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:

By providing opportunities for members to learn how to better govern their districts: z Responded to 72 requests for policy information from 33 districts, providing sample materials on policy 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 were those pertaining to Cybersecurity, Directory Information, Civility, and Weapons and Dangerous Instruments. z Provided support to board members and central office administrators regarding policy matters. z Facilitated a virtual Policy Matters Roundtable for Board of Education Policy Chairs. This was attended by 11 board members/administrators from the districts of Hartford, Marlborough, Newtown, Norwich, Preston, Region 1, Region 18, Somers, and Woodbridge. This will be held on a quarterly basis.

By providing services to meet member needs: z Facilitated Board Chair Check-In. z Revised policies, as part of the Custom Update Policy Service, for z Prepared materials, as part of the Custom Policy Service, for East Hampton, The Gilbert School, New Fairfield, Sterling and Westbrook z Currently assisting Canterbury and Granby Boards of Education with their superintendent search. Assisting Preston Public Schools with a Middle School Principal search. z Completed a superintendent search for East Hartford Public Schools. z Responded to a variety of legal inquiries from members. z Provided webinar on the work of the CGA Education Committee z Facilitated a board retreat on communicating facilities needs to the public for the Portland Board of Education. z Presented a CABE Bonnie B. Carney Award of Excellence for Educational Communications to the Glastonbury Board of Education. z Discussed potential training for a student advisory board for the Hartford Public Schools.

By helping school boards to increase student achievement: z Sent one issue of “Policy Highlights” via e-mail list serve covering topics that affect student achievement. This issues topic discussed Developing AI Guidelines.

By attending Professional Development to strengthen staff knowledge and skills: z Attended NSBA Council of School Attorneys Seminar. z Participated in NSBA State Association Counsel meeting. z Participated in NSPRA webinar on Reframing the Conversation About

Child and Adolescent Vaccinations z Participated in webinar on Using Artificial Intelligence Strategically z Participated in quarterly New England School Public Relations Association (NESPRA) member check-in.

By representing Connecticut school boards on the state or national level: z Participated in calls with state school board association executive directors. z Provided workshops at the NSBA Annual Conference on Avoiding Liability” and “Promoting Civility. z Attended NSBA Delegate Assembly. z Attended press conference on educator evaluation and support changes. z Participated in NSBA Northeast Region virtual meeting. z Attended State Board of Education meeting. z Participate in meeting with CCM and CRCOG regarding municipal job vacancies. z Participated in state school board association convention managers meeting. z Participated NESPRA conference planning meeting. z Participated in a meeting of CT members of NESPRA z Taught a class on school board relations to a superintendent certification class at Sacred Heart University z Attended meetings of the Board of Directors, the Ship Committee and the Education Committee for Discovering Amistad.

By helping districts operate efficiently and conserve resources: z Posted policies online, as part of the C.O.P.S. Program for Derby, New Fairfield, Cheshire, Monroe, Somers, Ridgefield Public Schools and the CABE CORE Manual.

See You In Court

(continued from page 4) come their input. However, Bruno or NUTS would have no right to demand negotiations over the plan, let alone bring a dispute to binding arbitration.

Finally, the coming school year will be a year of transition. On March 1, 2023, the State Board of Education extended the Flexibilities in implementing the teacher evaluation and support plans for the 2023-2024 school year. These Flexibilities may be adopted in local and regional districts by mutual agreement between the district PDEC and the board of education. Given the significant changes proposed for the guidelines for teacher evaluation for 2024-2025, the coming year will be a time for learning and developing plans based on the new guidelines for teacher evaluation so that they may be implemented faithfully starting July 1, 2024.

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.