With one week to go until the municipal elections in Woodbridge, which includes five seats on the Woodbridge Board of Education, the board gathered for their monthly board meeting. After starting with some technology issues and then a salute to the flag, Dr. Stella gave his Superintendent’s report.

He started off by talking about concern Swine Flu. He mentioned that there have been lots of media inquiries and spoke about a conference call with the National Association of Nurses, the Center for Disease Control, the White House, the Department of Homeland Security, and other organizations.

Dr. Stella noted that things are rapidly changing and the reports are now that fifty people have been identified as having contracted the swine flu in the United States, and only two have been hospitalized, both of whom are recovering.

The school will be communicating with the community using letters and updates to the school website. Other aspects being considered includes establishing a long term policy concerning health issues, and ways to address health issues as part of the curriculum, including especially a focus on the importance of washing hands.

Dr. Stella’s report continued with a focus on Twenty-First Century skills. There was a discussion about students from Hong Kong coming to do a presentation at Beecher Road, the two teachers that went to China and the use of Skype to connect teachers, students and parents here in Connecticut with their counterparts in China. Hopefully, Skype will continue to be used frequently going forward.

Dr. Stella also attended a meeting with top executives at Unilever, where the topic was education and Twenty First Century skills. The executives spoke of the importance twenty-first century skills and recognized Beecher Road for its successes.