BETHEL — Two policies, one a guideline for school volunteers and the other a student fundraising directive received unanimous positive votes on their first reading at a Bethel district school board meeting in the Telstar Library on Feb. 24 .

Volunteers

The updated policy, IJOC, specifies the role of school volunteers: assisting teachers, building an understanding of and support for school programs and strengthening school and community relations.

The policy requires volunteers to submit an application and personal reference, as the had before. Submitting a confidentiality agreement has been added to the policy. The district will perform a criminal background check and sex offender registry check on applicants working directly with students.

A list of expectations for approved volunteers includes: keeping student and staff information confidential, attending any required training sessions and acting in a professional manner.

Fundraising

New guidelines in the JJ policy-in-progress require approval of the fundraising activity by the principal. Supervision of the activity is required  by a administrator, teacher or activity advisor. The activity must meet appropriateness standards, too.

Fundraising should not be held during instructional time. Door to door solicitation is prohibited by elementary school children.

Andover

The board voted in favor of Kenney meeting with Andover school officials to talk about their mutual agreement coming due after ten years. “They have to make a decision, if they want to make an agreement with SADD-44 or shop with RSU-10. They have a small and declining enrollment,” said Kenney.

He added that they may want to do something similar to the arrangement SADD-44 has with the towns of Gilead and Upton that have five year agreements. Currently Andover students have a choice between attending RSU-10 and SADD-44.

Region 9

Region 9 School of Applied Technology Representative Levi Brown said use of the new welding and culinary arts buildings are delayed because the state has now deemed the fire hydrant for them does not provide enough water. They are not able to occupy the building. Brown said the school has known this since late November but chose to keep it quiet.

Kenney added that with the potential of a lawsuit the school officials didn’t want to put it out to the public until they had all their ducks on a row.

Other business

School Board member Andrew Baker relayed a presentation he and Chair Erin Cooley gave at a recent Greenwood Select Board meeting. He said Greenwood officials wanted to know why the budget had gone up while the population had dropped. Other concerns were about the school band (there isn’t one) and the music program. Baker said he encouraged the board members and other townspeople to attend a school board meeting. Greenwood Select Board Chair Amy Chapman was in the audience at this school board meeting.

Nomination papers for several SADD-44 school board seats are available at the SAD-44 Central Office or at area town offices. There are open  seats in Woodstock, Bethel, Newry and Greenwood.

The next school board meeting will be held in the Telstar Library on Mon., March 17 at 6:30 p.m.