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INTRODUCTIONOn behalf of the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System (CTECS) administration, faculty,and staff, it is with pleasure and enthusiasm that I welcome you to the 2020-2021 school year.Our parent/student handbook was developed to assist you in understanding the roles and highexpectations of the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System. Definitions and explanationsare provided throughout the handbook to help clarify school and district policies and programs.Information is organized by category in the table of contents beginning on page 2.In addition to this handbook, parents and students can access information through the followingmethods:District Website: On the district website you can find information on our curriculum, staff directories,handbooks, Board meetings and much more. We also share newsletters, press releases, student successstories and other positive news about Connecticut’s technical high schools – all found on cttech.org.School-based Websites: Each school in our district has its own website which contains informationspecific to the school the student attends. The direct links for each school can be located off the districtwebsite at cttech.org/schools. There you can find news, events, class information and the staffdirectory.PowerSchool Parent Portal: PowerSchool is our student information system that helps everyone stayconnected. This system is equipped with a Parent/Student portal that gives parents access toinformation including attendance, grades and detailed assignment descriptions, and school bulletins.ParentSquare: CTECS uses ParentSquare to communicate with parents and students at the school, andin classrooms and groups. ParentSquare provides a simple and safe way for everyone at school toconnect. Learn more on page 113.Finally, we believe that family plays an integral role in the child’s learning. Therefore, we encourage allparents and guardians to be actively engaged in the school community, all with the goal of increasingstudent achievement and developing positive attitudes about self and school. Parents may choose toparticipate in the Parent Faculty Organization (PFO), attend school events, or simply keep in touch withyour school and the district at large in whatever way is possible for you.I look forward to another successful school year at CTECS!Jeffrey WihbeySuperintendent of Schools9

SECTION 1SCHOOL CLIMATE10

SCHOOL CLIMATESchool climate means the quality and character of school life with a particular focus on the quality of therelationships within the school community between and among students and adults.In order for teaching and learning to occur, there must be a positive climate in which students and staffare appreciative and accepting of individual differences and behave responsibly toward one another. TheConnecticut Technical Education and Career System policies seek to afford students a safe and healthylearning environment by prohibiting misconduct and establishing a system for reporting and investigatingallegations of misconduct.PARENTAL COMPLAINTSIf a parent and/or guardian has concerns regarding a staff member’s treatment of his or her child, theparent should report it to the principal who will request a written statement from the parent/guardian.The statement should be signed and dated. The principal reviews the complaint to determine how toproceed with this information.If a parent and/or guardian has expressed a concern regarding a staff member’s treatment of his or herchild that involves allegations of harassment, discrimination and/or retaliation, the Equity Coordinatormay be contacted as well.Any student, parent, visitor or other person may file a complaint of discrimination or harassment byfollowing the CTECS’ Grievance Procedure located on the CTECS website.DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT PROHIBITEDCTECS provides equal educational opportunities to all students and prohibits discrimination andharassment in any of its programs or activities.Students or other persons (e.g., parents or guardians) who believe that a student has been the subject ofdiscrimination or harassment based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, religious creed, sex, age,marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability or any other basis prohibitedby law are encouraged to promptly report any such alleged act or incident by using the CTECS StudentGrievance Procedure, whether it occurs once or more than once. The report can be verbal or in writing.Students are encouraged to report bullying, discrimination or harassment to any administrator, teacheror other school staff member and may be made anonymously.Teachers, other school staff and CTECS employees who become aware of, witness acts of, or receive astudent report relating to a student experiencing bullying, harassment or discrimination are required topromptly notify the school principal in writing.Discrimination means treating a student or group of students less favorably, or interfering with orpreventing a student from enjoying the advantages, privileges or courses of study of a school,including in a production or work based learning site, because of that student’s actual or perceivedrace, color, national origin, ancestry, religious creed, sex (including sexual harassment and pregnancy),11

age, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and/ordisability (including, but not limited to, mental retardation, past or present history of mental disorder,physical disability or learning disability), or any other basis prohibited by Connecticut state and/orfederal nondiscrimination laws;Harassment: Unwelcome comments or conduct (oral, written, graphic, electronic or physical) relatingto an individual’s actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious creed, sex, age,marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or disability (i.e., protectedstatus), that is sufficiently severe, pervasive or persistent so as to unreasonably interfere with or limita student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the district’s programs or activities or by creatinga hostile, humiliating, intimidating, or offensive educational environment.Harassment also means any unwelcome comment or conduct (oral, written, graphic, electronic orphysical) relating to an individual’s actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religiouscreed, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or disability that doesnot involve severe, persistent or pervasive behavior, but if it persists, will likely create a hostile,humiliating, intimidating or offensive educational environment.Retaliation: Threatening to or retaliating against any other person for reporting or filing a complaint,for aiding or encouraging the filing of a report or complaint, or for cooperating in an investigation ofharassment or discrimination. Retaliation includes threats or acts of retaliation, whether person-toperson, by electronic means, or through third parties. It also includes overt or covert acts of reprisal,interference, restraint, penalty, discrimination or harassment against an individual or group forexercising rights under the CTECS Policy on Bullying or the Student Grievance Procedures for AllegedDiscrimination and Harassment.EQUITY COORDINATORSEach school has a staff member(s) who is available to answer questions and receive complaints about civilrights violations including discrimination and harassment. The Equity Coordinators can assist students orparents/guardians with making a complaint, seeking supportive measures, or understanding theinvestigation process in civil rights investigations. The Equity Coordinators for each school are:SchoolEquity Coordinator Name Title, Contact InformationHenry Abbott Tech21 Hayestown AvenueDanbury, CT 06811Gina SaboSchool Psychologist203-797-4460x 4450Gina.sabo@cttech.orgMark BolandISS InstructorMark.Boland@cttech.org12

Bristol Tech431 Minor StreetBristol, CT 06010Scott ZitoPrincipal860-584-8433 extension 301Scott.Zito@cttech.orgBullard-Havens Tech500 Palisade AvenueBridgeport, CT 06610Tracy GaninoDirector of Counseling and Admissions203-579-6333 extension 6487Tracy.Ganino@cttech.orgHowell Cheney TechPaul Bazzano Ed.D.791 West Middle Tpk.Manchester, CT 06040Assistant PrincipalPaul.Bazzano@cttech.org(860) 649-5396 x326Harvard H. Ellis Tech613 Upper Maple St.Danielson, CT 06239Martha RaineyDirector of Counseling & Admissions860-412-7500 extension 7570Martha.Rainey@cttech.orgE. C. Goodwin Tech735 Slater RoadNew Britain, CT 06053Michael ParrottSchool Phycologist860-827-7736 extension 314Michael.Parrott@cttech.orgElla T. Grasso Tech189 Fort Hill RoadGroton, CT 06340Jonathan GrossmanDean of Students860-448-0220 extension 323Jonathan.Grossman@cttech.orgW. F. Kaynor Tech43 Tompkins StreetWaterbury, CT 06708Nancy MaisonetISS/Sail wich Tech7 Mahan DriveNorwich, CT 06360Janet MayerStudent Achievement Intervention Lab860-889-8453 extension 2162Janet.Mayer@cttech.orgMary Ellen LevesqueSchool Phycologist860-889-8453 ext. 2178maryellen.levesque@cttech.orgEmmett O’Brien Tech141 Prindle AvenueAnsonia, CT 06401Mindy DariaSchool Social Worker203-732-1826Mindy.Daria@cttech.orgPlatt Tech600 Orange AvenueMilford, CT 06461Sandra HellerSchool Social Worker203-783-5392Sandra.Heller@cttech.orgA. I. Prince Tech401 Flatbush AvenueHartford, CT 06106Deborah FreedmanSchool g13

A. I. Prince Tech401 Flatbush AvenueHartford, CT 06106Lesli StevensInstructor, PE/Health/Life Skills860-951-7112 extension 5656Lesli.Stevens@cttech.orgVinal TechMichael Garcia60 Daniels StreetMiddletown, CT 06457Dean of Students860-344-7100 extension 305Michael.Garcia@cttech.orgEli Whitney Tech100 Fairview AvenueHamden, CT 06514Krista-Ann MillerSpecial Education Department Head203-397-4031 extension 3703krista-ann.miller@cttech.orgEli Whitney Tech100 Fairview AvenueHamden, CT 06514Johanna Rios-RoldanSchool .orgH. C. Wilcox Tech298 Oregon RoadMeriden, CT 06514Michelle DellaVecchiaDirector of Counseling & .orgNelson RiveraAssistant Principal203-238-6260 ext 5968Nelson.Rivera@cttech.orgWindham Tech210 Birch StreetWillimantic, CT 06226Elizabeth ScheffSchool Social Worker860-456-3879 extension 464Elizabeth.Scheff@cttech.orgOliver Wolcott Tech75 Oliver StreetTorrington, CT 06790Danielle QuinlanInstructor PE/Health860-496-5300 extension 5341Danielle.Quinlan@cttech.orgJ. M. Wright Tech120 Bridge StreetStamford, CT 06905Mauricio SantaSocial GBullying behavior by any student is strictly prohibited. Such conduct may result in disciplinary action,including suspension and expulsion. Bullying and teen dating violence is prohibited on school groundsor at school-sponsored activities, functions or programs whether on or off school grounds, at aschool bus stop, on a school bus or other school vehicle or through the use of an electronic deviceor an electronic mobile device owned, leased or used by CTECS.Bullying and teen dating violence is also prohibited outside of the school setting if such bullyingcreates a hostile environment at school for the student against whom such bullying was directed,14

or infringes on the rights of the student against whom such bullying was directed at school, orsubstantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school.Any form of discrimination or retaliation against an individual who reports or assists in theinvestigation of an act of bullying and/or teen dating violence is also strictly prohibited.Bullying means the repeated use by one or more students of a written, oral or electroniccommunication, such as cyberbullying, directed at or referring to another CTECS’ student or a physicalact or gesture by one or more students repeatedly directed at another CTECS’ student that: Causes physical or emotional harm to such student or damage to such student'sproperty,Places such student in reasonable fear of harm to himself or herself, or of damage tohis or her property,Creates a hostile environment at school for such student,Infringes on the rights of such student at school, orSubstantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operat

CONNECTICUT TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND CAREER SYSTEM The CONNECTICUT TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND CAREER SYSTEM is established and maintained by the State Board of Education and advised by a board. Such board consists of eleven members as follows: (1) Four executives of Connecticut-based employers who shall be nominated by the Connecticut Employment