“Out of the public schools grows the greatness of a nation.” - Mark Twain
CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION OF BOARDS OF EDUCATION
Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, Inc. 81 Wolcott Hill Road, Wethersfield, CT 06109-1242 - (860) 571-7446 - Fax (860) 571-7452 – www.cabe.org
CABE’s Mission Statement: To assist local and regional boards of education in providing high quality education for all Connecticut children through effective leadership.
CABE Vision Statement: CABE is passionate about strengthening public education through high-performing, transformative local school board/superintendent leadership teams that inspire success for each child.
So You Want To Be A Board Member? A briefing on preparing for public office
September 21, 2021 AGENDA 12:00 pm – 12:20 pm Time and Personal Commitment of Being a Board Member Presenter: Donald Harris, Board Chair, Bloomfield Board of Education; President, CABE Board of Directors
12:20 pm – 12:50 pm Board Member Roles and Responsibilities Leadership Opportunities for Board Members Working with Other Board Members and Maximizing Your Effectiveness as a Board Member Presenter: Robert Rader, Executive Director, CABE 12:50 pm – 1:20 pm Issues Facing Public Education Today Presenter: Patrice McCarthy, Deputy Director and General Counsel, CABE 1:20 pm – 1:30 pm Q&A Session
So You Want to Be a Board Member CABE Staff Presenters Bob Rader Executive Director Patrice McCarthy, Esq. Deputy Director & General Counsel Sheila McKay Senior Staff Associate for Government Relations
A little about CABE
Advocacy
Professional Development--Convention Nov. 12; New Board Member and Leadership Workshop December 8
Policy support, since boards run on policies
Communications, including emails, webinars, etc. 1
I. Why we have school boards
State Constitution: “there will always be free elementary and secondary education in the State”
Legislature delegated this responsibility to boards of education
School board members are “agents of the State”
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II. Condition of Education in Connecticut edsight.com. Look for Profile and Performance Reports
166 boards with approximately 1200 members across the State; 527,000 students A little over 1,000 schools in the State. 17 technical high schools run by the State Board and 17 charter schools. There are also about 58 fulltime magnet schools. Alliance Districts Commissioner’s Network Schools 3
III. What boards of education do:
Connect will of the community to education of its children;
Three biggest responsibilities of the Board, acting together:
1. Working with the Superintendents; 2. Adopting policies and 3. adopting and overseeing the budget. 4
IV. The roles and responsibilities of individual board members
Understand roles and responsibilities See board service as opportunity to serve Follow best precepts of boardsmanship Represent all of the children Advocate for public education Ethics, ethics, ethics 5
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Be a leader! Hard job; time consuming job, but ultimately satisfying when you look back… Nelson Mandela- Spoke many times about education. It was his belief that “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” How will you change the world?
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COVID
Extraordinary effort by teachers, staff, BOE members, Superintendents during this time.
Executive Order-mask mandate in schools, following the guidance of the CDC, contact tracing, and testing.
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Social Emotional Learning SDE and partners to develop state-wide social emotional support strategy SDE will develop SEL standards for grades 4-12 by 10/2022 SDE has entered a partnership with Aperture Education to provide a statewide SEL assessment for K-12. The Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA) System and the DESSA-mini are available to all Connecticut districts at no cost. 8
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Education Funding The state grant for education funding is the Education Cost Sharing Formula known as ECS. In 2017, the legislature adopted a new formula. Due to COVID, the phase in/out schedule has been extended 2 years and all phase outs have been suspended for 2 years. In the most recent two year state budget there was a $14.1 million dollar increase due to changes in weighted student count for poverty and English language factors.
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Minimum Budget Requirement The MBR is what a district must budget to spend on education. It is based on the amount you spent last year plus any increase received in ECS last year. There are exemptions-Federal COVID funds, security updates to a school, enrollment changes, closing of a school, to name few.
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Special Education
For many districts the special education costs are about 20% of the school district’s budget
If a student is out placed(not educated in district), the costs can be as much as $200,000 annually per student.
The state’s commitment to funding special education begins after a district expands more than 4 ½ times their average per pupil expenditure. 11
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Special Education
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Example- if your district spends $10,000 to educate a student, the state would reimburse the district after it had spent $45,000.
However, the state caps the grant, so reimbursement is only about 75%.
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Connecticut Code of Ethics for Boards of Education The Code of Ethics is based upon “Standards of Leadership for Members of Boards of Education” recommended by the CABE Board of Directors in 1974, and on the preliminary “Code of Ethics” recommended in 1977. 1. I will be a staunch advocate of high quality free public education for all Connecticut children. In fulfilling my responsibilities, I will think of “children first.” 2. I will, as an agent of the state, uphold and enforce all laws, rules, regulations and court orders pertaining to public schools. I will strive to bring any needed change only through legal and ethical procedures. 3. I will strive to help create public schools which meet the individual educational needs of all children regardless of their ability, race, creed, sex or social standing. 4. I will work unremittingly to help my community understand the importance of proper support for public education, whether it be in providing adequate finance, optimum facilities, staffing and resources, or better educational programs for children. 5. I will join with my board, staff, community and students in becoming fully informed about the nature, value and direction of contemporary education in our society. I will support needed change in our schools. 6. I will strive to ensure that the community is fully and accurately informed about our schools, and will try to interpret community aspirations to the school staff. 7. I will recognize that my responsibility is not to “run the schools” through administration, but together with my fellow board members, to see that they are well-run through effective policies. 8. I will attempt to confine my board action to policy-making, planning and appraisal, and will help to frame policies and plans only after my board has consulted those who will be affected by its actions. 9. I will arrive at conclusions only after discussing all aspects of the issue at hand with my fellow board members in meeting. I will respect the opinions of others, and abide by the principal of majority-rule. 10. I will recognize that authority rests only with the whole board assembled in meeting, and will make no personal promises nor take any private action which may compromise the board.
11. I will acknowledge that the board represents the entire school community, and will refuse to surrender my independent judgment to special interest or partisan political groups. I will never use my position on the board for the gain of myself or my friends. 12. I will hold confidential all matters pertaining to schools which, if disclosed, might needlessly injure individuals or the schools. 13. I will insist that all school business transactions be open and ethical. 14. I will strive to appoint the best professional leader available when a vacancy exists in the chief administrative position. 15. I will strive to appoint the best trained technical and professional personnel available, upon recommendation by the appropriate administrative officer. 16. I will support and protect school personnel in the proper performance of their duties. I will strive to ensure that all personnel have not only the requisite responsibilities, but the necessary authority to perform effectively. 17. I will refer all complaints through the proper “chain of command” within the system, and will act on such complaints at public meetings only when administrative solutions fail.
Connecticut Association of Boards of Education
Education Funding Issue Profile September 2021
Reductions in state support and local fiscal constraints have resulted in significant budget cuts to education, impacting programs and services. CABE supports: 3 Developing and funding a comprehensive education funding formula that is fair, equitable and predictable to include appropriate support for special education, English Learners and children living in poverty. 3 Avoiding the transfer of state obligations to local property taxpayers. 3 Maintaining the Minimum Budget Requirement to meet student needs. The Education Formula The education funding formula in Connecticut is known as Education Cost Sharing, or more commonly, ECS. • • • •
3 factors - foundation, student need and base aid Foundation - $11,525 Total student need – student count with weightings for high need students Base aid ratio - a measure of town wealth
In the 2017 bipartisan budget a phase in/out of ECS was established, setting a new “base grant amount” from which future aid is based. The 2021 General Assembly “paused” the phase out for 2 years. • Extends phasing in/out until FY 29
81 Wolcott Hill Road, Wethersfield, CT 06109 • 860-571-7446 • Fax 860-571-7452 • www.cabe.org
Connecticut Association of Boards of Education
School Security
All those that work and learn in our schools should feel safe and secure in order to thrive in their pursuits. Issue Profile September 2021
CABE’s position:
CABE urges all Connecticut school boards: 1. To address the influence of violence affecting children through school board policies, parent education programs, peer mediation, student assistance teams, and the school district curriculum to maintain an environment that fosters learning and growth. 2. To develop, review and maintain safety plans that address prevention, preparedness, mitigation, and emergency response and recovery. 3. To address environmental, health and safety risks, as well as potential security breaches in coordination with appropriate local, state and federal agencies. CABE urges the state and federal government to provide greater and sustained resources for locally determined programs that are critical to school safety, including emergency preparedness and response training, school resource officers, school counseling, and interagency coordination. CABE urges greater and sustained resources that expand access to mental health services and support comprehensive wraparound services to schools that include a range of community resources to address safety and intervention.
Safe School Climate Plans
The local or regional Board of Education shall approve a safe school climate plan developed pursuant to statute and submit such plan to the Department of Education for its review, analysis, cooperative assistance and approval. SDE is required to approve or reject a local or regional board of education’s safe school climate
plan (each board’s anti-bullying policy) within 30 days of receiving it and, in the event it is rejected, requires the board to revise and resubmit the plan for approval. Not later than 30 calendar days after approval by the SDE, the safe school climate plan shall be made available on the Board’s and each individual school in the District’s internet website and such plan is to be included in the District’s publication of the rules, procedures and standards of conduct for schools and in all student handbooks.
Trauma-Informed Practices Training The State Board of Education, within available
appropriations, must assist and encourage local and regional school boards to provide in-service training on optional topics (e.g., mental health first aid training). SBE is required to assist and encourage school boards to also include in their in-service training trauma-informed practices for the school setting, so that school employees can more adequately respond to students with mental, emotional, or behavioral health needs.
School Resource Officers and Boards of Education A local or regional school board that assigns a
sworn police officer to a school (i.e., school resource officer) is required to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the local police department that defines the officer’s role and responsibilities. The MOU must address daily interactions among students, school personnel, and police officers. The MOU is required to include a graduated response model for student discipline.
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81 Wolcott Hill Road, Wethersfield, CT 06109 • 860-571-7446 • Fax 860-571-7452 • www.cabe.org
School Security Grant Programs Multi-Media Interoperable Communications Systems (MM SSGP)
This grant sets aside $5 million for schools to be able to purchase interoperable systems that are capable of transmitting communications or notifications to law enforcement agencies and/or their call centers. Of the $5M, 10% or $500,000 is available to eligible non-public schools, child care centers and pre-schools and 90% or $4,500,000 is available to eligible public schools.
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Eligible applicants: Public Schools (K-12), Regional Education Service Centers (RESC), Governing Authority for a State Charter School, Department of Education on behalf of Technical High Schools, An Incorporated Endowed High School or Academy approved by the State Department of Education
For a camera, radio, panic button, Internet of Thing (IoT) system to be included in this application, it must include the capability of transmitting communications/notifications to law enforcement and/or their call centers. It can also include system(s) that integrate existing cameras, radios, panic buttons, etc. for transmission over internet protocol to first responders and/or their call centers. The goal is to make communications and information sharing between first responders and schools as quick and seamless as possible. Each school can consider its needs and design a system that it as practical as possible.
Round 5 of the School Security Competitive Grant Program (R5 SSGP)
5 of SSGP. Of the $5M, 10% or $500,000 is available to eligible non-public schools, child care centers and pre-schools and 90% or $4,500,000 is available to eligible public schools. Examples of allowable equipment: • Portable entrance security devices, including metal detector wands, screen machines and related items • Interior and exterior surveillance cameras – (Which do not tie into law enforcement or their call centers) • Ballistic glass • Penetration resistant window film • Solid core doors • Computer controlled locks • Entry door buzzer systems • Scan card access control • Panic alarms • Radios for internal school use • Fencing (6 feet or higher) • Security lighting • Bollards • Vendor training costs related to the operation and maintenance of the equipment funded by this grant program • Other projects upon approval from DEMHS A safe schools checklist - must be done for each school funding is being applied for.
Resources Sandy Hook Promise a non-profit was formed by family members of the students killed. To combat gun violence, Sandy Hook Promise has created Know the Signs, teaching young people and adults to recognize, intervene and get help for individuals who may be socially isolated and/or at risk of hurting themselves or others. https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/our-programs/program-overview/
Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA) has created a curriculum, Student Tools for Emergency Planning. It is a modular emergency preparedness curriculum with fun activities that can be used in many different settings, inside and outside of school. It is geared for students in fourth grade and above. https://www.ready.gov/kids/student-tools-emergency-planning-step
The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection is required to (1) update state school security and safety plan standards every three years, starting by January 1, 2020; (2) simplify certain school security reporting requirements; and (3) develop criteria to identify qualified school security consultants and limit the existing registry to such individuals only. SDE has related duties. DESPP has identified the essential components for school security reporting and indicate how the department will simplify them. The Department must implement the new requirements based on its findings by July 1, 2020 (PA 19-52, most provisions effective upon passage). Public Act 20-1 also provided $5 million for Round
CABE, 81 Wolcott Hill Road, Wethersfield, CT 06109 • 860-571-7446 • fax 860-571-7452 • www.cabe.org
Executive Committee
2020-2021 CABE Board of Directors
President Donald Harris Bloomfield
H: 860-243-3611 B: 860-878-1403 E: dharris@blmfld.org First Vice President Elizabeth Brown Waterbury H: 203-754-7136 C: 203-560-7028 E: ebrown@waterbury.k12.ct.us Vice President for Professional Development Bryan Hall East Hartford C: 860-982-7600 E: educationfirst27@yahoo.com Vice President for Government Relations Leonard Lockhart Windsor C: 860-243-2155 E: llockhart@windsorct.org
Executive Committee Member at Large Christopher Wilson Bristol H: 860-582-5002 C: 860-681-8274 E: cwilson@cvmco.com
Area Directors Area 1 Vacant
Immediate Past President Robert R. Mitchell Montville H: 860-447-8882 B: 860-443-7441 E: rrmitch01gmail.com
C:203-858-4010 E: kkleine@westport.k12.ct.us Area 7 George Kurtyka Derby
Area 7 Robert Guthrie West Haven Area 2 Bryan Hall East Hartford H: 203-934-7565 C: 203-996-2382 E: rjgwh911@yahoo.com C: 860-982-7600 E: educationfirst27@yahoo.com Area 2 Leonard Lockhart Windsor
Area 8 Lon Seidman Essex
C:860-577-0566 E: lseidman@reg4.K12.ct.us C: 860-243-2155 E: llockhart@windsorct.org Area 3 Vacant
Area 9 Sean Nugent Preston
H: 860-204-0824 C: 860-625-3162 E: s.t.nuge@gmail.com Area 4 Joan Trivella Woodstock Academy
H: 860-774-3589 B: 860-779-3770 C: 860-608-2673 E: Joan.Trivella@staffmark.com Area 5 Michelle Embree Ku Newtown
H: 203-364-9862 C: 401-439-0710 E: kum_boe@newtown.k12.ct.us
New Haven Yesenia Rivera New Haven
Associate Directors Associate Julie Auseré Canton
H: 203-732-4673 E:kurtyka@sbcglobal.net
Secretary/ Treasurer John Prins Branford
H: 203-481-6279 C: 203-623-6191 E: jrprins@gmail.com
Area 6 Karen Kleine Westport
City Representatives Bridgeport John Weldon Bridgeport
C: 203-726-1639 E: jweldon@bridgeporteda.net Hartford Ayesha Clarke Hartford
C: 860-985-5630 B: 860-695-8870 E: Ayesha.Clarke@hartfordschools.org
C: 203-989-0774 E: yesenia.rivera@new-haven. k12.ct.us Stamford Andy George Stamford
C: 203-322-3511 E: ageorge@stamfordct.gov Waterbury Charles Stango Waterbury
H: 203-575-041 E: charlesstango@sbcglobal.net
Committee Chairs Resolutions Chair Meg Scata Portland
C: 860-638-8762 E: megscata@gmail.com Federal Relations Chair Becky Tyrrell Plainville H: 860-793-0615 E: becka59@comcast.net State Relations Chair Michelle Embree Ku Newtown H: 203-364-9862 C: 401-439-0710 E: kum_boe@newtown.k12.ct.us
H: 972-816-0611 E: julie.ausere@gmail.com Associate Eileen Baker Old Saybrook
H: 860-388-2761 E: ebaker@snet.net Associate Ethel Grant Naugatuck
H: 203-723-2429 E: ethel.grant@naugatuck.k12. ct.us Associate Ann Gruenberg Hampton
H: 860-455-1211 C: 860-465-7486 E: agruenberg1211@charter.net Associate Robert Trefry CT Technical High School System C: 203-521-8371 E: rjtrefry@gmail.com Associate Elaine Whitney Westport
C: 203-221-7335 E: ewhitney@westport.k12.ct.us
NSBA Director Lydia Tedone Simsbury
H: 860-658-1173 C: 860-543-1523 E: lydiatedone@aol.com
CABE Staff here to help you meet your needs Membership
Administration
CABE’s Administration Department can help you with: general information; board relations; student leadership; board leadership; accounts receivable; accounts payable; district dues; Unemployment Cost Control; reporter inquiries
Robert Rader Executive Director rrader@cabe.org
Teresa Costa Coordinator of Finance and Administration tcosta@cabe.org
Corliss Ucci Receptionist/Assistant to the Executive Director cucci@cabe.org
Patrice A. McCarthy Deputy Director and General Counsel pmccarthy@cabe.org
Sheila McKay Senior Staff Associate for Government Relations smckay@cabe.org
Gail Heath Administrative Associate for Government Relations gheath@cabe.org
Government Relations
CABE’s Government Relations Department can help you with: advocacy; reporter inquiries; Resolutions; Education Law Summaries; legislative issues; Advocacy Highlights; Day-onthe-Hill; Delegate Assembly; Legislative Wrap-Up; broadcast emails; website
CABE’s Membership Department can help you with: Convention; board/superintendent relations; board training; reporter inquiries; workshops; CABE Journal; CABE CONNection; Board Member Academy; individual workshops; publications; Board Member Academy credits; database; broadcast emails; website.
Nicholas Caruso Senior Staff Associate for Field Services ncaruso@cabe.org
Policy
CABE’s Policy Service Department can help you with: Policy Audits Service; Custom Policy Manual; Policy Highlights Service; Policy Update Service; sample policies; updates on CD; consultancy; C.O.P.S.; online policy; broadcast emails; website
Vincent A. Mustaro Senior Staff Associate for Policy Service vmustaro@cabe.org
Pamela Brooks Senior Administrative Associate for Policy Services/Search Services pbrooks@cabe.org
Terry DeMars Administrative Associate for Policy Services tdemars@cabe.org
Lisa Steimer Senior Staff Associate for Professional Development and Communications lsteimer@cabe.org
Labor Relations
CABE’s Labor Relations Department can help you with: legal issues; Negotiations Data Service; Custom Negotiations Service; District Information Statistics; broadcast emails; website; reporter inquiries
Nancy Propfe Administrative Assistant for Membership Services npropfe@cabe.org Conrad Vahlsing Staff Attorney cvahlsing@cabe.org
Wilmarie Newton Administrative Associate for Labor Relations wnewton@cabe.org
For more information on any of these services call 860-571-7446 or email a staff member. 9/17/2021
Messaging Platform The Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) is the foremost statewide organization focused on school district governance and the only organization in the state devoted exclusively to promoting effective leadership among boards of education. CABE has been serving boards of education since 1906. Today, the organization partners with about 90 percent of the Connecticut PreK-12 boards of education. Our nearly 1,200 members, representing more than half of all elected officials in the state, collectively serve as a powerful voice for the advancement of public education.
Mission
Vision
To assist local and regional boards of education in providing high-quality public education for all Connecticut children through effective leadership.
CABE is passionate about strengthening public education through high-performing, transformative local school board / superintendent leadership teams that inspire success for each child.
Services CABE provides services to its members in three main areas: education, advocacy, and support.
EDUCATION
ADVOCACY
SUPPORT
CABE is the premier provider of professional development for Connecticut’s boards of education, from orientation programs for new members to customized workshops for individual school districts.
CABE is the leading advocate for Connecticut’s school boards on education policy and funding issues at the state and federal levels, amplifying the needs and concerns of school districts across the state.
CABE has unparalleled experience in promoting effective governance through leading-edge training programs that our members hail as second to none.
CABE is also the preeminent provider of legal information and assistance to boards of education and superintendents and has successfully participated as amicus curiae in landmark cases affecting PreK12 education statewide.
CABE is uniquely qualified to provide timely, informative supports and resources to help its member districts navigate emerging issues in the public education landscape, including the latest trends and developments in policy and labor relations. CABE also has several decades of experience conducting executive searches to assist districts in the recruitment and selection of top-notch candidates for superintendent and other leadership positions.
STRENGTHENING PUBLIC EDUCATION
Connecticut Association of Boards of Education 81 Wolcott Hill Road, Wethersfield, CT 06109 860-571-7446 | 860-571-7452 (fax) | www.cabe.org