– John F. Kennedy

At a Special Board of Education meeting on February 18, 2025 the Superintendent's Proposed 2025-2026 budget was voted on and approved. With this decision, the Board of Education adopts the budget proposal with a 6.42% increase. The presentation is linked below for your viewing. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the budget please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly. The budget will now be presented to the Board of Finance on Thursday, February 27, 2025.

The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) recently announced two initiatives that will transform how students engage with technology in the classroom: the release of a comprehensive Model K-12 Digital Citizenship Curriculum, and the launch of an innovative artificial intelligence (AI) in education pilot program across seven school districts.

These complementary programs represent a coordinated approach to preparing Connecticut's students for an increasingly digital future, combining foundational digital literacy skills with hands-on experience in emerging technologies and the age of AI. These programs also align with, and build upon, the CSDE’s Cell Phone and Personal Technology Guidance, which was issued earlier this school year at the direction of Governor Lamont and approved by the State Board of Education.

“In today's technology-driven world, digital citizenship education and the integration of artificial intelligence are vital to preparing students for learning and success in the future," said Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker. "By launching these initiatives in tandem, we are empowering educators and students with the tools they need to engage with technology responsibly. The AI pilot districts will serve as innovation hubs, sharing best practices to guide future AI integration efforts across the state. At the same time, the digital citizenship curriculum provides a consistent framework for all Connecticut schools, ensuring equitable access to resources that prepare students for success in a connected world.”

Connecticut is the first state to adopt the widely recognized Common Sense Education K-12 Digital Citizenship Curriculum as its state model, leading the nation in preparing students for responsible and effective engagement in the digital world.

"The digital citizenship curriculum creates the ethical framework and critical thinking skills essential for students to responsibly engage with AI tools," said Yvette Renteria, chief program officer, Common Sense Media. "This sequential approach ensures students understand not just how to use AI, but when and why to use it appropriately.”

The adoption of the K-12 Digital Citizenship Curriculum represents a significant milestone in fostering responsible technology use and digital literacy among students. This curriculum provides Connecticut educators with standards-aligned, research-backed materials designed to promote online safety, digital ethics, and student well-being. The tools included in the curriculum support the integration of digital citizenship across subjects and engage families in fostering responsible technology use. This curriculum specifically addresses AI ethics and responsible use, preparing students for targeted AI instruction that will follow in participating pilot districts.

The AI Pilot Program, running from January to June 2025, will introduce state-approved AI tools into classroom instruction in seven districts: East Hartford, Lebanon, Rocky Hill, Seymour, Waterford, Westport, and Odyssey Community School in Manchester. Focused on students in grades 7-12, the program will provide hands-on experience with tools such as CK12 Foundation, Cloud Navigator, MagicSchoolAI, SchoolAI, and SNORKL. Educators will receive professional development to maximize the tools’ benefits and assess their impact on teaching and learning.

The pilot program will build upon the digital citizenship curriculum by providing students hands-on experience with AI tools, including skills such as prompt engineering and critical analysis of AI-generated content. Throughout the six-month pilot period, CSDE will monitor implementation and outcomes, sharing best practices to guide future technology integration efforts across the state.

Both initiatives are part of CSDE’s broader commitment to leveraging technology to create meaningful and equitable learning opportunities.

Key components of the combined initiative include:

• Comprehensive digital citizenship education laying the groundwork for responsible AI use.
• Professional development supporting educators in both digital citizenship instruction and AI implementation.
• Integration strategies for cross-curricular implementation of both programs.
• Focus on ethical considerations and responsible use of emerging technologies.
• Family and community engagement resources for both digital citizenship and AI awareness.
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The Digital Citizenship Curriculum materials are immediately available to all Connecticut educators through GoOpenCT. For more information about either initiative, please contact Chief Academic Officer Irene Parisi at Irene.Parisi@ct.gov.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 30, 2025

Matthew Cerrone

CONNECTICUT Education

matthew.cerrone@ct.gov

"The Administrative Review (AR) of the school nutrition programs is conducted by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) as required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) final rule, Administrative Reviews in the School Nutrition Programs (81 FR 50170)."

The AR covers fifteen areas, some of which include Meal Access and Reimbursement, Meal Counting and Claiming, Nutritional Quality and Meal Patterns, and Local School Wellness Policy. As a result of the AR, our program had only six findings, two surrounding the Local School Wellness Policy, one that dealt with a la carte sales for some ice cream products being sold that were not in compliance with the HFC standards, two surrounding reimbursable meals. Corrective action plans for each finding need to be submitted no later than February 28th.

Additional Comments on the overview report: "It was a pleasure visiting Lebanon School District. All staff and students were welcoming and friendly during the visit. The District School Nutrition Team of Martha, Chelsea and Keith did an excellent job completing the off-site assessment, preparing for the review, and having all requested materials organized and available when I arrived onsite. The food service site staff at Lebanon Middle School did a great job with the meal service and their interactions with the students was wonderful to see. The students had a lot of great meal options to choose from and the Build a Burger meal option was a hit!

It is apparent that the food service department and staff at all levels takes pride in the work that they do and are a great team that supports each other. We thank Lebanon School District and staff for all of their hard work in support of the USDA Child Nutrition Programs." Susan Allston, Lead Reviewer

The Science of Writing: How Families Can Support Young Writers

Writing is more than just putting words on paper—it’s a skill that strengthens communication, critical thinking, and creativity. While much attention has been given to the Science of Reading, the Science of Writing is equally vital in a child’s academic growth.

This school year, students in Grades K-4 are engaging with the SAVVAS MyView Reading program, which integrates foundational writing instruction based on research-driven best practices. The Science of Writing emphasizes that strong writers develop through structured practice, exposure to rich language, and opportunities to express their thoughts in meaningful ways. Children progress through different stages of writing, from early scribbles and letter formation to crafting full sentences and structured narratives. Just like reading, writing requires a combination of skills:

• Language Development – A strong vocabulary and exposure to complex sentence structures help children express ideas clearly.

• Phonemic Awareness & Spelling – Understanding letter sounds and spelling patterns supports word formation.

• Handwriting & Typing Skills – Writing fluency allows children to focus on content rather than mechanics.

• Idea Organization – Writers learn to structure their thoughts logically, whether they are crafting a story, opinion piece, or informative report.

You can nurture your child’s writing skills with simple, everyday activities:

• Encourage Daily Writing – Provide a journal, notebook, or digital platform where children can write about their day, make lists, or create stories.

• Model Writing – Let your child see you write notes, emails, or even a grocery list to show how writing is used in daily life.

• Talk Before Writing – Conversations help children organize their thoughts before putting them on paper. Ask open-ended questions about their day or a book they’ve read.

• Read & Write Together – Reading introduces children to different writing styles, and writing about what they read reinforces comprehension.

• Celebrate Effort Over Perfection – Focus on progress and creativity rather than spelling or grammar mistakes. Encouragement builds confidence!

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By creating small but meaningful writing opportunities at home, you can help your child develop a lifelong skill that enhances their ability to express themselves, think critically, and succeed academically.

Now that we have had 2 snow days so far, our new last day of school will be Friday, June 13, 2025. Stay tuned for more possible updates as we navigate the winter weather.

At our January 14th Board of Education meeting the 2025 Graduation date was set for Lyman Memorial High School. This culminating event will take place on Thursday, June 12th. The elementary and middle schools will soon share their dates for promotion exercises.

Thank you Officer Slonski for your years of dedicated service to Lebanon Public Schools. Our district is appreciative of the support and guidance you have given to our learners. We are also grateful for your diligence in making sure our buildings and grounds were safe. We wish you the very best in your future endeavors.

Select students from Lebanon Middle School attended the Connecticut Association of Schools Middle Level Leadership Conference. Participants engaged in hands-on activities designed to foster 21st Century leadership skills. Mike Nelson, motivational speaker shared a message on resilience, character and achieving success through purpose-driven leadership.

The LMHS guidance department will be hosting a virtual College Night for parents on February 27th at 6:00 PM. This is a good opportunity for parents to learn more about the college application process and to speak with representatives from Eastern, UCONN, Mitchell College, CT State Community College and the University of New Haven. While this event is geared towards the parents of juniors, all are welcome to attend. Please reach out to your child's school counselor with any questions.

To join the video meeting, click this link: https://meet.google.com/dhd-xajj-hfh

Otherwise, to join by phone, dial +1 470-273-8446 and enter this PIN: 180 856 562#

Families, we are sharing this flyer with you again to encourage you to create a FREE MyPaymentsPlus account to make payments, view balances and better understand the purchases your child is making in the cafeteria.

In following our Board of Education Meal Charging Policy (5004) the district will contact the parents/guardians of students who charge meals to their meal accounts in order for the District to collect the delinquent debt. The first such communication will be a written communication, by mail or e-mail. Subsequent written and verbal communications with parents/guardians concerning delinquent debt will be made by the building administrator or designee, as may be necessary and appropriate.

Lebanon Public Schools actively seeks to assist children and families by locating, identifying, and referring children from birth to age 22 who require special education and related services. If you are concerned about a child's development, you are encouraged to contact Lebanon Elementary School to receive information about Early Childhood Screenings.

If the child is younger than 3 years of age, you may choose instead to contact the Connecticut Birth to Three System at 1-800-505-7000.

If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact 860-642-5636.

Sabena Escott, MSW sabena.escott@lebanonct.org

Lyman Memorial High School Social Worker and District Family Care Coordinator

With legislation over the summer, a family care coordinator has been added to the growing number of mental health staff that CT recognizes will further support our children and families in the school setting. The family care coordinator role already encompasses what our Lebanon school district mental health teams provide for students and families. Providing students with access to mental health resources within the community and bringing mental health services to students inside of the school has always been a priority in our district. Please reach out if there are any specific mental health topics, community programs, therapeutic referrals or town programs and resources that you would like to know more about. Below are a few programs and resources for students and families.

Lebanon Social Services Office offers a variety of services to Lebanon children, adults, and seniors. Social Services Administrator Shelly Ashcom works with federal, state, and local organizations to provide assistance to Lebanon residents in need. Town of Lebanon Social Services

*The use of the resources/programs in this section are not required by LPS to be used by parents/guardians. They are recommendations only.*

Call or text a trained crisis counselor to talk:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. They’re free and available 24/7:
  Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org

• Trevor Project (crisis intervention & suicide prevention for the LGBTQ community): 1-866-488-7386 or Text 678678

• Crisis Text Line: text CTL to 741741

NIMH offers brochures and fact sheets on mental health disorders and related topics for children, adolescents and their families. Printed materials can be ordered free of charge. Brochures and fact sheets in English and Spanish.

Housing and Homeless Services can be accessed through Coordinated Access Networks (CAN). Persons are prioritized for housing services based on an assessment to be completed after calling 211.

Housing and Homeless Services

Lebanon Public Schools is now in the App Store. On your phones, in the "app store" you can search Lebanon Public Schools and you should see our logo. Please install as another way to get notifications and news from our school district.

Scan these QR Codes and be brought to our Lebanon Public Schools webpage or the Superintendent Instagram page!

The Lebanon Public Schools, in partnership with families and the community, will prepare students to be contributing members of a diverse global society. We will provide a safe, nurturing, rigorous, and student-centered learning environment.

The school community of Lebanon is committed to the mission of honoring and celebrating the diversity of our students, our community, and our nation. We strive to guide our students to conscious, deliberate, individual and collective actions that cultivate the respect of all races, religions, and social backgrounds. Our school community endeavors to produce graduates who are equipped with a greater understanding of the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The Lebanon Board of Education, in compliance with federal and state law, affirms its policy of equal educational opportunity for all students and equal employment opportunity for all persons. It is the policy of the District to promote nondiscrimination and an environment free of harassment and the District does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, alienage, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, veteran status or any other category protected under state or federal law in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its program or activities. The District also provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups and is specifically required by Title IX not to discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs and activities. The District shall make reasonable accommodations for individuals with identified physical and mental impairments that constitute disabilities, consistent with federal and state statutes and regulations.

The following person has been designated to handle inquires regarding Title IX sex discrimination policies: Dawn DeLia, Title IX Coordinator, 891 Exeter Road, Lebanon, CT; 860-642-5764

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding other non-discrimination policies: Dawn DeLia, 504/ADA Coordinator, 891 Exeter Road, Lebanon, CT; 860-642-5764

Email: andrew.gonzalez@lebanonct.org
Website: https://www.lebanonct.org/
Location: 891 Exeter Road, Lebanon, CT, USA
Phone: 860-642-5637