[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6613956,"mediaKeyId","2866695-eb9a9a43a5ff4d8f999fe861b778f695","parentId",2866695,"title","Bristol middle‑school Royal Bees drone team wins all‑around middle‑school title, qualifies for regional competition","audioSeconds",261,"startMs",239000,"endMs",500000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2866695-eb9a9a43a5ff4d8f999fe861b778f695&start=239&end=500","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2866695-eb9a9a43a5ff4d8f999fe861b778f695/thumbnail_239000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6613956/Connecticut/Bristol-middleschool-Royal-Bees-drone-team-wins-allaround-middleschool-title-qualifies-for-regional-competition","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6613956-31f3ec75bd05c8250acf22c277ea54d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770418043&Signature=UeYRi5~UVL1lKjEAW9-En1PhKpK2~ya381obHQFMaNJqkGIRMypHC~lrg7~IlzeuC1avj89On0whqcqhYXjpTYpCk6vAW2M4p5cLMgOLq5t1ju8J8kAp82vxNbHH6tTIBGQvlxsqL41ckSqe~kiA7-kEm-wrC5EEthcMjB27TTDSF~W~qJPbSxsPO~d2eOP53NEcFNsU7pn6nYY-Z5NXiCFDBIBAJdsA~KsL4zwGvJSDu8HczUDYTrmbd0iCjMXyLeDuBTLygrFE-hIt4I0DPUt8iB7QqV8KyLJFPhHH0nv7ek0Uhem09KIZmorNr1QXAk9sU~a9CNPerrnmZzGojQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bristol School District","date","2025-04-03T21:43:04.26Z","article","Board members recognized members of Bristol’s Royal Bees drone team, an offshoot of the district’s Technology Student Association, and heard students describe the coding, piloting and teamwork elements of the competitions.

Students on the team identified themselves by name and role: Natalie Wozniak (team captain and autonomous lead), Zoe Bianco (lead pilot and teamwork lead), Emma Gady (lead pilot for piloting skills; sixth grade) and Blake Monson (co‑coder; sixth grade). Zoe Bianco explained the three field challenges – autonomous coding, piloting through an obstacle course and a teamwork mission that requires two teams to collaborate on moving objects through an obstacle course. Blake Monson said the interview portion of competitions draws extensively on the team's logbook and their ability to explain what they learned.

The team reported that on March 22 they competed at a regional meet at The Gilbert School in Winsted against 22 teams from middle and high schools, reached the semifinals in the teamwork mission and earned the all‑around middle‑school championship. That finish qualified the team for Northeast Regionals at Fairmont State University in West Virginia; the students said they hoped to raise funds to attend.

Board members and audience members congratulated the students. The board noted the team’s work as a model for student engagement in technology and STEM activities and encouraged community support for fundraising to attend regionals.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","04-02-25 Regular Board of Education Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","A Bristol middle‑school drone team described its competition tasks and announced it won the all‑around middle‑school championship and qualified for Northeast Regionals.","taxTitle","Bristol School District, School Districts, Connecticut","taxId",38310,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6613961,"Board action roundup: policies, textbooks, facilities and dates approved",0,7158000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2866695-eb9a9a43a5ff4d8f999fe861b778f695&start=7158&end=7158","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2866695-eb9a9a43a5ff4d8f999fe861b778f695/thumbnail_7158000.jpg","/articles/6613961/Connecticut/Board-action-roundup-policies-textbooks-facilities-and-dates-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6613961-73c29f36675b14b809c4e55615fdd692/orig.mp4?Expires=1770418043&Signature=VTa6RsGRse6RzuoRjklP6jUZ5hEP7gud55WGd4~QvNJGvMS78~K49fuP8mX6CeDy-NyVgm-lQyu4jMpXK2DSGyBDvR5O1SXu6JuBLwc4ELX7yG8kASKnwPRkgtaIDgCssnXhOAJxBDJycacyxgKYB0q3c2uMIBuTA5W-KF0Xt~isBafqH1bQNb-ssAqzfr7WYlkq-xIFs-pGGwfnFiM~9l5aFqBJ4M2VvUHIDSfK6aU3NeytWRb1T6uvjDAGA3Bs2X~WeA6rR-EF7IMZFHISX2TDO6EjXZneKzW6K3xDnf3HWp8EhISE0SmxBxmqM0TjYYSsTeNMIv5mH6Q5VYuFSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bristol School District Board of Education voted on a series of administrative items during its meeting, approving policy changes, textbook purchases, project closeouts and calendar items.

Policies: The board approved revised policy 5145.12 (student search and seizure) and policy 5145.123a (use of hand‑held metal detector wands) after committee review. Board policy lead Mary Hawk explained the policies were intended to \"strengthen our ability to prevent potential threats and respond appropriately\" while protecting students' rights and dignity. Board members clarified the policies are not intended for daily blanket screening; Hawk and other members said use would be targeted and governed by procedures.

Facilities and capital: The board accepted the Southside School Roof/HVAC replacement project as complete to enable the district to seek approximately $2.5 million in state reimbursement for the project. The board previously had a project committee accept the work in October 2023, and central office staff presented the formal acceptance as a state reimbursement prerequisite.

Curriculum and calendars: The board approved a request to purchase a precalculus textbook and digital resources for the high schools, authorizing $30,293.90 from the current fiscal year textbook allocation. District staff noted the purchase aligns the precalculus materials with a new vertically aligned curriculum and provides electronic access and translated materials for students. The board also approved parent‑conference and term dates for the next two school years and set the 2024‑25 school year last day and high‑school graduation date as Wednesday, June 18, 2025, subject to change if additional emergency closing days are required.

Other routine approvals included minutes from prior meetings and items on the consent agenda.

The board chair and central office staff said these administrative votes were intended to complete work that supports instruction, facilities reimbursements and calendar planning while the broader budget workshop is scheduled to address more consequential operational decisions.","The Bristol School District board approved two search‑and‑seizure policies (including use of hand‑held metal detector wands), accepted a Southside HVAC project as complete for state reimbursement, set graduation and last‑day dates, approved parent conference/term dates and purchased a new precalculus textbook.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6613966,"Bristol board confronts multimillion‑dollar shortfall as special‑education costs drive cuts; five non‑tenured teachers given nonrenewal notices",4548,1860000,6408000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2866695-eb9a9a43a5ff4d8f999fe861b778f695&start=1860&end=6408","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2866695-eb9a9a43a5ff4d8f999fe861b778f695/thumbnail_1860000.jpg","/articles/6613966/Connecticut/Bristol-board-confronts-multimilliondollar-shortfall-as-specialeducation-costs-drive-cuts-five-nontenured-teachers-given-nonrenewal-notices","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6613966-cce6cbfb0a3d2f838cb5bb8ab25de1a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770418043&Signature=UVrwE6eNIMzRAXYnAZkRUtuhaZyeYkGZQf5hZ3m2wzaNI~Z~BtXBi7NWHf1O5UQvtfbpjKe9MbkO5ckanOG~c6~burQ3mcCSaiMkRTe8AppI7s26W~4ivRJLrmNY-MmOrPsTLo0b2YpiVQ28pfcw4YH~UGSXRSh4etkAtGc1vJYR3vio9Qs6svVebLVz4b4ILBzFhR5xhdD-4CWk-6ks~9DBZwpkmSQTlXVbDW~0ZTChrSPaUje84g1WS2Zde~0UHZccHi3ykZn8I5bn8dX6ogn9gXhQN~4t-fFrjDagqEQRmDkkUvZJ5UyOeUWBFXsXVjc53Xi2JwoonSkyMrZdOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a meeting of the Bristol School District Board of Education, district leaders, union representatives and city finance officials debated a projected multimillion‑dollar deficit and approved nonrenewal notices for five non‑tenured teachers as part of a reduction‑in‑force tied to budget shortfalls.

Board of Finance member Jeff Pagiano told the board that a mix of one‑time COVID/ARPA funds, rising special‑education costs and prior underbudgeting left the district with depleted fund balances and a running deficit. Pagiano said the city’s board of finance has proposed an increase that would equal roughly a 5% change and urged the board to adopt a hiring freeze. \"So I'm asking for a hiring freeze on the board,\" Pagiano said during his public remarks.

Superintendent Iris White, who presented a previously filed superintendent budget and described recent reductions made to meet the fiscal reality, said she proposed a 12.58% initial increase in January to reflect the actual cost of running the district. \"My 12.58% initial increase request was unprecedented in this district,\" White said, adding that the administration has pursued cost‑saving measures including a hiring freeze with statutory exceptions, relocation of positions to grants, an early‑retirement incentive proposal and the creation of more in‑district special‑education programs.

Board Chair Pines said the board has already reduced its requested budget and emphasized the district inherited longstanding funding shortfalls. \"It is unacceptable for the city to cut our requested funding by an additional $3,600,000.0,\" Pines said, urging partnership but warning additional cuts would affect services.

Union and professional groups urged collaborative work to minimize harm to students and staff. Spot Quad Dapp, identified at the meeting as president of the Bristol Association of Principals and Supervisors (BAPS), asked to be included in budget conversations. Mike Reynolds, president of the Bristol Federation of Teachers, urged the board and the city to avoid layoffs in an already short‑staffed district and said educators want to work with officials on alternatives.

As an immediate personnel action, the board voted to approve nonrenewal notices for five non‑tenured certificated staff members, citing budgetary reasons. The superintendent read the motion noting the nonrenewals were due to budgetary constraints and not performance. The five employees named in the motion were: Julia Dolce (grade 5 teacher), Tristan Brunei (grade 2 teacher), Gina Weiss (library/media specialist, grades 6–8), Haley Cassidy (grade 8 math) and Lorilina Park Knowles (grade 8 ELA). The motion to direct the superintendent to advise the employees in writing passed after discussion.

Board members and public commenters repeatedly returned to special‑education costs. In the district’s special services report presented to the board, staff reported that 22.58% of Bristol students were identified as requiring special‑education programming, a percentage the administration said is straining budget projections because out‑of‑district placements and tuition costs have risen faster than budgeted amounts.

Board members scheduled a dedicated budget workshop to review cuts and alternatives with union representation, BAPS, city finance staff and other stakeholders. Multiple speakers requested transparent, regular updates on the district’s running deficit and clearer communications between the board and city finance offices going forward.

The board and city officials did not adopt a final balanced budget at the meeting; board members said the workshop will be used to develop the specific cuts and proposals the board will vote on at a later date.","Board and city finance officials said rising special‑education costs and depleted reserves created a multimillion‑dollar deficit. The board approved five nonrenewals and scheduled a budget workshop to identify further cuts and options.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bristol middle‑school Royal Bees drone team wins all‑around middle‑school title, qualifies for regional competition

Board action roundup: policies, textbooks, facilities and dates approved

Bristol board confronts multimillion‑dollar shortfall as special‑education costs drive cuts; five non‑tenured teachers given nonrenewal notices