town Meeting.  The proposed town, school, and capital budget then go to an Annual Town Meeting. The town meeting is for registered Bethel voters. At this meeting, the registered body of Bethel voters vote to move the budget to a referendum or voting. By charter, any resident from the floor can make a recommendation from the floor to reduce any aspect of the budget, and the voters present vote on the motion.  There are three votes at this meeting, the town budget, the school budget, and if applicable any capital budget items. 

This year’s Annual Town Meeting is on Monday, April 4, 2022, at 7:00 PM in the Bethel Middle School Auditorium.  

Prior to the budget being set for the referendum, 2022-2023 Education Budget Information can be found on our website’s District Dashboard under the Financial Dashboard. 2022-2023 Education Budget Information

“What is the Town Referendum Process?”

I am often asked at PTO meetings by parents who have recently moved to the Bethel Community.   The new community members had a lot of questions regarding the town referendum process for the education, town, and capital budgets. As we have many new families, I thought I might take this opportunity to provide our broader school community with this information, outlined in the town charter.  These are the steps and timeline on the education side (and a very similar process happens on the town side):  

1. The Superintendent proposes an education budget to the Board of Education in late January outlining the district’s needs.

2. The Board of Education holds a series of workshops to extensively review that budget and make any revisions they feel are appropriate and vote on an adopted Board of Education budget in mid-February.  

3. The Board of Education budget is presented to a joint body of the Board of Selectman and Board of Finance in mid-February.  At this presentation, there is no public input, but it is an opportunity to hear the rationale behind the proposed budget.  

4. The Board of Selectman and the Board of Finance review the totality of the town and school budget and can determine to move it to a public hearing as presented, make cuts or increase the budget.  

5. A Public Hearing is conducted to answer any residents’ questions regarding the budget, support of the budget and/or concerns. The Board of Selectman and Board of Finance use the information from the public input to determine if they will make any further adjustments to the budget prior to the Town Meeting. This meeting provides an opportunity to provide input.  The meeting is open to parents, community members, and employees. Only Bethel residents are allowed to provide public input. The Public Hearing this year is scheduled for Monday, March 21, 2022, at 7:00 PM in the Bethel Middle School Auditorium.   

6. The proposed town, school, and capital budget then go to an Annual Town Meeting.  This meeting, by town charter, has to be scheduled on the first Monday in April.  The town meeting is for registered Bethel voters. At this meeting, the registered body of Bethel voters vote to move the budget to a referendum or town-wide vote. By charter, any resident, from the floor can make a recommendation from the floor to reduce any aspect of the budget, and the voters present vote on the motion. There are three votes at this meeting, the town budget, the school budget, and the capital budget. This year’s Annual Town Meeting is on Monday, April 4, 2022, at 7:00 PM in the Bethel Middle School Auditorium.   

7. The Annual Budget Referendum is the next phase.  This is the actual machine vote or election on the budgets. This date is set at the Town Meeting. Registered voters can cast their ballots towards the proposed budget. Per Charter, there are three votes on the referendum, town, school, and capital.  The vote is bifurcated, meaning if it passes, it can’t be readjusted after the vote.