SPRING MEETING OF SUPERINTENDENTS’ ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS Connecticut Workforce Summit

Patrice McCarthy Executive Director & General Counsel, CABE

The recent Connecticut Workforce Summit focused on leveraging public and private solutions. It brought together leaders from business, education and the nonprofit sector.

Tameshia Bridges Mansfield from Jobs for the Future discussed the quality jobs framework, which

See You In Court

(continued from page 4) meeting, with executive session being limited to subjects so privileged, such as discussion of individual candidates under consideration.

Bob and his Committee made two other mistakes. First, having a set of prepared questions presented to each candidate is part of an effective interview process. Moreover, includes: consistency also serves to ensure a fair search process. Asking different candidates different questions can result in a claim of discrimination by an unsuccessful candidate, either because the question relates to personal characteristics not justified by business necessary (e.g., “how old are you?” or “are you married?”), or because the candidate claims that unique questions posed to him or her operated to discriminate against the candidate.

• Compensation, including a living wage, health care and paid leave.

• Advancement, including career ladders and pathways and access to professional development and training opportunities.

• Agency and culture, ensuring an inclusive environment, including DEI practices and promoting trust and belonging.

• Structure, including equitable application of all policies, practices and adherence to laws regarding workplace health and safety.

She noted that 20 percent of high school graduates do not have a job or post-secondary plan when they graduate. Mansfield emphasized the need for collaboration between business and education, since policy is

Second, Bob signed the contract with the search consultants on behalf of the Committee. However, the “sole purpose” of the Committee by statute was to recommend a candidate, and the Committee had no authority to enter into a contract, either on its behalf or on behalf of the Nutmeg Board. Rather, once a personnel search committee identifies a search consultant, the board of education must take formal action in open session to retain made by people who know and trust each other. the services of the search consultant, even if all the board members are serving as the members of the personnel search committee.

A panel of public school students provided their perspectives on career pathways. Liberty Blanco from East Hartford High School, Gabrielle Hendricks from Weaver High School and Bryan Ortiz from Hartford Public High School discussed the value of the career pathway programs they had experienced.

Attorney Thomas B. Mooney is a partner in the Hartford law firm of Shipman & Goodwin who works frequently with boards of education. Mooney is a regular contributor to the CABE Journal. Shipman & Goodwin is a CABE Business Affiliate.