B C
www.cabe.org
Vol. 26, No. 2
February, 2022
View from the Capitol
Malware and Ransomware…
Everywhere!
Patrice McCarthy
Deputy Director and General Counsel, CABE
Robert Rader
Executive Director, CABE
As the 2022 legislative session is about to begin on February 9, the view from the Capitol remains cloudy - with a chance of snow, sleet and thunder. While back in December, legislative leaders were optimistic about opening the Legislative Office Building and Capitol to the public, the recent resurgence of COVID has cast a shadow on that plan. CABE leaders and staff continue our meetings with House, Senate and Committee leadership in a virtual environment. While it is a short legislative session, legislative leaders have expressed their commitment to addressing the issues of social and emotional well-being, special education funding and attracting and retaining a more diverse educator workforce. These issues are among CABE’s Legislative Priorities, and we will be working with districts to obtain the data legislators need to pursue these issues.
Everyone who supports Connecti-
Last December, the Nebraska School Boards Association, host of the CABE database, which we use to keep track of school board members’ and superintendents’ contact information so that we can send them publications, including the CABE Journal, information on upcoming events, Advocacy and Policy Highlights and more, was hit by a ransomware attack. Luckily, this occurred after the CABE/CAPSS Convention, when we are reliant on the database for maintaining registration lists and other information. However, it happened while we were preparing for the New Board Member/Experienced Board Member Conference. Attendees may have thought the whole process was seamless, but we owe a debt of gratitude to CABE staffers Wilmarie Newton and Nancy Propfe, who worked with the Nebraska Association to develop a workaround. As we moved into January, our website provider, Finalsite, was also hit by a ransomware attack, which required Finalsite to take our website offline preventing us from sending out our weekly What’s Going on at CABE email blast. It also prevented us from providing information to our members and others that could easily be seen on www.cabe.org. We also learned that some district websites were knocked off line, too. Both the Nebraska Association
See SUPPORT page 9
See MALWARE page 6
Winter fun!
#ISupportMyCTPublicSchools
February 1-16, 2022 Lisa Steimer
Sr. Staff Associate for Professional Development and Communications, CABE
Join us and participate in a statewide initiative to send the message “I support my Connecticut public schools!”
Why Participate?
While long-time Hartford resident and author Mark Twain said, “Out of the public schools grows the greatness of a nation” in 1900, the words still ring true in 2022. You and your community can show support for Connecticut’s public schools – the heart of our communities. Let your support of
public education be heard!
How Can I Participate? Social Media Platforms
Share why you support YOUR Connecticut Public Schools! Use #ISUPPORTMYCTPUBLICSCHOOLS and tag your district. Be sure to use the hashtag so we can collect and share the positive messages!
Media Messages
Write a letter or op-ed for your local paper sharing why you support your public schools. Be sure to share your published pieces with us by emailing them to Lisa Steimer at lsteimer@cabe.org.
inside
Who Can Participate?
7
Advice for New School Board Members
11
Book Review:
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You Don’t Have to The Savvy Ally: A Guide Like Each Other to for Becoming a Skilled Work Together LGBTQ+ Advocate Professionally
81 Wolcott Hill Road Wethersfield, CT 06109-1242
Connecticut Association of Boards of Education Inc.
Periodical Postage PAID Hartford, CT