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www.cabe.org
Vol. 25, No. 1
January, 2021
Historic Vote by CT State Board of Education
View from the Capitol Patrice McCarthy
Deputy Director and General Counsel, CABE
Sheila McKay
Sr. Staff Associate for Government Relations, CABE
See VIEW FROM THE CAPITOL page 2
Resolutions Committee Chairman Leonard Lockhart (Windsor) presented the recommendations of the Resolutions and Government Relations Committee to the delegates for action. The delegates reaffirmed their support for many CABE positions, including economic, racial and ethnic integration; 21st century skills; school climate; civility; See VIRTUAL ASSEMBLY page 7
See HISTORIC VOTE page 10
Happy New Year!
CABE Virtual Delegate Assembly Patrice McCarthy
Deputy Director and General Counsel, CABE
CABE’s first virtual Delegate Assembly was held on November 19, 2020. The first order of business was the election of officers. All current members of the CABE Executive Committee were eligible for re-election and were elected by acclamation. They included: President, Donald Harris, Bloomfield; First Vice President, Elizabeth Brown, Waterbury; Vice President for Government Relations, Michael Purcaro, Ellington;
Guilford’s Paul Freeman Named 2021 Superintendent of the Year CAPSS has named Paul Freeman, Superintendent in Guilford, as the 2021 Superintendent of the Year. Superintendents of the Year are selected for their excellence in leadership, communication, professionalism and community involvement. Freeman has served as Guilford’s superintendent since 2011. Prior to leading Guilford’s school system, he served as superintendent of the Griswold Public Schools, and in various administrative roles in the East Lyme school Paul Freeman system. His career as an educator started as an English language arts teacher in the Amity school district, teaching middle and high school students. When asked for a comment, CABE Executive Director Robert Rader said, “We are so glad that Paul has been honored in this way. Members of our Staff have worked with him over the years and we know what a thoughtful, innovative leader he has been. Congratulations, Paul!”
Vice President for Professional Development, Bryan Hall, East Hartford; and Secretary/Treasurer John Prins, Branford. Bob Mitchell, Montville serves as Immediate Past President and Lydia Tedone, Simsbury serves on the Board in her role as NSBA Director. Elected as Area Directors to the CABE Board of Directors were: Area 2 Director Leonard Lockhart, Windsor; Area 4 Director Joan Trivella, Woodstock Academy; Area 7 Director George Kurtyka, Derby; and Area 8 Director Lon Seidman, Essex. Congratulations to all!
Adoption of Resolutions
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Legislators, just like school boards, will be demonstrating great flexibility, creativity and resiliency during the upcoming Legislative session, which begins on January 6. The “View from the Capitol” will most likely be by Zoom, GoToMeeting, WebEx or another virtual platform, at least during the first several months. The need for virtual public hearings may provide the opportunity for greater participation, and we are hopeful that board members and superintendents will take advantage of these opportunities to communicate with legislators. Incoming House Speaker Matt Ritter has indicated that it will be necessary to limit the number of bills
PA19-12, An Act Concerning the Inclusion of Black and Latino Studies in the Public School Curriculum required the CT State Board of Education to review and approve, by January 1, 2021, a Black and Latino studies high school course that the State Education Resource Center (SERC) would develop. Members of the State Board were moved as they took the lead in the United States to support requirements for coursework by their overwhelming vote of approval at their December meeting. The process to take input from stakeholders was very inclusive. Legislators, educators, students, and higher education professors all provided input. CABE’s appointment to the task force to create the course was Dolores Bolton, of the Bloomfield Board of Education. She was impressed by the large group of stakeholders and what their diversity brought to the process. Districts may offer the full year course in the 2021-22 year but must offer it beginning in September 2022. As required by the act, the State Board of Education must make curriculum materials available to assist boards develop their instructional programs. For the school years 2022-23 to 202425, the State Department of Education must (1) conduct an annual audit to ensure that the Black and Latino studies course approved under the act is being offered by each board of education and (2) annually report on the
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