Superintendent's Weekly Update- October 11, 2026
Dear BPS Community:
The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) is assisting the City of Bristol in developing a Vision Zero Plan, a comprehensive strategy focused on preventing roadway deaths and serious injuries.
As part of the community engagement process, I was invited to participate in a stakeholder interview with Anthony Lagana, Transportation Planner II, and Demetre Coles, Community Planner I, to provide the Bristol Public Schools perspective on transportation and roadway safety. Deputy Superintendent Hawk and Director of Safety and Security Steve Cabelus joined me for this interview. The discussion focused on dangerous roadway locations in Bristol, potential roadway safety improvements, the district’s current and future capacity to support roadway safety initiatives, and safety concerns specific to schools and students. Feedback from these interviews will help NVCOG and the City identify key opportunities, concerns, and areas for improvement, and will be incorporated into an executive summary that informs the next phase of the Vision Zero planning process.
Student safety remains one of our highest priorities, and I am pleased to share an important update on our partnership with the City of Bristol and BusPatrol to strengthen school bus safety throughout our community.
Installation of BusPatrol safety camera technology on Bristol school buses is scheduled to begin on October 26. The system is designed to identify vehicles that illegally pass a stopped school bus while students are boarding or exiting. Recorded incidents are reviewed before moving through the citation process.
Installation is the first step in the implementation process. Enforcement will not begin simply because cameras are being installed. The Bus Patrol team is continuing to work through transportation logistics, operating procedures, citation review, hearings, and community education before the program officially launches.
Before the warning period and enforcement phase begin, we will share additional information with families and the broader Bristol community so everyone understands how the program works, important dates, and what drivers should expect.
Thank you to the City of Bristol, our transportation team, BusPatrol, and everyone involved in advancing this important safety initiative.
Better Together,
Iris White
Superintendent of Schools
Celebrating our 2027 Teacher of the Year, Bevin Parent
Last Thursday afternoon, we held a reception to celebrate our BPS 2027 Teacher of the Year, Bevin Parent from Mountain View School. Bevin is an exceptional person and educator, and we are proud to have her represent all of the dedicated teachers in our district. Thank you to her fellow teachers and staff members at Mountain View who joined the celebration.
A Warm Welcome and a Great Start to the Day at Bristol Central High School!
I recently had the opportunity to visit Bristol Central High School to observe the new early morning arrival process, and I was so pleased to see the warm, welcoming, and organized environment our administrators and staff have created for students!
The early arrival initiative was designed to give students more time to enter the building, enjoy breakfast, connect with their peers, and transition into the academic day in a calm, unhurried manner. Just as importantly, it helps reduce hallway congestion and student tardiness.
What impressed me most during my visit was seeing students greeted by caring adults, enjoying breakfast, and having time to socialize with friends before heading to class. These small moments of connection and belonging matter and help set a positive tone for learning!
The results have been encouraging:
- Improved Arrival Times: All buses are now unloaded by 7:10 a.m., improving traffic flow and allowing students to enter the building well before classes begin.
- More Students Eating Breakfast: Breakfast participation has increased by nearly 66%, from 183 to 303 students!
- Reduced Tardiness: We are seeing significant improvements in students arriving to class on time.
- A Smoother Arrival Experience: Improved sign-in stations, organized entry lanes, and technology upgrades have helped eliminate long lines and create a more efficient process.
A sincere thank you to the Bristol Central administrative team, paraprofessionals, cafeteria and custodial staff, Transportation Department, IT Team, and everyone involved for their dedication, flexibility, and commitment to our students.
Bristol Public Schools Student-Athletes Represent District at Annual Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) Leadership Conference
Student-athletes and advisors from Bristol Public Schools participated in the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) Leadership Conference on Thursday, September 24, 2026, held at Goodwin University.
The conference brought together student-athletes and staff to focus on character development, sportsmanship, and personal growth. The day's featured keynote presentation was delivered by Mark Leinweaver, who spoke to attendees on Leadership Through Example & Handling Adversity.
Bristol Public Schools was represented by a delegation of student-athletes across various sports and grade levels, along with school athletic advisors. Throughout the event, students engaged in interactive breakout tracks and collaborative small-group discussions aimed at building leadership skills to bring back to their teams, school buildings, and the broader Bristol community. The following are some quotes from students who participated:
- I had a lot of fun at this conference!!! It was pretty cool to see athletes from other schools and sports. We were able to collaborate on many new initiatives that will hopefully help improve the CCC's Sportsmanship!!!
- I loved collaborating with multiple schools, and it was nice to see them from another perspective rather than just their personality/ character on the field, court, etc. I also enjoyed the presentation on the importance of a digital footprint and how much it can impact an individual’s life; it definitely needs to be talked about more.
- I enjoyed my time at the conference last week. The talk with the referees was especially interesting and insightful. It gave me a different perspective on refereeing and made me mindful of how I choose to interpret their calls as a viewer.
Community Conversation: Box Out Bullying Parent Workshop
Bristol families are invited to a FREE Parent Workshop: Empowering Your Child, End Bullying on Thursday, October 29, from 6:00–7:30 p.m. at Downtown Live at the Rockwell Theater, 70 Memorial Boulevard, Bristol.
As part of Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services’ Community Conversation Series, Box Out Bullying is coming to Bristol with its highly interactive Keeping Kids Safe workshop.
Families will gain practical tools to:
- Recognize and respond to bullying
- Work collaboratively with school faculty and administrators
- Help create safe, supportive environments where children can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally
No tickets or registration are necessary — admission is free.
We appreciate our community partners for providing families with another opportunity to learn, connect, and work together to support the well-being of Bristol’s children.
Team IMPACT All In 5K:
I am so proud of the student leaders from our high schools who are coming together to support a great cause!
Our Student Leadership Councils are partnering with Team IMPACT, through the coordination of the Bristol Sports Hall of Fame, to support the upcoming Team IMPACT All In 5K.
Team IMPACT connects children with physical disabilities and serious illnesses with college athletic teams, building meaningful relationships centered on friendship, inclusion, and belonging. Our very own Jensen and Mariska are part of Team Bristol, and I had the honor of attending Jensen’s signing ceremony at Greene-Hills last school year.
A huge thank you to our student leaders for stepping up, organizing, and showing what leadership through service looks like. This is Better Together in action!
Team IMPACT All In 5K
Sunday, October 25, 2026
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Bristol Eastern High School
We hope to see our Bristol community there supporting Jensen, Mariska, and this wonderful cause! Please see the flyer below and attached video for more information.
Explore Your Future at Pathways to STEM Night! 🔬🚀
Bristol families and students, I encourage you to take advantage of this exciting FREE opportunity at the Connecticut Science Center on Thursday, October 15, from 5:00–8:00 p.m.!
Pathways to STEM Night is a wonderful opportunity for students, especially those in middle and high school, to explore future careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
More than 22 STEM professionals from fields such as engineering, construction, energy, and health sciences will be available to share their experiences, answer questions, and inspire our next generation of innovators and problem-solvers!
Families will also enjoy:
- FREE admission to the Connecticut Science Center
- FREE parking and bus passes
- Access to interactive galleries and hands-on STEM experiences
- Opportunities to connect with professionals, employers, and community organizations
📅 Thursday, October 15, 2026
⏰ 5:00–8:00 p.m.
📍 Connecticut Science Center, 250 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford
I encourage our Bristol families to attend together! You never know what experience or conversation might spark a student's passion and inspire their future career. Please see the attached flyer for registration information.