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The Journal – Connecticut Association of Boards of Education | January 2017
PRESIDENT COMMENTARY
President’s Perspectives Ann Gruenberg PRESIDENT, CABE
With a new year comes new beginnings, the spirit of renewal and many shared wishes. The holiday exchanges may become so routine that we hardly consider a deeper level meaning and the intensity of the holiday season may yield to a refreshing opportunity to begin with a new start. As board members and educational leaders, we are change agents. We are also the sustainers of support, stewards of commitment and shepherds of many. Ringing in the new year, with all its festivities, is also a time for bringing in some of what is new, but we need to take pause. As the song goes: “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.” We need to be careful regarding the temptation to simply get rid of that which is old, for the sake of novelty. We could debate the value of continuity over change, and the definitions of some words we may use without thinking, such as “fiscal conservatism.” Many with progressive priorities may also consider themselves fiscally conservative. This is a time when a major part of the process of advocacy may hinge on creating shared definitions and clarifying our meaningful intent. The decision about whether to re-use,
SCHOOL DISTRICTS
(continued from page 1) their primary duties involve “teaching, tutoring, instruction or lecturing.” The definition of teacher includes certified staff, including those teaching academic courses, kindergarten or pre-kindergarten, gifted and talented students, trades and occupations, music, and in some cases athletics, including coaches and assistant coaches. District employees who are not exempt (unless paid threshold wages and performing executive, administrative or professional duties) include: • teachers whose primary duty is caring for the physical needs of students; • school nurses who are LPNs; • paraprofessionals; and not require certification. Current speculation regarding the fate of the new rule, under the Trump administration, centers around the following possibilities: • The appeal will be heard and decided as scheduled; • The DOL will drop the appeal and the regulations will take effect as of a future date or; • The administration will broker a compromise, pursuant to which the threshold will increase but not under the current level of $47,475. CABE advises districts to address the potential for a rule change by reviewing
re-cycle or toss wrapping paper for most occurs without much deliberation. We just do it. The decisions, however, regarding what to do with our educational systems are different. A few years ago, after attending a college reunion and hearing Coretta Scott King speak at the alma mater we shared, albeit at different times, I found myself appreciating the progressive tradition. That may sound like an oxymoron - a contradiction of terms. It succeeded, however, in describing a shared commitment to educational values that included understanding of the importance of experiential learning, real-life problem-solving, social justice integrated into the curriculum and ongoing advocacy. The progressive values of Horace Mann and other thought leaders are as important now as they were over one hundred years ago. Hence, the progressive tradition lives on. Throwing out old systems and practices as we toss out old wrapping paper is neither necessary or advantageous. New beginnings based on a disregard for what has been established and recognized as recommended practice is not efficient nor effective. We do not need change just for the sake of novelty. We need change that is based on careful consideration to serve children well, offering optimal opportunities for all. It is job descriptions and duties carefully, reviewing collective bargaining contracts, and analyzing increases in salaries and communicating the potential budget
Upcoming Professional Development
Mission: To assist local and regional boards of education in providing high quality education for all Connecticut children through effective leadership. Vision: CABE is passionate about strengthening public education through high-performing, transformative local school board/superintendent leadership teams that inspire success for each child.
Board of Directors
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
imperative that we maintain a clear vision of shared goals and that we work together to be effective. We can continue to support that which is meaningful and motivating, moving past negative polarization, unifying rather that dividing. With limited resources, our commitment to support access to quality educational experiences for all children needs to be paramount. We can remember and cherish the quilts made by our grandmothers, stitch by stitch, valuing our diversity. We can sustain that which is great and support that which reflects and respects our finest values. We can maintain our equilibrium, sense of purpose and possibility. “Wishing you all a happy, healthy and productive 2017!”
impact to district stakeholders and voters in the current budget cycle. Please stay tuned for updates from the policy and legal departments. If you have questions, please call me • January 23, 2017 | 7:00 am CABE Area 4 Legislative Breakfast Brooklyn Middle School 119 Gorman Road, Brooklyn To register call Denise Geeza 860-774-9153
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January 11, 2017 | 7:30 am CABE Area 7 Legislative Breakfast Derby High School Commons Area 8 Nutmeg Avenue, Derby To register call CABE - 860-571-7446
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January 25, 2017 | 7:30 am CABE Area 8 Legislative Breakfast John Winthrop Middle School 1 Winthrop Road, Deep River To register call CABE - 860-571-7446
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January 17, 2017 | 7:45 am CABE Area 6 Legislative Breakfast Staples High School Media Center 70 North Avenue, Westport To register call CABE - 860-571-7446
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January 26, 2017 | 8:00 am CABE/CREC Area 2 Legislative Breakfast State Capitol, Room 310, Hartford To register call CREC - 860-247-2732
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January 18, 2017 | 9 - 11 am Board Chair Roundtable CABE Office, Wethersfield To register call CABE - 860-571-7446
• January 23, 2017 | 7:30 am CABE Area 3 Legislative Breakfast Skinner School 90 Skinner Road, Vernon To register call Trish Buchanan 860-870-6000
• January 28, 2017 NSBA Equity Conference Washington, DC To register contact NSBA 703-838-6722 • January 29-31 NSBA Advocacy Institute Washington, DC To register contact NSBA 703-838-6722
Ann Gruenberg | President, Hampton Robert Mitchell | First Vice President, Montville Donald Harris | Vice President for Government Relations, Bloomfield Elizabeth Brown | Vice President for Professional Development, Waterbury Bob Trefry | Secretary/Treasurer, CT Technical High School System Richard Murray | Immediate Past President, Killingly John Prins | Member at Large, Branford Lydia Tedone | NSBA Director, Simsbury
AREA DIRECTORS
Jonathan Moore | Area 1 Co-Director, Region 1 Michelle Lucian | Area 1 Co-Director, Plymouth Byran Hall | Area 2 Director, East Hartford Michael Purcaro | Area 3 Co-Director, Ellington Michele Arn | Area 3 Co-Director, Vernon Joan Trivella | Area 4 Director, Brooklyn Michelle Embree Ku | Area 5 Director, Newtown Jennifer Dayton | Area 6 Co-Director, Greenwich Karen Kleine | Area 6 Co-Director, Westport Roxane McKay | Area 7 Director, Wallingford Lon Seidman | Area 8 Director, Essex Andrea Ackerman | Area 9 Director, Groton
ASSOCIATES
Eileen Baker | Associate, Old Saybrook Sharon Beloin-Saavedra | Associate, New Britain Robert Guthrie | Associate, West Haven Douglas Smith | Associate, Plainfield Robert Trefry | Associate, CT Technical High School System
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Becky Tyrrell | Chair, Federal Relations, Plainville Bryan Hall | Chair, Resolutions, East Hartford Christopher Wilson | Chair, State Relations, Bristol
CITY REPRESENTATIVES
Richard Wareing | City Representative, Hartford Carlos Torre | City Representative, New Haven Jacqueline Heftman | City Representative, Stamford Charles Stango | City Representative, Waterbury
STAFF Robert Rader | Executive Director Patrice McCarthy | Deputy Director and General Counsel Rebecca Adams | Senior Staff Attorney Bonnie Carney | Senior Staff Associate for Publications Nicholas Caruso | Senior Staff Associate for Field Service and Coordinator of Technology Sheila McKay | Senior Staff Associate for Government Relations Vincent Mustaro | Senior Staff Associate for Policy Service Lisa Steimer | Senior Staff Associate for Professional Development Teresa Costa | Coordinator of Finance and Administration Pamela Brooks | Senior Administrative Associate for Policy Service and Search Services Terry DeMars | Administrative Associate for Policy Service Gail Heath | Administrative Associate for Government Relations Wilmarie Newton | Administrative Associate for Labor Relations Nancy Propfe | Administrative Assistant for Membership Services Corliss Ucci | Receptionist and Assistant to the Executive Director