The Journal – Connecticut Association of Boards of Education | March, 2020
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CABE: Working for YOU
Individualized Workshops | Professional Development Opportunities Legal Services | Policy Services | Representing You Statewide and Nationally Below are the highlights of activities that the CABE staff has undertaken on your behalf over the last month. We did this:
B y providing opportunities for members to learn how to better govern their districts:
z Presented Bonnie B. Carney Communication Awards to the Glastonbury Board of Education Facilitated Woodbridge Board of Education retreat. z Conducted CABE Leadership Institute. z Responded to 52 requests for policy information from 29 districts, one charter school, two out-of-state school board associations, one outof-state educational consultant and one newspaper, providing sample materials on 45 topics. Further, districts continue to access CABE’s online Core Policy Reference Manual and/or online manuals posted by CABE for policy samples. The topics of greatest interest pertained to district goals, recess time, ethics, attendance issues, electronic participation at board meetings and social media. z Presented Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) workshop for the Tolland Board of Education. z Presented roles and responsibilities workshops for Ansonia, Canton, Danbury, East Haven, Region #1 Board of Education (including the Canaan, Cornwall, Kent, North Canaan, Salisbury, and Sharon boards of education,) Sterling, and Tolland Boards of Education.
B y providing services to meet member needs:
z Provided legislative update for the Windsor Board of Education. z Auditing the policy manual of the Orange Public Schools. z Completed policy updates for East Hampton, Ellington, Gilbert School, Marlborough, New Fairfield, Putnam, and Windham as part of the Custom Update Service. z Provided board orientation workshop and facilitation of superintendent search questions and answers and board focus group for the Canterbury Board of Education. z Provided the Griswold Board of Education with protocols for board communications. z Facilitated Region #8 discussion
developing protocols for communications, i.e. most effective way for the board to communicate with each other and the superintendent. z Created memo to districts in response to inquiries regarding committee and subcommittee protocols and tips to avoid illegal meetings. z Provided information in response to 123 legal and labor relations questions from 38 districts. Topics included: • Posting union and non-union employment contracts on the district website. • Student residency determinations can be complex and must consider homelessness. • Conflict of interest policies covering non-financial conflicts and potential conflicts that impact board credibility and proactive low-drama strategies for handling them. • Title IX complaints for equal access to sports. • Student activity funds. • Sending administrative contracts to town clerks. z Facilitated workshop on shared vision between board and district administrators for Stonington. z Facilitated board of education selfevaluation with the Westport Board of Education. z Facilitated board/administrative workshop for the Ellington Board of Education.
B y helping school boards to increase student achievement:
z Sent were two issues of “Policy Highlights” via e-mail listserve covering topics that affect student achievement. Included topics pertained to homeless students, restorative justice discipline practices, protection of student privacy rights, and esports. z Provided question and answer support for Waterbury School Governance Councils.
B y ensuring members receive the most up-to-date communications:
z Prepared materials, as part of the Custom Policy Service for Ansonia, Danbury, and Montville. z Continued to update the 2020-2021 board of education budgets to the
Board Chair listserv. z Updated survey results regarding boards-towns maintaining undesignated funds of 1 percent or 2 percent in response to Board Chair listserv question.
B y promoting public education:
z Met with Chris Horan, Horan Communications, on developing a public relations initiative for CABE and boards of education. z Met with New Haven Register reporters. z Attended the CAPSS Board of Directors meeting. z Attended and presented at the Safe School Climate Collaborative.
B y representing Connecticut school boards on the state or national level:
z Participated in meetings of the Steering Committees of the Connecticut Voices for Children’s initiative and that of the Campaign for Working Connecticut on College and Career Readiness. z Participated in meeting of SDE’s Minority Teachers Recruitment Oversight Council. z Met with Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona, CAPSS Executive Director Fran Rabinowitz and others on anti-hate initiative. z Attended State Board of Education meeting. z Discussed strengthening NSBA with Steve Kutno of NSBA’s Growth Project. z Participated in meeting of the Connecticut Coalition for Public Education (CABE, CAPSS,
CAS, CEA, AFT-CT, CFSA [administrators’ union], CT PTA, and SDE [ex officio]. z Participated in meetings: to provide orientation of new state association executive directors; the Liaison Committee representing the executive directors of all school boards associations; the Winter Institute [professional development] for executive directors, NSBA survey committee; NSBA Equity Symposium; and the NSBA Advocacy Institute. z Attended Legislative Breakfast. held in Bloomfield. z Attended Legislative Breakfasts in CABE Areas 3, 6, and 7. z Attended SDE School Discipline meeting. z Met with House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, Education Committee Co-Chairmen, and various legislators. z Attended meeting of the CAPSS Technology subcommittee.
B y attending Professional Development to strengthen staff knowledge and skills.
z Participated in the State Department of Education’s (SDE) Zoom meeting on Increasing Educator Diversity. z Participated in Council of School Attorneys (COSA) special education webinar.
B y helping districts operate efficiently and conserve resources:
z Made revisions to the Model Student/Parent Handbook.
STATE MEETINGS OF INTEREST Wednesday, March 4
Friday, March 13
Friday, March 6
Wednesday, March 18
Wednesday, March 11
Friday, March 20
Education Committee Meeting followed by Public Hearing • 10:00 am Legislative Office Building, Room 1E
Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations 10:30 am Legislative Office Building, Room 1B Education Committee Meeting followed by Public Hearing • 11:00 am Legislative Office Building, Rm 1E
Education Committee Meeting/JF Bills 12:30 pm • Legislative Office Building, Room 1E
Education Committee Meeting/JF Bills 1:00 pm • Legislative Office Building, Room 1C
Education Committee Meeting/JF Bills 1:00 pm • Legislative Office Building, Room 2C
*Meetings and Public Hearings subject to change.
