Superintendent's Weekly Update- October 4, 2026
Dear BPS Community,
October is National Principals Month, and I am proud to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary dedication of our Bristol Public Schools principals.
Our principals carry the tremendous responsibility of keeping students and staff safe while creating schools that are welcoming, supportive, and focused on teaching and learning. Through their leadership, they work every day to ensure that all students feel supported, connected, and engaged and that every member of their school community has the opportunity to grow and thrive.
What stands out most is the genuine love and care our principals have for their students and staff. Their work often extends far beyond the school day, and their commitment makes a lasting difference in the lives of the students, families, and educators they serve.
During National Principals Month, please join me in thanking our principals for their exceptional leadership, dedication, and service to the Bristol community. We are grateful for all they do each and every day to make Bristol Public Schools stronger and to move us forward—Better Together.
Last week, Bristol Public Schools received exciting news from the Connecticut State Department of Education regarding two grant awards totaling $274,995.31.
First, BPS was awarded $225,000 through the Learner Engagement and Attendance Program (LEAP). Announced by Governor Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker, LEAP funding supports evidence-based home-visiting programs designed to strengthen relationships between schools and families, address barriers to attendance, and help students remain connected and engaged in their education. Thank you to Erika Treannie and the LEAP team for developing the grant application.
At BPS, we know that every day matters, every student matters, and strong family-school partnerships make a difference. This funding will allow us to continue strengthening our work with families and addressing barriers that may prevent students from attending school consistently.
Secondly, CSDE informed us that, based on BPS's readiness, statement of need, and vision for student learning, the district has been invited to participate in the Connecticut High Dosage Tutoring Program for the 2026–27 academic year. Participation includes an award of $49,995.31 to support high-dosage tutoring and provide additional targeted academic support for students.
Thank you to Chief Academic Officer Carly Fortin and the Curriculum, Instruction, and Support (CIS) Office for their work in developing this grant application and securing additional resources to support our students and families.
Better Together,
Iris White
Superintendent of Schools
Congratulations to Ivy Drive School:
For the combined months of August and September, Ivy Drive had a chronic absenteeism rate of just 7.4%, earning our Dragons the attendance trophy for the lowest rate in the district! Will Ivy Drive hold on for the win next month, or will another school earn the trophy?
United Way Community Partnership Award:
I am proud to share that Wednesday morning, BPS received the Outstanding Community Partner Award. I was joined by BPS staff members Erika and Treannie and Cecilia Garay, who have been instrumental in United Way's Ending Student Homelessness Initiative. Thank you to the United Way for this award. We are grateful for the partnership and honored to receive this recognition.
Legislative Priorities for the Upcoming Session:
As we look ahead to the upcoming legislative session, I want to keep our staff and families informed about several education funding priorities being advanced by the Connecticut Association of Urban School Superintendents (CAUS), of which Bristol Public Schools is a member. CAUS represents 21 educational systems serving more than 190,000 students across Connecticut.I also want to thank our Bristol legislative delegation, Mayor Zoppo-Sassu, Board of Finance leadership, and our other state and local partners for their support during the last legislative session. Bristol received additional state support as part of the FY27 budget, including $4.53 million in Supplemental Education Aid and $991,338 in Supplemental Town Aid. That additional investment was important as we worked to address the rising costs of educating and supporting our students.
For the coming session, CAUS has identified three primary funding priorities:
- Increase the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) foundation amount. The current foundation amount is $11,525 per student and has remained at that level since 2013. CAUS is seeking a phased increase so the formula better reflects contemporary costs such as staffing, transportation, instructional materials, technology, insurance, and utilities.
- Establish an annual index for the ECS foundation. CAUS recommends a predictable annual adjustment so that education funding can better keep pace with rising costs and provide greater stability for long-term state, municipal, and school district planning.
- Move toward full funding of the Special Education Expansion and Development (SEED) Grant while increasing local flexibility. Special education continues to represent a significant and often unpredictable cost for school districts. CAUS is seeking a sustainable funding approach that also gives districts greater flexibility to direct resources toward documented student needs, including staffing, transportation, specialized programming, contracted services, and out-of-district placements.
As Superintendent, I will continue communicating with our state and local leaders about these issues and how the proposed priorities intersect with the needs of Bristol Public Schools and our community. I welcome continued conversations with our legislators, Mayor, Board of Finance, Board of Education, staff, families, and community partners as the legislative session approaches.
I remain grateful for the continued partnership and support of our community and state leaders as we work together to ensure that Bristol students have the resources and opportunities they need to be supported, connected, and engaged.
Visit to Ed Rising Class:
Thank you to Elizabeth Di Lernia, from Bristol Eastern HS, for inviting Deputy Superintendent Mary Hawk and me to be guest speakers in her Educators Rising class. Educators Rising provides students with an opportunity to explore careers in education, learn more about the teaching profession, and begin developing the knowledge and leadership skills that can help prepare them to become the next generation of educators. Programs like this are so important because the future of public education depends on our ability to inspire young people to see teaching and educational leadership as meaningful, rewarding careers.
I was especially excited to see such a large group of students participating in the class. They asked thoughtful questions about the pathway to becoming an educator, the different opportunities available within education, and my role and responsibilities as Superintendent.
I also had the opportunity to share a very personal part of my own journey into education. When I was young, my mother encouraged me to read a story in Reader’s Digest about a first-year special education teacher who was able to reach a young girl who had experienced horrific neglect and abuse. That story stayed with me and helped open my eyes to the extraordinary difference an educator can make in the life of a child. I am especially thankful for my mother today because, without her encouragement and influence, I might never have discovered what has become one of the most rewarding experiences of my life: being an educator.
Remember the faces in the attached photograph. Some of Bristol’s future teachers and educational leaders are sitting in this classroom today. We need them, we believe in them, and I cannot wait to see where their journeys take them.