The CABE Journal - July/August 2022

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Happy Summer!

B C

www.cabe.org

Vol. 26, No. 7

July/August, 2022

New London’s Early Childhood Education Initiative

Public Education:

Moving Forward for ALL Children

Patrice McCarthy

Lisa Steimer

Executive Director & General Counsel, CABE

See NEW LONDON page 9

The CABE/CAPSS Convention Committee continues to make great progress in planning the 2022 CABE/ CAPSS Convention, Public Education: Moving Forward for ALL Children, which will take place on November 18-19 at the Mystic Marriott Hotel.

Convention Workshops

Summer outdoor fun!

New CABE Executive Director Lisa Steimer

Sr. Staff Associate for Professional Development and Communications, CABE

On July 1, former Deputy Director and General Counsel Patrice McCarthy took the helm as CABE’s Executive Director and General Counsel. Patrice is the seventh Executive Director of the Association, having served as Interim Executive Director in 1995-96. Patrice started her career at CABE 39 years ago as a staff attorney. Over time, she assumed increased responsibilities within the association. McCarthy said, “I am excited to have the opportunity to serve CABE as Executive Director. CABE has a distinguished history dating from 1906 in fulfilling its mission to assist boards of education in providing high quality education for all Connecticut children through effective leadership. Our school boards and public education system are an essential component of our democracy. In these challenging times maintaining civility in public discourse is critical. I am energized to work with the CABE Board of Directors and staff to continue to move CABE forward.” Patrice shared the following with The Meriden Record-Journal in a July 14 interview: As executive director, McCarthy will set priorities “to assist

boards in providing high quality education through effective leadership.” Along with focusing on the children, McCarthy will stress the “importance of school board service” by helping current board members communicate why it is important to be a school board member. “Now more than ever people in communities need to step up and consider, whether they have the time and energy to serve on their local board,” McCarthy said. “And other community members need to support their boards of education because these are volunteer elected officials who have jobs and families and other interests and they are really taking on a role that is so important to our students as well as for our democracy.”

Please see more about Patrice’s vision in the Executive Director Commentary on page 3 of this month’s CABE Journal.

inside

At the start of the 2021-22 school year, the city of New London and the New London School District combined $1.525 million in federal Coronavirus relief funds to purchase the B.P. Learned Mission building, which now serves as a school for the district’s 80 Pre-K students during the day and a hub for community events and services in the evenings. The center focuses on children from birth through age 8 and provides not only education, but human services – including free diapers and clothes, community meals and a mental health consultant. The City’s Park and Recreation department also offers some enrichment classes for children in the facility. Superintendent Cynthia Ritchie said, “Ultimately, our goal is to help build the capacities of all – students, staff, families, and community to work together as co-partners in supporting the healthy developments (academic and social-emotional) of every child. It is our hope that we become a state model for others, through the sharing of our early childhood vision and framework, tools and resources, and actionable data collections. Birth to age eight is such a critical time as it sets the foundation for lifelong learning. Together, we aim to empower and engage constituents to be sure every young child is supported.” Topics for the community gatherings thus far have included fine and gross motor developments, storytelling, mental health, expanding language using everyday objects and addressing adverse childhood experiences and the challenges of COVID. Community gatherings occurred in the evenings every three weeks and have become incredibly popular with 80-100 guests each time. Ritchie said that having services that span from prenatal to elementary

Sr. Staff Associate for Professional Development and Communications, CABE

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Board Members: When is it Time to Quit?

The full Convention Committee met in June to make the final decisions regarding the proposals received. These are always lively conversations that include some difficult decisions. The Convention Committee looks forward to offering a solid lineup of workshops to Convention participants. Workshops will be group under four strands – Lessons Learned for the Future, Advocacy for Public Education, Diversity, and Nuts and Bolts.

Convention Registration

Convention early registration is open for all superintendents, CABE member board members, and CABE Education and Business Affiliates until August 26. Beginning August 27 all board members, superintendents and CABE Education and Business Affiliates may register.

Hotel Reservations

Those attending the annual CABE/ CAPSS Convention have been guaranteed a room rate of $160. We are grateful to the Marriott for providing See CABE/CAPSS CONVENTION page 3

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CT School Attorneys’ Council Holds Meeting

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Policy Corner: Keep Your Policies Current


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