The CABE Journal - April 2021

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www.cabe.org

Vol. 25, No. 4

April, 2021

View from the Capitol

Vaccination Webinar for Those Who Need More Information

Patrice McCarthy

Deputy Director and General Counsel, CABE

Robert Rader

Executive Directory, CABE

side is coming from. Thus critical issues are reduced to personal attacks which accomplish nothing. For many successful Connecticut boards, success has not involved much partisanship. After elections are over, we forget our party affiliations dedicating ourselves to cooperative efforts running and improving our schools. Unfortunately, this same approach to management and leadership in not practiced by all districts nor is it alive and well either at the state or federal levels. Our state and federal colleagues seem to have lost or discarded the concepts of listening, respecting the person across the table, or of a “loyal opposition”, ready to fill leadership positions with the inevitable changes come after each election. Wouldn't it be refreshing to hear, after lobbying in Hartford or D.C., a response of “I hear you. You have a point and I shall work to get changes made, and soon!” Perhaps, perish the thought, we might even be convinced to change our own individual support of a See DEBATES page 9

See VACCINATION WEBINAR page 9

Spring has sprung!

Cal Heminway

Past President, CABE

Remember in high school when you were faced with the prospect of participating in a “debate”? You would be required to stand up and defend a position, perhaps one you didn't personally endorse. You would be required to follow a set of personal conduct rules with prearranged time limits. At the end of the process, you were expected to continue to be on speaking terms with your opponent. Move to today's environment. With the advent of Zoom, issues, forums and debates have proliferated as organizations and advocacy groups have seized on the medium to get their word out. The problem often is that neither side of an argument follows the rules. Results are predictable; neither side listens or tries to understand where the other

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Let the Real Debates Begin!

81 Wolcott Hill Road Wethersfield, CT 06109-1242

Connecticut Association of Boards of Education Inc.

Public hearings have continued in a remote format for all of the legislative committees. The length of the Public Health Committee hearing on legislation to remove the religious exemption for student vaccinations was a record 24 hours in length. Education Committee hearings have gone as long as 12 hours. While the virtual format has increased the volume of testimony provided, in most cases there has been limited interaction between legislators and those providing testimony. The Legislature has used the “emergency certification” (e-cert) process to bring several issues to a vote in the full House and Senate. The Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate can e-cert a bill that has not gone through all of the committee hearings and referrals. It is unclear to what extent that process will continue to be used. Input from school board members and superintendents remains a critical part of the process, whether through submission of testimony, emails or phone calls.

On Wednesday, March 10, CABE, in support of Health Equity Solutions (HES) and the State, hosted a webinar on Dispelling COVID-19 Vaccination Myths. We strongly recommend Board Members and Superintendents encourage anyone in your communities who need more information about the vaccination(s) to watch the recording of the webinar (https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=W5IYpwFT-Zo). They will learn about the virus, how the vaccines were developed and why it is critical for everyone to get their inoculations. They will also hear answers to many questions asked by Board Members. The webinar was led by Dr. Reginald Eadie, President and Chief Executive Officer, Trinity Health of New England, with Ayesha Clarke, Deputy Director, Health Equity Solutions (and Hartford Board of Education Chair). They provided a thoughtful, comprehensive look at the vaccine and the strategy to eliminate the disease. Helping disseminate factual information about the vaccines is especially important for Board Members, school staff, parents and members of the public in communities with high percentages of Black, Indigenous and People of Color. One of the effects of racial discrimination over many years has increased skepticism about vaccinations. Therefore, addressing these myths and informing individuals can increase the

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Bullying and First Amendment Rights

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Use of Body Book Review: Emerging Legal Cameras by March by Issues: Native School Resource Lewis, Aydin American Officers and Powell Mascots

Periodical Postage PAID Hartford, CT


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