Policy subcommittee forwards multiple bylaws and policies to full Board for review

The Newtown Board of Education Policy Sub-Committee met July 14 and voted unanimously to forward a package of bylaw and policy changes to the full Board for further consideration.

Doria Linnetz, chair of the subcommittee, opened the meeting and the committee approved minutes from May 5, 2026 (motion by Don Ramsey, seconded by Linnetz). The subcommittee then reviewed several bylaws and policies as part of an ongoing code modernization effort.

Members agreed to postpone changes to disciplinary action definitions until they receive legal guidance from Shipman Goodwin. The committee reviewed revisions to the Filling Vacancies bylaw to align with current Town Charter language and voted to send the updated Filling Vacancies bylaw to the full board for a first read (motion by Don Ramsey; second by Linnetz).

The subcommittee also reviewed several governance bylaws — including 9010 (Limits of Authority), 9012 (Legal Responsibilities), 9020/9020.1 (Public Statements and Advocacy), 9020.3 (Recognition of Individual Accomplishment), 9030 (Commitment to Democratic Principles) and duties related to recording secretary and attorney representation (9124, 9125). Members concluded that portions of these bylaws duplicated existing Board policies or were more appropriately handled administratively; a motion to send those bylaws to the full Board to be rescinded passed unanimously.

Separately, the committee identified bylaws (9221 Method of Filling Vacancies and 9325 Meeting Conduct) to be rescinded after replacement bylaws are adopted, and it moved the rescission of 9221 to the full board; that motion also passed unanimously.

On personnel matters, the subcommittee voted to advance a set of policies for first read that update certified personnel hiring authority (4100), clarify nepotism rules (4112.8) and modernize employment and student-teacher background checks (4113/4214). Superintendent Anne Uberti reviewed proposed language adopting Shipman Goodwin model text to clarify delegation of hiring authority to the Superintendent and to address supervisory/conflict-of-interest concerns. The committee emphasized maintaining robust local hiring practices for administrators.

The group recommended several policies be rescinded upon adoption of replacement policies, specifically listing the outgoing versions of 6163 (Selection of Library Media Resources), 4100, 4112.8 and 4113/4214. The subcommittee also recommended rescinding several non-mandated policies (including Policy 0523 Equity and Diversity) and preserving the underlying commitments to diversity and inclusion through Board goals, resolutions or website content rather than formal policy texts.

No members of the public commented during the meeting. The subcommittee adjourned at 6:54 p.m.

Next steps: the full Board of Education will receive the recommended first reads and proposed rescissions at an upcoming meeting for formal consideration and any subsequent votes.