Principal Lisa Areolas Samos updated the Waterbury Board of Education on Oct. 2 on the State Street program, which serves students referred through expulsion hearings and a separate day program. She told the board the program had 109 students enrolled in the day program and an evening/expulsion enrollment of about 34 students at the time of the presentation.

"Our mission here at the program is through collaboration with families in the community to prepare our diverse learners as a whole to meet the challenges our ever changing global society," Principal Lisa Areolas Samos said, describing services from preschool through 12th grade and a multidisciplinary staff that includes clinical social workers, a school counselor, special education teachers, paraprofessionals and other support personnel.

The program presenters described a mix of instructional and wraparound services. Staff said State Street uses an electronic behavioral platform called SCORE to track behavior, safety and assignment completion and to support transitions back to district schools. The program provides counseling, transition services, IEP supports and both in-person teachers and Imagine Learning online coursework; presenters said 45 Imagine Learning courses had been completed since the program opened on Jan. 23.

Samos described a hands-on career and technical component offered this year, including new art and business instructors, a culinary program where students practice food preparation and basic business operations, and a construction class run by a city carpenter foreman that teaches practical skills such as sheetrock repair and lock repair. The program also reported partnerships with Klingberg Family Centers, CREC (for school psychology services), juvenile probation and other community organizations that provide counseling and referral services onsite at State Street.

Board members asked how many expelled students actually come to the program and about strategies to get students to return to district schools after their expulsion term ends. Vice President Brown asked whether the majority of expelled students attend State Street; Samos replied, "Yes. So the majority are coming to the program." Commissioner Lopez asked what the program does when students do not want to return to their district school; Samos described individualized outreach, accompaniment to the receiving school and ongoing supports to build relationships and ease transitions.

Samos said expulsions ordered by a hearing officer are limited to no more than 180 school days and that the program works with individualized learning plans (ILPs) to prepare students for reentry. She said placement and transition decisions are made case by case.

Board members praised staff and invited trustees to visit the program during the evening hours. Dr. Schwartz and several commissioners commended the program's leadership and its collaborations with district offices and community partners.

The board did not take formal action on the presentation itself; it was delivered as an informational item during the workshop.