Dear BPS Community:
I hope everyone had a chance to enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend.
October is National Principals Month, and I invite you to join me in recognizing and thanking the outstanding principals who lead our schools with dedication, compassion, and commitment.  Our principals play a crucial role in shaping the daily experiences of our students, supporting our teachers and staff, and fostering school environments that promote learning and growth. They are often the first to arrive and the last to leave—navigating challenges, celebrating successes, and ensuring that every child feels seen, safe, and supported.



Reminder: All BPS will be closed on Monday, October 13th, in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day/Columbus Day.  Have a great week!

In partnership,
Iris White
Superintendent of Schools

Bristol Opportunity Collective:
The Bristol Opportunity Collective is Bristol's first-ever mutual aid community garden, helping to alleviate food insecurity and teaching residents and families sustainable skills. The mission of Bristol Opportunity Collective is to innovate by providing opportunities to people from all walks of life, helping them achieve stability and fostering a more inclusive and empowered society. The collective, founded by Bristol resident and parent Ms. Melina Floyd, has established a partnership with Bristol Public Schools. The partnership has started with the launch of a gardening club at Bristol Eastern High School.  BPS is exploring grant funding to support the expansion of the initiative to additional schools in our district.  You can learn more about the Collective by visiting their website at https://bristolopportunitycollective.com/.



Federal Funding Update:
Last week, Commissioner Russell-Tucker sent an email to all Superintendents and Education Partners confirming that grant funding would be made available as usual in the event of a shutdown.  CSDE has received the October 1st grant awards for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Title I, Part A, and Title II, Part A, and those funds are available for drawdown. 

Redistricting Update:
Bristol Public Schools has contracted with MP Planning Group to prepare a redistricting plan for implementation in the 2026-2027 school year.  MP Planning has visited Chippens Hill Middle School and has scheduled a visit to West Bristol and Greene-Hills on Tuesday, October 7th. The visits to West Bristol and Greene-Hills aim to gather detailed knowledge of the buildings, including its current use of space, with a focus on the areas used for grades 6-8 instruction, which will become available next year.

• Three committees have been formed and are meeting regularly: 

  • Core Redistricting Committee, made up of buildings that will be most directly affected, union representatives that will be affected, and the Central Office Team.

  • Optional Bristol Association of Principals and Supervisors team (BAPS) to garner suggestions and recommendations.

  • NEMS Building Committee, made up of our facilities team, the Mayor, and stakeholders in the community.

• Next steps include the sharing of October 1st student enrollment data with MP Planning and presenting three options for Board consideration at the November Board of Education meeting.  We are developing a plan to gather input on the options before presenting them to the Board of Education. 

Budget Transparency:  
As Superintendent, I want to reaffirm my commitment, as well as that of our entire leadership team, to budget transparency and the responsible stewardship of public resources.
We recognize that every dollar entrusted to our district represents a shared investment in the future of our students, staff, and community. With that in mind, we are dedicated to ensuring our budgeting process remains clear, accessible, and aligned with our core values: student success, equity, and fiscal responsibility.
To that end, the BPS website has been updated with the 2025-26 Superintendent's Budget Request from January of this year, as well as the final approved budget.  Quarterly reports have been added for the 2024-25 fiscal year and will be uploaded for the current fiscal year in the future.  Here is the direct link to the webpage: https://www.bristol.k12.ct.us/budget.