Superintendent's Weekly Update- March 15, 2026
Dear BPS Community:
The safety of our students and staff remains our top priority. One important way we protect our school community is through our visitor safety protocols.
All visitors are required to enter through the main office, present a valid ID, and sign in before going anywhere in the building. When leaving, visitors must also sign out. These procedures help us know who is in our buildings at all times and ensure a safe learning environment for everyone.
As Superintendent, I also follow this same protocol each time I visit our schools. Safety expectations apply to all of us. We sincerely appreciate the cooperation of our families, partners, and community members in respectfully and patiently following these procedures. Your support helps us maintain safe schools for every student and staff member. Thank you for helping keep our schools safe.
As a reminder, all BPS schools and programs will be closed this Friday, March 20th, in observance of Eid Al-Fitr.
The Bristol Education Foundation (BEF), in partnership with BPS, is proud to support the incredible programs happening in our schools every day.
You can help make a difference! Consider making a donation or sharing the attached flyer to help spread the word and support opportunities for our schools.
Donate here: http://www.bristoledfoundation.com/donations. Thank you for supporting our schools and our students!
In partnership,
Iris White
Superintendent of Schools
Changes to School Calendar:
The Board of Education has scheduled a Special Meeting on Wednesday, March 18th at 6:00 p.m. On the agenda is a discussion of the 25-26 School Calendar and possible changes to make up for the number of snow days:
BOARD OF EDUCATION
SPECIAL MEETING
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
6:00 P.M
In- Person (BOE Auditorium) & Virtual (via Zoom)
The Bristol Board of Education will hold a Board of Education Special Meeting on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Board of Education in the BOE Auditorium, located at 129 Church Street, and via the Zoom Meeting Platform. Please log in to the meeting with the following link:
Board of Education Meeting
Bristol Board of Education - March 18, 2026 - Special Meeting
Meeting ID: 962 0519 2335
Passcode: 656911
Last week, Mayor Ellen, Police Chief Morello, BPS Director of Transportation Collin Uryase, and I met with Brad Macdowall from BusPatrol, a company that collects and combines AI-powered stop-arm cameras, interior cameras, and edge processing to detect violations and enhance student safety.
- Cameras installed on buses – AI-powered stop-arm cameras and interior cameras detect violations.
- Violation captured automatically – When a vehicle passes a bus with the stop arm deployed, the system records video and license plate data.
- Evidence review – Each incident is reviewed before being sent for approval.
- Citation issued – If approved, a citation is mailed to the vehicle owner with a link to view video evidence.
- Program funding – The program is violator-funded, meaning no upfront cost to the district or taxpayers.
Eileen Krause Scholarship:
The Eileen Krause Scholarship is now open for applications for any Connecticut woman who will be attending a two or four-year college for the first time next year. Applicants must submit an essay explaining how a specific Connecticut Woman's Hall of Fame inductee resonates most with them and why:
Invention Convention:
Mountain View School held its Invention Convention this past Friday. I was impressed as each student proudly and confidently presented their invention. Congratulations to the two winners, Cora and Johnathan, who will now move on in the competition at UCONN. Thank you to Gina Martineau for inviting me to attend and for all of the coordination and support she provided to the students. Thank you also to the family members who provided inspiration and support to the students as they completed their projects!
Nominations for 2027 Paraprofessional of the Year:
Paraprofessional of the Year Nomination Form