School Board Focuses on Programs for Families in Need

In its last regular meeting of the 2010-2011 school year, Meriden's Board of Education agreed to implement a new program that would provide free computers, computer training and a year’s worth of technical support and inexpensive Internet access to 40 Meriden families that would otherwise not be able to afford them. Offered through Concepts for Adaptive Learning (CfAL), a New Haven-based nonprofit agency, the computers would go to parents who live in the Meriden Family Zone, an area of high poverty in downtown Meriden.

“It is not going to cost the city of Meriden or the board of education one penny for this program,” according to Thomas Bruenn, chair of the ad hoc committee that has been working with CfAL.

The goal is more than simply bringing technology into the homes of those who now have to live without it, said Curtis Hill, CfAL Executive Director. “The goal is to increase parents’ involvement in their children’s education,” he told the board.

Free computer training classes in English and Spanish are scheduled to begin in September for eligible individuals. After completing the training, those individuals will have computers installed in their homes.

Summer School Breakfast Pilot Program

Also at the meeting, Food Services Manager Susan Maffé answered questions from the board about the Summer School Breakfast Pilot Program. Many children depend on the free and reduced-price breakfasts and lunches they get in school. But what do they do when school isn’t in session? This summer, John Barry Elementary School will pilot a breakfast program for elementary students entering grades 1 – 3 who are enrolled in summer school from July 5 – July 22.

Not only will breakfast be offered to the children in summer school, but a free breakfast will also be available to all Meriden children 18 and under on the patio outside the cafeteria. Each meal is reimbursed by the federal government at no cost to the Meriden school system.

Reinstating Specialists

In other business, the board voted Tuesday night to reinstate two positions that had been cut due to loss of federal grant money—an elementary science specialist and a reading specialist. An elementary math specialist position had also been discussed.

“Unless there are real outliers in class size,” said Superintendent Mark Benigni, that math position will be the next one the board considers bringing back.

The board also agreed to fill two additional elementary teaching positions and authorized Benigni to fill classified staffing positions that become available over the summer.