Dear BPS Community:

This past week has been a true highlight of my superintendency. I had the privilege of spending the majority of my time in our schools, witnessing firsthand the joy, talent, and heart that make Bristol Public Schools so special.

At Stafford Elementary School, I joined students and staff in celebrating the 100th Day of School — a wonderful milestone filled with creativity, excitement, and pride in how much our students have grown this year.

At Greene-Hills School, we celebrated an incredible achievement as one of our students, Jensen, officially joined the Trinity College Hockey Team’s roster. What an inspiring accomplishment and a testament to dedication and perseverance!  The Greene-Hills community knows how to celebrate, as students, administration, and staff came together to applaud one of their own. Thank you to Principal Scott Gaudet and Team IMPACT for making Jensen's dream come true.  Please click here to see WFSB's coverage of the event:  https://www.wfsb.com/2026/02/12/bristol-boy-with-cerebral-palsy-joins-trinity-college-hockey-team/

I also had the opportunity to speak with the talented drama students at both Bristol Central and Bristol Eastern High Schools. Their passion, creativity, and commitment to the arts were truly impressive and a reminder of the importance of making vibrant opportunities available to our students.

Finally, I was proud to observe P.S. I Love You Day at Bristol Central High School. Seeing our students and staff come together to promote kindness, mental health awareness, and support for one another was both powerful and uplifting.  Thank you to the community providers who attended, including the Wheeler Clinic, Prudence Crandall, and Bristol Eliminating Substance Abuse Together.

Today, February 15, 2026, we acknowledge National School Resource Officer Day.   Our School Resource Officer serve as more that just a security presence in our schools, they are mentors, role models, problem-solvers, and trusted partners.  We are grateful for their commitment to collaboration, prevention, and education, and for the vital role they play in strengthening our school community. Their work exemplifies the power of partnership between our schools and local law enforcement. On behalf of the Board of Education and the entire school district, thank you to our School Resource Officers for your service, professionalism, and unwavering dedication to our students.  Thank you also to Chief Mark Morello and Lt. Eric Hanson for their continued support of this initiative.



As a reminder Bristol Public Schools and Offices will be closed on Monday, Febrary 16, 2026 in observance of Presidents' Day.  All Bristol Public Schools and Offices will also be closed on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.  School will resume on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 following the Wednesday school dismissal schedule.  https://www.bristol.k12.ct.us/school-time-schedule







In partnership,
Iris White
Superintendent of Schools

Legislative Update:
I recently submitted formal testimony to the General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee regarding the Governor’s FY2027 Proposed Budget and its impact on Bristol Public Schools.  My testimony, which is attached to this message, was submitted for the Appropriation Committee's Public Hearing this Tuesday, February 17, 2026 beginning at 3:00 p.m.

As outlined in my testimony, my Superintendent's Proposed Budget of $15,303,185 is an increase of (11.17%)  over the current year. This increase is not driven by program expansion, but by rising fixed and mandated costs, including special education tuition and transportation, utilities, contractual salary obligations, health insurance, and student support services.
Without increased state investment through Education Cost Sharing (ECS) and full funding of the Special Education Excess Cost Grant, this structural gap would either shift directly to local property taxpayers or require reductions that directly impact students. 
In my testimony, I strongly urged the legislature to:

• Increase ECS funding in a meaningful and predictable manner
• Fully fund the Special Education Excess Cost Grant
• Provide state relief to prevent disproportionate tax increases at the local level
• Recognize that districts are facing structural—not discretionary—cost growth 

ECS funding supports the core of our educational program — classroom teachers, academic interventions, mental health supports, career and technical education, athletics, extracurricular activities, and instructional technology. Fully funding the Excess Cost Grant is equally critical, as special education services are federally mandated and essential to ensuring every student receives the support they need.  Education funding is a shared responsibility between the state and municipalities. Our community has consistently supported our schools, but sustainable solutions require strong state partnership. I will continue advocating for resources that protect student opportunities while being mindful of the impact on local taxpayers.

In addition to testimony regarding ECS and Special Education Excess Cost, I also prepared separate testimony in support of funding for Family Resource Centers (FRCs).  Bristol Public Schools currently has FRCs in three of our schools:  West Bristol, Greene-Hills, and South Side.  The new budget that Governor Lamont submitted for the coming year cuts FRCs funding across the state by another $1.26 million dollars. Here in Bristol, that would be a loss of over 40%.  If this goes through, we will not be able to sustain these programs.  You can advocate for the FRCs by submitting statements by following this link:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd4AeBwZ2jwnt_cSrJfer9KFyCETuBJ4VkQ7Us04S87HC20Nw/viewform.  Your responses can then be shared with legislators on your behalf.  

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month:
Bristol Public Schools is proud to partner with Prudence Crandall to provide training to our staff on real-world situations currently affecting some of the our students within our community, along with look-fors, and strategies to support our students through these situations.  Prudence Crandall has generously shared materials in the form of flyers, cards, and brochures to be delivered to our school buildings.  Schools have been asked to display the materials in the main office suite, student services suite, bathrooms, hallways, entry way, etc.