Bogota Board of Education

 28-October-2020

 On Tuesday-27-October the Bogota Board of Education held their second meeting for the month of October. Due to the current health situation this meeting was an all virtual event.  

  In his  Superintendent’s report Mr. Damien Kennedy explained the need to return to an all virtual learning status. He said there were 4 positive cases of covid-19 reported in less than a 72 hour period.  This prompted the local and state board of health to ask for in class learning be paused for a two week period. Superintendent Kennedy said one case from of a Student only doing on-line learning and all the other cases are presumed to come from non- school building contacts. He continued in asking for Students and Parent to be vigilant in avoiding even small social gatherings, and to follow all recommend safety protocols.  If all further testing remains negative Bogota Varsity Sport would be allow to resume on Friday-6-November. While in class hybrid learning would continue on Monday-9-November.  This is due to all Bogota Schools are already scheduled to be closed on Tuesday-3-November for the general election. Along with Thursday & Friday -5 & 6 November for the New Jersey Teachers convention. Finally Superintendent Kennedy congratulated both the Women’s and Men’s  Cross Country Squads for their Patriot Title Championships.

     Then the Trustees  moved to discuss the items on the agenda.  Items from the Consent agenda were voted on first. Then newer items were opened for discussed, and voted on. All items voted on were approved by unanimous vote. Some of the more noteworthy items were to accept the resignation, due to retirement of Mr. Robert Calleja, Art Teacher at the Jr./Sr. High School effective January 1, 2021. And  the resignation of  Ms.Haley Butterfass, Special Education Teacher at Steen School dated October 7, 2020. More items were the approval to designate October as: Bullying Awareness Month and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer+ History Month across the United States. This will allow each school in the district to institute learning in that month to educate all Students, with appropriate grade level instruction, that will  advocate for inclusive, affirming, and welcoming school communities that contribute to the overall safety, and school climate to create greater awareness. 

 A number of structural improvements were approved begin the process of installing solar panels on each district building.  This will utilize such energy savings as a part of its proposed Energy Savings Improvement Program (“ESIP”).  This project  will allow for each roof top to be upgraded as part of the contract. The Board also approved the installation of 70 touchless faucets for all buildings one for each restroom, purchasing will be proved by Coronavirus relief fund.

  Toward the end of the meeting Superintendent Kennedy and the Trustees discussed the formulation of the next five year plan for the district, and to review districts goals for the current school year. 

These documents, and long with the recording of this Board meeting can be access on their website at: https://www.bogotaboe.com/site/Default.aspx?PageID=1373

Addition information about the District reopening plans can be found at: Bogota School re-opening 2020 ;  Bogota hybridvirtual-parent-portal 

 Along with information in both English and   GUÍA DE USUARIO - Español  at  https://www.bogotaboe.com/domain/423
   The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Tuesday-10-November at 7:00p This would be a virtual meeting with information on how to view this meeting will follow. Updates and announcements from the Bogota Board of Education will be available at:     www.bogotaboe.com

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