Why did the U.S. Education Secretary backpedal on "CRT" a.k.a. Critical Race Theory?

2021 WESTON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wjRax4vkZk

BOARD OF EDUCATION WEBSITE

BOARD OF EDUCATION ANNOTATED AGENDAS/MINUTES
We haven't been able to locate meeting minutes - but awesome agenda method - and the Board of Education almost always does what the minutes suggest that they do...

• LINK TO S.D.E.:  http://portal.ct.gov/SDE/Special-Education/Bureau-of-Special-Education

• "ECS" - https://portal.ct.gov/SDE/Fiscal-Services/Fiscal-Services/Education-Cost-Sharing-ECS

• "Special Ed" grants - https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SDE/Grants-Management/Report1/HiCostSpEd-Guide.pdf?la=en

    
 

...

  

 

 

       

    

      
 

  

PREVIOUSLY...

State Board of Education meetings we "attended" here. 

Commissioner addresses Superintendents at CAPS back to school 2017-2018

TEACHER RETIREMENT COSTS:  Why are teachers different?

• What can be done now?  One idea:  http://www.yankeeinstitute.org/policy-papers/the-connecticut-teachers-retirement-system-can-it-be-stabilized/

• From perhaps a different angle:  https://www.teacherpensions.org/resource/uncovered-social-security-retirement-uncertainty-and-1-million-teachers

"What Wait" article by C.C.J.E.F. staff:  http://jonathanpelto.com/2017/06/21/lets-education-funding-reform-right-way-jim-finley/
WILL C.C.J.E.F. RESPONSE INVOLVE MORE CHARTER SCHOOLS?  HOW ABOUT A WHOLE NEW MATTER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE?  Based upon internet-depth research, perhaps the lagging behind State of CT will try this next???
State Board of Education:  Back to where we started?  Will emphasis on Charter Schools be coordinated with fixing central cities?

SCHOOL CLIMATE FROM GREENWICH:  And here is an article that quotes Ben Barnes, he of the "permanent fiscal crisis" remark - http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/Bob-Horton-Malloy-administration-against-funding-10828669.php

WESTON EDUCATION CONSTRUCTION PROJECT TIMELINE
Previous Building Committee page from 1990's and thru construction of the School/Town project are no longer online.  During the years of construction of buildings and fields About Weston attended every School Building Committee meeting, including the Design Subcommittee meetings as well as the Alternative Energy Committee effort.  These records are no longer online, either.

WESTON EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM ENROLLMENT BACKGROUNDER INFO;  AND FACILITIES PLANS
Digital Learning Workshop:  http://www.westonps.org/uploaded/11-7-16_Board_Workshop.pdf
Historical report on school enrollment 2015:  http://www.westonct.gov/media/file/DemographicTrendsv4.pdf
Weston FORUM report from 2014:  http://www.thewestonforum.com/23200/weston-school-enrollment-is-on-the-decline/
Every kid's nightmare ("Did I take the test?"):  http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CT_EXIT_EXAMS_CTOL-?SITE=CTNHR&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-09-08-13-52-19

      

     

     

HOT TOPICS:   "Back to school 2016-2017" for Superintendents!  And it got much worse for 2017-2018.

• ORLANDO RODRIQUEZ ANALYSIS:  http://ctbythenumbers.info/2018/07/09/k-12-school-district-regionalization-may-do-more-harm-than-good-analysis-finds/
  
• OMG!  Are we back to this again?  http://jonathanpelto.com/2016/11/20/lawsuits-public-education-coming-charter-school-industry/
  
• D.A.S. now in charge of School Construction.
  
• C.C.M. "over reliance on property tax" report:  http://ctschoolfinance.org/assets/uploads/files/Education-Finance-in-Connecticut-Overreliance-on-the-Property-Tax.pdf
  
• Many links below about Common Core in CT also- and how about this "connect the dots" column!
  
• CCJEF,(now over but back on appeal) SBAC, BOE web...all connected (that's why our state is name "Connected - icut"). 
  

Does the new Federal case relate???  Study;
And people are finally coming around to what About Town has been trying to tell them...http://ctmirror.org/2016/08/31/will-hartfords-crisis-force-a-ct-property-tax-overhaul/

• Bus teachers? 
• Cuts to 2017 budget undercut "Brown"?

• NEWS; 
  
• Here come the Feds?
  
• Violence in schools report from CT MIRROR.
  
• SERIOUS LAG TIME AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ONLINE;
  
• Legislative action in Long Session upcoming?  Hah.  It may not wait until then...
  
• NEW LAWSUIT IN FEDERAL COURT;  CTNEWSJUNKIE and CT MIRROR all over this!!!
  
• CT MIRROR report on U.S. Education Commissioner's visit to Panel discussion;
  
• Electronic participation policy;
  
• Start times issue to surface here in Weston?
  
• Charter School enrollment:  http://ctmirror.org/2016/05/31/charter-school-enrollment-set-to-rise/
  
• CABE issues must surely include the teacher retirement underfunding?  Read here:  http://ctmirror.org/2016/05/16/report-ct-4th-worst-in-unfunded-pension-liabilities-per-teacher/#
  
• "Distracted learning" in Westport as bad or worse than distracted driving?
  
• Board of Education to arm teachers (in Kent)?  How about no teachers, just computers?  "We're number one"...don't tell anybody...
  
• Charter Schools rake it in under Governor's proposed budget:  http://ctmirror.org/2016/02/05/malloy-increase-charter-school-cut-neighborhood-school-funding/
  
• Surprise!  Sheff solution - magnet schools - didn't work, no more of them to come:  http://www.courant.com/education/hc-bruce-douglas-exits-0120-20160125-story.html
  
• FY'17 Board of Education budget expects 53 fewer students next year, spread over many grades, we think we heard, and the numbers we heard for separate parts of the budget was around a 2% increase or so...more here on FY'17 budget - tonight (25th) Board of Ed approves its budget;
  
• CCJEF V RELL began Tuesday...January 12!!!  What Wait?   link here.
  
• What's up with "Common Core?"  How about education reform in the 2016 Session perhaps?
  
• Sheff case not over 'til it's over department:  http://ctmirror.org/2015/12/22/state-drags-feet-on-disclosing-school-desegregation-data/
  
• "Superintendent of the Year for 2016" in CT is...Dr. Palmer!
  
• What is cooking up at the Capitol related to this;  Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations circulates news about "Open Choice" as the solution to decreasing enrollments;
  
• CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY FORUM FEATURES A FAMILIAR FACE!
  
• Teacher union issue in Stamford - impact?
  
• How about racial imbalance funding for new construction?  How about pinions of W.H.S. Seniors re:  http://www.thewestonforum.com/55795/the-hallway-an-outlier-amongst-apathetic-teens/
• School funding formula to be up for discussion again? 
  
• Civil engineers & environmental program eliminated at Northwestern C.C.;
  

• CT Education Network news;
  
• CCJEF underway...or not, yet - put off until January 2016.  And this is the first court - then there will be appeals and then the CT Supreme Court...willl this come up?:  http://www.equality-of-opportunity.org/images/mobility_geo.pdf
  
• Brookings Institute report:  http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2016/01/14-income-inequality-cities-update-berube-holmes
  
• SBAC DATA here:  Original analysis by About Weston of Smarter Balanced exam;  results for "W" towns but not Westbrook, 5 systems - Weston, Westport, Wilton, Waterbury and Waterford.
  
• RESULTS ELSEWHERE:  We note that SBAC numbers should not be used as real measurement device because participation rate vary.  Who didn't take the test?
• BREAKING NEWS STORY 10-28-15.  About Weston long ago mused "...'Dumbing down' another way to level the playing field."
  
• Stamford ADVOCATE article on SBAC results there:  http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Scores-down-on-state-s-new-Common-Core-test-6471335.php
• Greenwich TIME:  http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/Three-quarters-of-Greenwich-students-pass-new-6471275.php
• New London: Jan 23, 2016 headline - "Budget cuts may endanger all-magnetschool system" - you know the old saying, the State giveth and the State taketh away....
  

• What's next for CT higher ed? 
  
• A survey/analysis proving what as newest president centralizes stuff?  http://ctbythenumbers.info/2018/12/06/first-time-analysis-builds-economic-case-for-state-colleges-universities/
  
• A link:  http://ctbythenumbers.info/2015/08/16/with-resignation-proposed-recommendations-for-higher-education-may-resurface/
  
• CT College and University System: "...Gray is the second president of a higher education system that was created three years ago. The first, Robert Kennedy, resigned after handing out what many considered to be extravagant raises to his top executives" CTNEWSJUNKIE. 
  
• System loses another President:  http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Gray-to-step-down-as-CSCU-presidnet-6444881.php
  
• Veto Session in the House sees debate on qualifications of Commissioner of Education bill override.

BACKGROUND AND MORE;  NO MORE M.O.R.E.

• M.O.R.E. 2015 "Working Groups" with "Skype" interviews - CT-N video;
• Warning:  Watch out for UCONN "new" technique for demographics - its 10 yr projection shows no growth or up to 30% drop in suburbs, some growth in cities.
• CT MIRROR "data" set on race/income:  http://trendct.org/2016/02/08/connecticut-is-home-to-wide-economic-disparity-by-race-and-place/
  
• CCJEF lawsuit:  http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Wendy-Lecker-State-s-most-vulnerable-children-6378743.php

Some history:  CCJEF back to court soon...
Students in poverty as measured by school lunch program: 

• Common Core article:  http://jonathanpelto.com/2015/07/10/superintendents-and-legislators-beware-the-sbac-tsunami-that-is-coming/
  
• What did the Legislature do to education this past Session?  Click here:  http://www.courant.com/education/hc-schools-opening-testing-0822-20150823-story.html

On another note:  Section 266 of Implementer:  "April 15, 2016 preliminary report...not later than Feb. 15, 2017",,,Strategic Master Plan for public education in CT by newly created 29 member Commission...cutting to the chase,

The Planning Commission for Education is to develop and ensure the implementation of a strategic master plan... It should be noted that the bill requires that the development of a strategic master plan for public education be provided within available appropriations. It does not appear that this mandates that the agency perform the activity regardless of available funding, therefore the cost described above is potential. PA 15-244 appropriated $150,000 in FY 16 for this purpose.

Additionally, the bill results in a cost of less than $1,000 in FY 16 and in FY 17 to those agencies participating in the Commission to reimburse legislators and agency staff for mileage expenses.  (OFA)

The commission shall articulate a clear vision and mission for developing a sustainable, equitable and high-quality public education system that coordinates the components of education reform, clarifies how such components of education reform work together and provides every child with access to an educational experience that meets such child's needs. The commission shall develop and recommend the implementation of a strategic master plan to carry out such vision and mission.  (OLR)

• We just interviewed Ranking Member of the Education Committee who reported "An Act Concerning the Minimum Budget Requirement" passed;  also passing was including 11th grade exemption from SMARTER BALANCE (Common Core) tests in exchange for SAT or ACT -  http://www.cga.ct.gov/2015/BA/2015HB-07019-R01-BA.htm
  
• CHECK OUT WHAT THE LWVCT ED FUND DID AS A FALL CONFERENCE TOPIC 2014!!!
  
• Will there be a public hearing on Common Core?
  
• Task Force finally formed and meets on the subject of reducing mandates for all districts...2015 bring big change in MBR.
• M.O.R.E. Sub-Committees including new Special Education sub-committee; Regional Education Service Centers ("RESC") news;  Commission: link
• Westport informal public hearing Nov. 21, 2013
  
• Background from elsewhere - Alaska first!  How about Chicago?
  

And the HOUSING issue fits in here...

   

  

The phases of life and education under pandemic...what will it take to open schools in the Fall safely?

Senate Co-hair. of Education Committee OP-ED has a few things to say about COVID-19: 

"We can develop a statewide model curriculum to help districts continue learning with set plans..." and provide funding to "make up for learning loss after an extended period away from school."
He goes on to say extra funding, summertime studies, "weekend academies" and extended school days are in the mix.  Change traditional school year also.

"...Give teachers further professional development for online learning in the short-term, with updated training in the long-term to prepare for future extended closures" another point.

OP-ED in full: 

Thinking about how public education can be modernized (Courant OP-ED) for the better AFTER COVID-19 is only a memory...can the system change?

Maybe we can return to homogeneous grouping?

WARNING:  This report of school closure may or may not happen.
https://wcbs880.radio.com/articles/gov-lamont-conn-schools-likely-closed-until-the-fall

.
WE NOTE SPEAKER NOT WORRIED
“Whatever the legislature creates, the legislature could also uncreate,” a comment from Senate President. “We could always think of a different mechanism.”

For story in full...

Buried on page 18 of Sunday's paper...
         

Why About Town is interested in this?

• LWV's were quite active in the exploration of Charter Schools.  A "concurrence" was made with a New Jersey State League study and position, adopted by LWVCT and its local chapters.
• We wonder whether this Partnership effort is an opening for:
• Charter Schools or
• Taking away "local control" over local education and
• Regionalizing public education to remove and merge small districts?
  

MORE PRESS REPORTS JUST BELOW

HOW DALIO PARTNERSHIP COMES BACK TO BITE GOVERNOR:  https://ctmirror.org/2021/06/03/lamont-digs-in-as-ct-budget-talks-remain-in-gridlock/


(R) F.O.I. EXPOSED WHY QUESTIONING "PARTNERSHIP" HAS REVEALED STUFF...

https://ctmirror.org/2020/03/23/laptops-headed-to-students-in-struggling-school-districts-so-learning-can-resume/

PARTNERSHIP FOR CONNECTICUT NOW ENDED, MAY 20, 2020 HOUR REPORT

• Inequality of wealth transfer his first statement...access to education not equally distributed. 
  
• Crisis management non-degree program to be begun at Yale School of Management.

• Legal Services (Shipman & Goodwin) outside counsel. 
  
• Human Services - backup for human resources - month to month no contract.  At $250 per employee-per hour.
  
• Accounting services - BloomShapiro accounting services.
• Website hosting no $$ RFP Dalio $120 for update.  "Websolutions" used by Dalio.
• VOTES TO ENGAGE
• BUDGET - private $$ to be used  for consultants.  Rep. Klarides has to get off speakerphone.
• Conflict of Interest change:  Prioritize responsibility - for elected officials.  Approved.
  
• Senior Advisor uses incorrect "graduate high school."  He ran the show, named 5 - we think - goals.  Finished 30 minutes early (from Dalio).
  
• Where are they headed...in just hiring someone - we may have missed the beginning when this was discussed. 
• "Goals" during discussion getting to be a long list...they intend to have "RFI" inspired sessions in all CT largest cities to get input.
  
• Speaker seeks to give important role to incarcerated.
• FOCUS:  Kids in foster care system and homeless.  Lots of discussion.
  
• REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ("RFI") - Committee needed to review RFI - dinner sessions - pizza.
• Early March 2020 will have CEO.  Seeking grants.

WESTON TROJANS CLASS 'M' CHAMPIONS 2019
WATCH YOUTUBE VIDEO BY THE NEW LONDON DAY: 

Stamford is considering leasing the old GE campus at 800 Long Ridge Road to build new schools and relocate students..

EDUCATION "ROUND TABLE" RUNS INTO BRICK WALL?
Excellent Q&A plus student input:  http://ct-n.com/ctnplayer.asp?odID=16644

Acting Commissioner of Education
Appointed before July 1, 2019, although we don't know if the date had anything to do with it.  Previous Commission left, many vacancies to be filled on S.B.E.

 

• Regarding union membership not required to gain negotiated benefits;
• Some judgements recently by arbitrators in favor of B.O.E. v. unions.
• We'll have to listen to the beginning of the report once it appears online...
  

Roy:  "Alliance Districts" funding tied to supplementing not supplanting local funding via ECS.
https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/State-restrictions-on-education-spending-raises-13764336.php

Tri-Board leaders:  Education, Finance and Selectmen.

From the Board of Education website

• Norwalk HOUR, Hartford COURANT and New London DAY had "front page" stories - in-part.  Westonites had already expressed their feelings at...SPEAK UP!!!
• And it was reported in The DAY that one Westonite did write the Education Committee that "school quality" kept him in town despite property taxes being so high.   We found another!
  
• Home-schoolers were livid about two sections of the Governor's bill.
  
• Former Senator Boucher was there and spoke! 
  
• Council of Small Towns (COST)  President, (First Selectman of Ridgefield) gave testimony for more than one hundred communities who are members of COST, at approximately 2 hours in, opposed to the 4 bills being heard.
• CCM is also opposed to these bills, perhaps not as stridently.
  

Isn't the internet marvelous!  No secrets any more, I guess.
We note that besides searching VERY casually the list of submissions by Westonites of testimony, we came upon one Democrat and one Unaffiliated - no Republicans.

Author of the CTNEWSJUNKIE op-ed also a member of A.C.I.R.
https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20190207_op-ed_what_prevents_towns_from_regionalizing_schools_is_red_tape/

From the above article:
“We’ll see. Generally, I think that we ought to focus our money on the towns that are the most in need given the incredible achievement gap in this state,” he said. “I would keep the overall grant the same, not town-by-town, but the overall grant.”

One issue that Lamont will not face is legal uncertainty about whether the state is spending enough on education. The Connecticut Supreme Court in 2018 ruled that the state is providing students in Connecticut’s most impoverished school districts with the minimally adequate education the state constitution mandates.

 

We'll have to find out about this if sub-committees post them.

Ansonia, Ridgefield and Danbury ask 180-day waiver
https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Ansonia-BOE-may-close-schools-early-12968719.php#photo-15671329

Ansonia is out of $$ because State of CT threats had forced the Ansonia School budget to estimate what it would be receiving in funding during budget making time.  NOTE:  No new budget for FY'19 has yet been approved in Ansonia.  As it turned out, Ansonia received more $$ than had been expected - and if we are right, that money was sent to the Town - if we were listening when these discussions were going on about similar matters in Weston.  By the way, didn't Weston Schools budget 2019 for zero state funds - did we ever get any?  

I assume the Danbury and Ridgefield situations are different.  These communities were out of power for a week at least in "microburst" and I can only imagine the lawsuits from all sides if they extended school...

  
New Director of Finance for Weston Board of Education
Up and coming finance guy - most recently trained in the Westport B.O.E. since 2015.UPDATE:

• Facilities,
  
• Finance,
  
• Policy,
  
• Negotiations,
  
• CES, representative
  
• CABE, representative
  

• Curriculum chair., Communications and Education Foundation rep (local entity) is Majority member.

Nov. 20, 2017 AGENDA

           
October 11, 2017 P.T.O. Forum revealing.  You wouldn't have known there was a financial problem in CT if one of the candidates had not been there.
In 90 minutes, I might have missed it, but only one candidate seemed aware of challenges coming from the Governor and State of CT.  Hello?  Board of Finance members in the audience must have been appalled.

Sec. 506. Subdivision (2) of section 10-262f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(2) "Base aid ratio" means (A) for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2008, to June 30, 2013, inclusive, one minus the ratio of a town's wealth to the state guaranteed wealth level, provided no town's aid ratio shall be less than nine one-hundredths, except for towns which rank from one to twenty when all towns are ranked in descending order from one to one hundred sixty-nine based on the ratio of the number of children below poverty to the number of children age five to seventeen, inclusive, the town's aid ratio shall not be less than thirteen one-hundredths when based on data used to determine the grants pursuant to section 10-262h of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2013, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, [and] (B) for the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2014, [and each fiscal year thereafter] to June 30, 2017, inclusive, one minus the town's wealth adjustment factor, except that a town's aid ratio shall not be less than (i) ten one-hundredths for a town designated as an alliance district, as defined in section 10-262u, and (ii) two one-hundredths for a town that is not designated as an alliance district, and (C) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, and each fiscal year thereafter, one minus the town's wealth adjustment factor, except that a town's base aid ratio shall not be less than (I) ten per cent for a town designated as an alliance district, as defined in section 10-262u, and (II) zero for a town that is not designated as an alliance district.

Sec. 507. Subdivision (9) of section 10-262f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(9) "Foundation" means (A) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1990, three thousand nine hundred eighteen dollars, (B) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1991, four thousand one hundred ninety-two dollars, (C) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1992, four thousand four hundred eighty-six dollars, (D) for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1993, June 30, 1994, and June 30, 1995, four thousand eight hundred dollars, (E) for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1996, June 30, 1997, and June 30, 1998, five thousand seven hundred eleven dollars, (F) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, five thousand seven hundred seventy-five dollars, (G) for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2000, to June 30, 2007, inclusive, five thousand eight hundred ninety-one dollars, (H) for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2008, to June 30, 2013, inclusive, nine thousand six hundred eighty-seven dollars, [and] (I) for the fiscal [year] years ending June 30, 2014, [and each fiscal year thereafter] to June 30, 2017, inclusive, eleven thousand five hundred twenty-five dollars, (J) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, eleven thousand dollars, and (K) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, and each fiscal year thereafter, twelve thousand five hundred seventy dollars.

Sec. 508. Subdivision (25) of section 10-262f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(25) "Total need students" means the sum of (A) the number of resident students of the town for the school year, (B) (i) for any school year commencing prior to July 1, 1998, one-quarter the number of children under the temporary family assistance program for the prior fiscal year, and (ii) for the school years commencing July 1, 1998, to July 1, 2006, inclusive, one-quarter the number of children under the temporary family assistance program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1997, (C) for school years commencing July 1, 1995, to July 1, 2006, inclusive, one-quarter of the mastery count for the school year, (D) for school years commencing July 1, 1995, to July 1, 2006, inclusive, ten per cent of the number of eligible children, as defined in subdivision (1) of section 10-17e, for whom the board of education is not required to provide a program pursuant to section 10-17f, (E) for the school years commencing July 1, 2007, to July 1, 2012, inclusive, fifteen per cent of the number of eligible students, as defined in subdivision (1) of section 10-17e, for whom the board of education is not required to provide a program pursuant to section 10-17f, (F) for the school years commencing July 1, 2007, to July 1, 2012, inclusive, thirty-three per cent of the number of children below the level of poverty, [and] (G) for the school [year] years commencing July 1, 2013, [and each school year thereafter] to July 1, 2016, inclusive, thirty per cent of the number of children eligible for free or reduced price meals or free milk, and (H) for the school year commencing July 1, 2017, and each school year thereafter, twenty-five per cent of the sum of (i) the number of resident students who are English language learners, as defined in section 10-76kk, and (ii) the number of resident students of the town for the school year multiplied by the small area income and poverty estimate percentage for the school district, as determined by the United States Census Bureau.

Sec. 509. Subdivision (33) of section 10-262f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(33) "Fully funded grant" means the sum of (A) the product of a town's base aid ratio, the foundation [level] and the town's total need students for the fiscal year prior to the year in which the grant is to be paid, and (B) the town's regional bonus.

Sec. 510. Subdivisions (42) to (44), inclusive, of section 10-262f of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(42) "Equalized net grand list adjustment factor" means (A) for the fiscal years prior to the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, the ratio of the town's equalized net grant list per capita to one and one-half times the town equalized net grand list per capita of the town with the median equalized net grand list per capita, and (B) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, and each fiscal year thereafter, the ratio of the town's equalized net grant list per capita to one and one-quarter times the town equalized net grand list per capita of the town with the median equalized net grand list per capita.

(43) "Median household income adjustment factor" means (A) for the fiscal years prior to the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, the ratio of the median household income of the town to one and one-half times the median household income of the town with the median household income when all towns are ranked according to median household income, and (B) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, and each fiscal year thereafter, the ratio of the median household income of the town to one and one-quarter times the median household income of the town with the median household income when all towns are ranked according to median household income.

(44) "Wealth adjustment factor" means (A) for the fiscal years prior to the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, the sum of a town's equalized net grand list adjustment factor multiplied by ninety one-hundredths per cent and a town's median household income adjustment factor multiplied by ten one-hundredths per cent, and (B) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, and each fiscal year thereafter, the sum of a town's equalized net grand list adjustment factor multiplied by seventy per cent and a town's median household income adjustment factor multiplied by thirty per cent.

Sec. 511. Section 10-262f of the general statutes is amended by adding subdivisions (46) to (48), inclusive, as follows (Effective from passage):

(NEW) (46) "Base grant amount" means the equalization aid grant a town was entitled to receive for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017, as enumerated in section 20 of public act 16-2 of the May special session, minus any reductions to said equalization aid grant during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017, resulting from lapses to the funds appropriated for said equalization aid grant attributable to the recommendation made by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, pursuant to section 12 of public act 15-244.

(NEW) (47) "Grant adjustment" means the absolute value of the difference between a town's base grant amount and its fully funded grant.

(NEW) (48) "Grant adjustment quotient" means a town's grant adjustment divided by the number of resident students of the town for the school year.

Sec. 512. Section 10-262h of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

[(a) Obsolete.

(b) Obsolete.

(c) (1) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2016, and June 30, 2017, each town shall receive an equalization aid grant in an amount equal to the sum of any amounts paid to such town pursuant to subsection (c) and subdivision (1) of subsection (d) of section 10-66ee, and the amount provided for in subdivision (2) of this subsection.

(2) Equalization aid grant amounts.

         
What was it that quote again - that applies to Fairfield County, CT that is attributed to Governor Malloy (JOKE WARNING)?

• ECS:  Well, this is one way the State of Connecticut does it:   http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/wnpr/files/201705/2014smf-20140123_presentation-connecticut_special_education_funding___january__2014_.pdf

• And here is another, clearly stating that one of the factors used is "ability to pay" or "green": http://ctschoolfinance.org/our-solutions/special-education

FROM THE DAY:  http://www.theday.com/statenortheast-news/20170923/connecticut-supreme-court-to-hear-landmark-education-case

S H E F F


BREAKING NEWS 1-11-20 (see above).

A decision so soon?  Yes - on the matter of changing the % of diversity in the public schools in cities and suburbs of Hartford.


Does Sheff decision about Hartford schools (in a stay right now) relate to the budget crisis? 
https://ctmirror.org/2017/08/09/judge-alarmed-state-has-no-plan-to-further-desegregate-schools/

JMO, but really, the only way to integrate CT schools is to disappear town lines in much the way legislative and Congressional districts are rearranged.  Is this going to happen?  No. 

Progress has been made in Hartford region if you look at the graphic - but not fast enough?.

But it is conceivable to me that the other lawsuit, which applies state-wide, will be the solution to equalize state funding of schools (ECS grants).  Known as the C.C.J.E.F. suit, this is also hanging fire - decision on appeal could be the tool by which redistribution of funds takes place.  In addition, the pass-thru of cost of teacher retirement to localities is now in play as the days drag on until CT adopted a biennial budget (minus the month or so it took to get there).

"Capital Prep Met State Integration Rule By Picking White Students Outside Lottery"
In line with the State's argument below, Courant reports how one magnet school met Sheff standard:  http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-capital-prep-lottery-investigation-white-students-20170630-story.html




DAY ONE - THURSDAY JUNE 14


NOT SO FAST

Contextual opening.  Temporary injunctions. 
Legislature in the middle of the night passed 80-20.  State is at fault.  No long range plan. 

• Another place same issue:  http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2010/0324/Busing-to-end-in-Wake-County-N.C.-Goodbye-school-diversity
• More Googling:  http://civilrights.findlaw.com/discrimination/race-discrimination-u-s-supreme-court-cases.html
  

HB7201
Unconstitutional.  Legislature doing the bidding of Governor.  HB7201 'A' and 'B' should be stayed.  Sheff has had an observer from Sheff and now wants to get rid of him.

Enrollment Suppression
State argument is that demographics have changed since 1989.  Non-voluntary remedy opened up.


PATERSON, N.J., DATA & ACCOUNTABILITY.  FORMER HARTFORD EMPLOYEE, choice/lottery.  Population estimates for schools not explained but we know all about it.
And the judge didn't get this...but the demographic evidence is chillingly obvious!  Demographics and the statistics of education population projections.  Swearing in via Skype.  Dr.Campbell, Delaware St. Paterson, N.J. E.E., Masters Engineering, Harvard.doctorate.
"Choice office" activity described.  Exhibits, description of how Hartford Public Schools worked out their lottery.  "Reduced Isolation Standard" students get preference - splitting the wait list without Sheff limits.  Filling seats.  Sheff lawyer:  What effect would it have on diversity and empty seats? 

Exhibit 9 on cross
Divide - scenario 2 - divide list (waiting list) by race and ethnic and ethnicity.  Only characteristic is race and ethnicity.

Exhibit of all Sheff schools.   So what is the State trying to do?

THE NEVER-ENDING CASE OF SHEFF, 6-13-17.  Court runs on Legislative time.  Actually, State Senate time.  Court plus Legislature = the time it takes to play a round of golf?  RELATED info...

Play-by-play.  But not yet.  So far the Legislative music started a while ago, which is hopeful!!!  We were entertained for the first 45 minutes by an amusing discussion out of camera-range about we think various legal aspects to some of what the Legislature might have been up to this Session...anyway it is really nice to know our Judicial Branch will make this available (we think if you look carefully, you can watch it after the fact!).


HOHO!  At 3:30pm the CCJEF-Yale connection shows itself!
As we are moving into hour #2  on the latest Sheff ("The Two Connecticuts") business, we note that people might get it confused with another famous lawsuit. 

WE"LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT IF ANYTHING WENT DOWN...

DAY TWO - ended early because of dentist appointment.



We are watching live as State of Connecticut is questioning their witness on "compliance" matter.

"Waiting list" and rounds.
How do they decide which students get a "yes" to magnets?  Least compliant, "reduced isolation" sorting grade level - nice model.  Not done by simulation exactly.  How does the sorting work in Hartford?   Race or ethnic factors not included in selection process - only suburban v. cities. 

Open Choice v. Magnet
Hartford non-compliant schools still.  Race or ethnicity, 80-20???  Suppressing enrollment now at 75-25.  "Suppression of enrollment" based on non-compliance. 


C.R.E.C./non-efficiency
Critical of C.R.E.C.;  Goodwin College credits.  C.R.E.C. schools are more 50-50.  Ahah!  First mention of R.E.S.C.  "Can't afford to run schools for suburban students."  Exhibit 500 used to answer Judge's question.   Entry grade applicants plenty of room, but those who apply for seats from Hartford not entry...we left for lunch...

More C.R.E.C. complaints from S.D.E. guy...

Great testimony by S.B.E.  Since they (C.R.E.C.) don't use race factor ("reduced isolation"), what's the story?  From Wikipedia, the State Supreme Court on appeal said in a 5-4 decision:

"...The court ruled that the state had an affirmative obligation to provide Connecticut's school children with a substantially equal educational opportunity and that this constitutionally guaranteed right encompasses the access to a public education which is not substantially and materially impaired by racial and ethnic isolation. The Court further concluded that school districting, based upon town and city boundary lines, is unconstitutional, and cited a statute that bounds school districts by town lines as a key factor in the high concentrations of racial and ethnic minorities in Hartford."...

After lunch the fur flies under cross-examination.  Thank goodness for CT-N.  So this is a hearing to put a stay on closing down existing agreement.
 

DAY THREE - Two hours of cross and then closing statements and decisions.

Cross:  80% standard?  Not aware of 75%;  tipping point issue.  Hartford desegregaton.
Wow!  The State caught with its pants down.  Not a scholar of desegregation cases.  Changes in demographics.  1992 decision.  75-25 was later.  How about other socio-economic standards.  Best schools in suburbs?
Journalism and Two Rivers High School not continuing next year.

OPEN CHOICE OPTION
Interesting differences.  More seats offered than taken in kindergarten.  Economic differences.  Racial, ethnic, cultural and language differences.  Retention.  Have budget cuts affected "Choice" districts.  Grants cut.  Transportation, summer school.  Suburban Superintendents express concern that budget cuts reduce services to "choice" students.  S.D.E. layoffs?  One in department R.E.S.C. central office.  We heard an undertone of what may be in the wings:  Using different standard for measuring "choice" in the future.

After lunch...closing statements.
(L) Dennis Parker, ACLU Racial Justice Section makes the case for Sheff.  No successor agreement.  Blames State of CT.  Stipulations out the window.  Waiting lists show Sheff schools are needed.  State counters as does Hartford.

3PM - JUDGE BERGER GRANTS TEMPORARY STAY:  NO ADJUSTMENT OF TERMS OF AGREEMENT IN PLACE NOW.
First (after  our own comments) came Hartford Courant article:  http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-sheff-hearing-day3-20170616-story.html

So what happens next for Sheff case?
This is obviously not the end of the line for Sheff.  But with no new "stipulated agreement" agreed to, and an appeal to the State Supreme Court coming in I believe September, what may happen? The C.C.J.E.F. trial judge's decision against the State of CT but with assumption that no new moneys are needed is to be heard on appeal in September.  Do you think these two lawsuits might be settled by the state taking back some if not all of the powers it has granted to local school boards? 

• Does this kill existing "magnet" programs around the State now operating?  Observer to S.B.E. to be disappeared? 
  
• Maybe meld suits?  Turn all magnet schools into Sheff schools?  Thus making the neat completion of State takeover of local schools?
  
• What happens if the State runs out the clock on the present agreement and the Governor signs the 80-20 bill ("racial isolation" from 3-1 [white to non-white] to 80-20 percent of school population in Hartford Schools)?  I've got an idea of where this might be heading.   How about turning all schools districts into "Regional" school systems? 
• A link to some other activities of the Legislature on this subject - scroll down to C.C.J.E.F. items on this sub-page.
• Judge Berger makes the right decision, IMO.  Others may and did differ:  http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-sheff-hearing-day3-20170616-story.html

So the "foundation" of learning is cracking up...
HOW MANY "CONNECTICUTS" ???
Report on the "Five Connecticuts" not related to crumbling foundations per se (SB806 did not pass but this issue is definitely in the forefront for Special Session).

      

Consider how this relates to Governor's press release
SCHOOL CHOICE: Yankee Institute for Public Policy & Connecticut Parents Union Education Reform Conference

  
WHO WILL BE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION IN THE NEW ADMINISTRATION?  WOULD A CHANGE IN DIRECTION AFFECT C.C.J.E.F. ?
Charter Schools the big winner November 8, JMO.  And West Hartford case very interesting re:  Special Needs students in light of C.C.J.E.F. decision, which did not mention Spec Ed as something the State should get into:  http://www.courant.com/community/west-hartford/hc-west-hartford-settles-defusco-lawsuit-0112-20170111-story.html

FUNDING FORMULA FIX?
...Rep. Michael D’Agostino, D-Hamden, a former chairman of the Hamden Board of Education, said a major flaw in the original formula is its focus on overall per capita wealth, and a future model should emphasize the student population and a municipality’s financial ability to contribute to local education.

“Instead of just looking at the free and reduced-price lunch population, you look at how many families are on SNAP, how many on government assistance, how many students are characterized as homeless, how many are special education, how many are (English language learners); you look at those metrics of a school system, and second should be town ability to pay, not per capita income. Things like the grant list. Also the mill rate,” he said.

Logan said that, of some of the wealthier areas he represents, he does not expect constituents to resist having education money go to poorer rural and urban areas because “it’s a matter of fairness.”

Excellent Hamden forum described in New Haven Register article 1-18-17 "State legislators, education leaders talk future of Connecticut school funding"

SO WE DO KNOW WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT?  No way.
REMEMBER THERE IS ONLY ONE PLACE TO FIND MORE MONEY...
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Bridgeport-schools-a-magnet-for-suburban-money-10594581.php

FOR EXAMPLE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT...
Working closely with fellow BPRC members who are Chairs. of Committees to coordinate policies to advance their interests.

Co-Sponsors of this Pension Forum, LWVCT  and CT School Finance Project:  http://www.ctn.state.ct.us/ctnplayer.asp?odID=15893

IS IT LEGAL, ASKS THE MULE? 
 
          
L-R GOOD QUESTION!  REPRESENTATIVES FROM BOTH SIDES AGREE!  MULE - NOT SO FAST...TEACHERS' UNION ALERT?

• Bipartisan comments re:  Turning something that is in the state constitution - public education - into a secret society. 
  
• How do we know that the Charter Schools movement will not start up again?  Read the Common Cause piece:  http://www.commoncause.org/connecticut/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2018/12/Charter-school-PAC-report-121818-final_19012.pdf
• And what about other private research entities...such as Connecticut School Finance Project?  Oh, they already have their foot in the door, via Dalio & previous Session good works.
• According to the article linked to below the answer to the question above is "yes."
  

HOW CONNECTICUT WILL REACT - ONE WAY OF MANY - TO PROTESTS 2020




Rojas: Segregation Limits Opportunity, Prolongs Inequity In Connecticut

...“We can’t pretend to understand each other’s humanity. We don’t live next to each other, if our kids don’t go to school together, if we don’t pray together, we don’t eat in the same restaurants,” Rojas said. “Segregation has a real effective way of keeping us apart and keeping us from really understanding each other’s humanity...”



For the full story:
https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20200609_rojas_segregation_limits_opportunity_prolongs_inequity_in_ct/#more

For the relationship with policing (CT Mirror):

Q U E S T I O N    O F    T H E    D A Y

WHAT IS THE "CORE EXPENSE" AND WHAT SHOULD IT INCLUDE?



  

R E V O L V I N G    D O O R
"R.I.P." current E.C.S. Formula...we tuned in towards the end, watching live.  (It began at 1pm.)  We continued watching October 4th with Alex Knopp.

    
Reading in the Norwalk HOUR, those who spoke earlier urged action ahead of whatever the State Supreme Court might come up with.  Full story in the HOUR Saturday Oct. 1.
HOT STUFF
SPECIAL EDUCATION CO-OP IDEA BECAME GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL?
     
      
   

FUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION:  Black and Puerto Rican Caucus reacts to CCJEF v. CT, 9-30-16
Awaiting the appeal results will not do anything for their caucus - actually for anybody anywhere in CT!  JMO.

• Peer states study;  50 state study on Special Ed.
  
• Structurally needs based.  Foundation amount then you weight other needs.  Only low income.  English language and special ed not in it.  "My Cousin Vinnie" analogy card trick.
  
• Community ability to pay.  90% property, 10% income.
• Rhode Island formula had a phase-in formula.
• No unlimited amount of money...
• Increase flexibility to high performing districts to be efficient (mandates relieved);
• Rep. Morris suggests "Nutmeg" CT, a town in wealthy group might be willing to relax mandates;
• Sen. Slossberg, Co-Chair. of Education Committee comments on wanting to assure high achievement results.

Two and a half hours and the part we watched live was very interesting.

FROM THE BEGINNING:

AS WE WATCHED RE-RUN ON OCT. 4th...

• Question of cost studies from Sen. Slossberg.  What would it cost to study this?  $500,000 est.  Is Massacusetts really a good model?
• Special Education, health care/needs - should we include it?  Knopp doesn't think special needs and health care are as strong as others.
• Sheff?  Does it apply to new State-wide change to funding formula?

• Jennifer Alexander (CONN CAN) - "schools are for kids."   Evaluation.  Symbolic decission.  Distribution no longer rational, sustainable or verifiable.  Fund students equally.
• Flexibility and autonomy to uniform high achieving districts.
• Preschool:  Less than 2/3 of poor get it.
• State's role:  Override local decisions.
• Anti-Union statements in Judge's ruling.  Seniority primary in CT not achievement by students.

FORMULAE

• Complicated system - why not funding by kid?  (My thought). 
• Sen. Slossberg points out that some districts get funded twice.  Teachers:  Supporting teachers?  CONNCAN says "point taken" that was not in her slide.
• How do you measure need?

SCHOOL FINANCE 101 - KATIE ROY
Adequacy:  What should it cost?  States vary.  Go back to the "live" comments.

HOLD THE PHONE:  https://ctmirror.org/2018/01/26/a-last-try-lawyers-ask-supreme-court-to-reconsider-school-ruling/

"State Supreme Court Overturns Sweeping Ruling In CCJEF Education Funding Lawsuit"  Courant

"Supreme Court: Connecticut’s Education System Is Flawed, But Not Unconstitutional" - CTNEWSJUNKIE

      

C . C . J . E . F .    2 01 8   -   Seven (7) Justices voting January 17, 2018 in a 4 - 3 decision - back to Legislature for remedy.
Looks as if retiring Chief Justice Rodgers came down on the division of powers point of view, trusting the Legislative Branch (Rep. Fleischmann) to do their job.  IIRC, incoming Chief Justice recused himself.

C.C.J.E.F. APPEAL:  Opening arguments "rational, substantive" fundamental right.  Case began at least 11 years ago.  Not to be decided for yet another year?



FOR THE STATE, Associate Attorney General Joseph Rubin



FOR THE C.C.J.E.F., Joseph Moodhe, who stated later in a press conference on the steps of the CT Supreme Court that the legislature has to make the tough decisions.

      

MANY QUESTIONS FROM JUSTICES...RELATED TO EDUCATION.
Is it money?  Is there a plan?  Special Education?  $1.8 billion Federally required.  Stripping districts of funding for anything else...


We are watching it for a second time...47 minutes into a more than 2 hour trial.  And now we wonder about when the decision will come down...



BREAKING NEWS:  Chief Justice to retire in February 2018.

Chief Justice Rogers declares opening day over at 12:25PM or so.
Other Justices spoke the first day and sharply questioned lead attorneys. too.  Justice Andrew McDonald had recused himself (see below).

               

FAST-TRACK HIGH COURT APPEAL (from CTDOT PH, above [L] bus "Fastrak")  FOR C.C.J.E.F. - Holy jurisprudence Batman!  Both parties appealing.

Was this decision in violation of controlling Federal law?  Which would make the feasibility of  implementing it dicey???

http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/State-appeals-decision-on-school-funding-9224858.php
Yes, this is the former SDE Commissioner and Superintendent of Schools in Greenwich:  http://www.courant.com/opinion/op-ed/hc-op-sternberg-ct-school-decision-wrong-0918-20160916-story.html

      

     
Holy defunding Batman!  Did you catch this decision just now?

"The charm" meaning taking the simple one line in the CT Constitution seriously.  And will this CCJEF v. Rell 11-year old lawsuit (following on Sheff v. O'Neill and before that Horton v. Meskill) cause the education power to really change from local Boards to a centralized Board?  Or will we have Regional Boards of Education similar to COG boundaries (JMO)???

MANDATE RELIEF AT LAST? 

"But the executive director of the Connecticut Council of Small Towns said the concept of redistributing education aid might not be as simple as some think.  Connecticut’s urban centers traditionally have fared very well under state grant formulas, buoyed by the political clout that comes with their larger populations.  But Connecticut has many rural communities that, on a per capita basis, have major poverty problems of their own, Gara said. Windham County, which is comprised almost entirely of small population towns, traditionally has the highest unemployment rate in the state and its communities struggle with property tax bases lean on commercial and industrial properties.

“'There are a number of our small towns who are also struggling,'” Gara said. “'There are real pockets of poverty. And these towns are struggling to maintain their tax base.'"

But that doesn’t mean, Gara added, that nothing can be done. Legislators looking to redistribute aid also should look at ways to ease state mandates, particularly in the area of education, which can provide relief to all communities...

"...Under the policy, a member can participate by electronic means when a quorum of the board is physically present at a meeting location but is not to be counted toward a quorum.

"All votes must be taken by roll call when a person is attending remotely.

"If he knows beforehand, the superintendent will arrange for the meeting to take place in a location 'with the appropriate equipment,' so that the member can participate remotely and the public can observe or hear the comments made..."

       
GOTTA APPROVE IT OR CONSULTANT DOESN'T GET PAID (see motion as amended below)

• "Acceptance subject to further amendment and revision, final revision by Committee - 2 weeks in advance of next meetings"
• DRAFT ON LINE/approved. 
• Comments.  Transparency.  Workshop closed or online? 
• NEXT MEETING:  In two months, approx.

As noted above, our "research" (as in Googling) produced this already noted important item: 

http://www.ct.gov/dcs/lib/dcs/bsf/reports/school_report2013.pdf


DRAFT document approved  and to be put online.

       
  
                          
DRAFT PRESENTED AT OPEN PUBLIC MEETING AND ALSO TO APPEAR IN DRAFT FORM ON D.A.S. WEBSITE
CT costs more, maximum sqft. ($375persqft recommended);  consistency of what gets delivered.  Set a cap for project budget.  No variables.  Lock into $$.  Classroom Net-gross...900 sqft.  "Locally" funded.  Auditorium and theatres not funded in Ohio - must have two or three uses...in CT.  Cafetoriium - seats not bolted to the floor.  Performing arts space???  Any funding???  Only in high school - maybe Middle School.  Renovation?  Assessments of existing buildings.  "If it costs 2/3 of new to renovate" you should.  Danbury asks big questions.

         
HOW CAN CHARTER SCHOOLS BE CONSIDERED PUBLIC SCHOOLS IF THEY GET TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH STUDENTS TO ACCEPT?
So who told the Legislature's Education Co-Chair that Charter schools had to comply with Sec.10-4b?  Probably the same person who answered the Commissioner in the reverse!  The answer is that as the article says, they don't comply in any number of ways with their underlying law.  And what about the history of providing school busing to private schools - yes, that is correct - public school bus service supplied to private parochial school students.  Go figure!
 
TRIAL TESTIMONY OVER, NOW, AFTER DAYS OF CLOSING ARGUMENT, COMES THE DECISION;

C.A.B.E.  LEGISLATION 2016 - TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION IS...DEMOCRACY?  AND WHAT ABOUT  SMARTER BALANCE - ANTI - TEACHER'S UNION BENT IN THIS ADMINISTRATION?  SEE BELOW:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/10/us/charter-driven-gains-in-new-orleans-schools-face-a-big-test.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fus&action=click&contentCollection=us&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront

     

   

CONNECTICUT A SYMBOL OF EQUALITY?
Is it all coming down to "Gold Coast" income protrusion?    http://ctbythenumbers.info/2016/03/04/best-state-for-k-12-education-connecticut-ranked-1/

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION "ARROGANCE OF POWER LESSON PLAN"
Not the same thing as "school ratings" or Common Core, but perhaps more insidious...but it makes one wonder how dumb the S.D.E. is...



Weston School ratings

--------



Westport School ratings

-----------------



Wilton School ratings

       

      

         

HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO CT?
Link to "What Wait" blog here for one thought:  http://jonathanpelto.com/2015/10/13/shadow-of-paul-vallas-hangs-over-chicagos-corporate-education-reform-industry-scandal/

WEST COAST MESSAGE TO EAST COAST
There is a reason why or why not to affiliate as a "PTA" - PTO Organizations please take note.

News here.  Councils of Governments involved here - all Towns to be connected.  Blum Shapiro involved.  Libraries, too (not funded previously, no longer a problem to get last DSL towns).

Connecticut ALERT: Malloy/Wyman Administration to punish schools and taxpayers for protecting parental rights
Dec. 30, 2015:  http://jonathanpelto.com/2015/12/30/connecticut-alert-malloywyman-administration-to-punish-schools-and-taxpayers-for-protecting-parental-rights/

WE READ ABOUT THIS AT WHAT WAIT!

----------------

December 29, 2015 from the Hartford Courant (using the CT MIRROR story
http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-ctm-students-test-1230-20151229-story.html

CT MIRROR ANALYSIS OF SBAC TESTS TAKEN 2015:  http://trendct.org/2015/08/31/five-things-the-sbac-scores-shows-us/
 


RED CLEARLY IDENTIFIED
Paired "Elementary" Statewide (l) Weston (r)...

              

DUMBING DOWN OF HARTFORD ORCHESTRA OR NOT:  PRACTICE PRACTICE...NO MORE TIME TO PRACTICE...

Graphics are snappy but what did can we learn including a sad piano?
At the right, a parallel between the old joke "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?"  In the approximate area of WCCOG, SBAC numbers don't include...Bridgewater.  Is Bridgewater in Regional school district #12 up there?  Yes.  Shephaug Vally H.S. & M.S. plus Burnham elementary - upper right of this snapshot from CT MIRROR.

Here is an opinion piece on the subject:  http://ctviewpoints.org/2015/08/31/opinion-tina-marie-manus/

The CT MIRROR was there and reported too:  http://ctmirror.org/2016/08/10/judge-presses-state-on-approach-to-school-funding-as-trial-wraps/

      

  

  

ONLINE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016 - 3rd DAY OF FINAL ARGUMENTS (the State has the job today).  LINK TO ARTICLE PRE-FINAL ARGUMENTS;  Our running commentary below.
Question #1 - Is "Court time" any closer to reality than "Legislative time?"  Answer:  YES. 

Our take:  A victory for paperless trials - made the judge's thinking obvious ASAP.  It also made the answer to what will happen as a result, should we all live long enough, or at least in the next few years, clear.  "Clear" to me means a two step process:  #1 - no more $$ to Weston and similar districts and #2 - after this doesn't produce any results, State will take over both property tax collection and regionalize education state-wide.  And if that doesn't work, well, we're not going to go there.  Below our play-by-play call of the third and last day of closing statements...the State is speaking as we tune in...

• Tests:  How much do results of tests affect teacher evaluation?  This is an excellent  and embarrassing explanation of why you can drown in an average depth of water of a few inches.  Judge wants legislative standard to be rational.
• What "useful evaluation of teachers" means - inadequate system and apply what resources and standards mean re:  to facts.
• "Getting into the weeds" - just use standards.  Standardized tests (SBAC) not being used.
• Administrators and principals not properly rated.  (Everybody - teachers - rates OK.)   WHY WOULD LOCAL CONTROL continue or is it all the State's fault so the State should take over?  Why not leave successful districts alone?
• In every district there are poor teachers - but - there could be all kinds of poverty reasons.  Suitable opportunities? 
• CONSTITUTION DOES NOT REQUIRE State to be rational.  "Resources" and "standards" required to be analyzed by this Court.
• RATIONALITY.  States's distribution of funding is the only measure.  "Empty diplomas" argument.  "Low bar" issue.  Define rational...extra points for graduation.
• Gross disproportion in graduation rates.  Remedial programs at Community Colleges.  National problem.  "Common Core" and lawsuits.
• Eighth grade math is the only difference between Massachusetts and CT.
• Special Education:  Identification of Spec Ed - differences are enormous.  "Has to be either over or under identification."  FEDERAL LAW.  No rational standards for PPTs.  BINGO - PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND THE NEW DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS WILL MAKE ALL OF THIS GO AWAY (JMO). 
  
• School Construction grant percentages OK with the State.  "Alliance Districts" get a good share.
• English learners' test scores.
• If the Court decides against the State, it is up to the Legislature.  There isn't a majority that spells out action in Sheff.  "You have to do something" or "you have to do this" - ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT or REGIONAL SCHOOLS are options.  State appears to me to not want the Court to recommend anything.
• RE-ALLOCATION OF EXISTING FUNDS???  CT claims that this is not legal.
• Legislative history on recent action transcripts from legislative transcripts from this past Session.  
  
• Closing:  CT says we are ideal.

• You have to have a goal argument.  To be "rational" you have to have a goal.  "Focus" on result argument is not rational.
• Individual explanation of individual harm in order to be constitutional.  "Colorable claim" - Constitutional Claim exists.  "Associational Standing" - not applicable here.
• Dues.  To impose a dues requirement on poverty areas not fair.  CCJEF argument that individuals who do not pay membership dues - parents are not members but do have rights.  Parents can't vote on selection of officers. 1087.  Steering Committee.
• WHO IS A MEMBER?   THE BYLAWS!!!  "Parent members...shall not have the right to vote" - OOPS!!!  Article 2 and 4 what the Plaintiff concentrates.
• Canton was the focus in Horton v. Meskill;  why Justice Palmer agrees with plurality or not not the case not of concern to plaintiff. 
  
• "Accountability" of C.O.S.T. studies - "junk science."
• Working conditions are as important as salary.
• Liar, liar pants on fire - this is what I sense is the plaintiff's comment in rebut.
• "Intervention" testimony.  "Liar, liar pants on fire II" remember that this trial makes it really easy for the judge to follow along.
• GUESS WHAT?  It is harder to find math teachers than non-scientific topics.
• FINANCING SCHOOLS:   Municipal finance witnesses were not cross-examined by State.
• Dilution of graduation standards done by former Superintendent.
• Pre-school:  Making pre-school available to poverty kids - funding missing.
• VIOLATION OF STATE CONSTITUTION.

CLOSING ARGUMENTS OVER. 

AFTER THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION...
About Town predicts (1-29-16) that CT will change to large regional districts along COG boundaries, including cities and suburbs together, thus solving any statistical embarrassment of Two Connecticuts. For an example...




Education commissioner grilled on funding
Greenwich TIME
By Linda Conner Lambeck
Updated 8:55 pm, Friday, April 15, 2016

"...A key witness for the state as it defends against charges it is underfunding its public school system, Wentzell maintains that all school districts in the state are resourced well enough to move kids along..".

Story same as in other Hearst papers: 

     

          
COURT IN SESSION:  Tues. - Fri. 10am to 3:45pm.  1-12-16 opening arguments, Friday the 15th...center above, CT MIRROR backgrounder...the geography of the new Regional School District 2016?

WEEK ONE
January 12, 2016
January 13, 2016 - not live online that we could find...we would have missed almost all of it, since we had a meeting we had to attend.
January 14, 2016...read here about salient points made:  http://ctmirror.org/2016/01/19/an-introduction-to-the-states-landmark-school-funding-trial/

WEEK TWO:  Awarding himself props...http://ctmirror.org/2016/01/19/malloy-celebrates-a-schools-turnaround-and-his-record/

WEEK THREE:
CT MIRROR series link:  http://ctmirror.org/tag/ccjef-vs-rell/

NOW INTO JUNE...


 

        

Plaintiff Moody, atty, opening achievement gap/free and/or reduced priced lunch gap, based upon:  1965 - Constitution;  2005 - CCJEF, they concentrate on:  Groton,  East Hartford,  Danbury,  Windham, Hartford,  New Britain,  New London (???). 

Numbers from SDE data.  And defense's own data.  Outcomes indicate unprepared for college - since extra prep needed to be capable to going to college.  Supreme Court refused to dismiss the case.  Substandard in every aspect of these cities' schools and NO pre-K.  How does this relate to State Constitution?  Resources needed. 

Local towns must fund schools;  property taxes.  ECS formula.  base amount, needs.  ECS is funded way under its own standards.  Formula in question.  Resources not adequate.  "Reforms" increased to alliance districts, commissioner's networks.  FUNDING is a critical component.  Evidence will be made clear that 6 districts aren't getting enough $$. 

Defense Rubin atty, CT is providing far more than adequate: 

• excellent system - N.A.P.E. 4th grade reading, 8th.  CT spends more per pupil - etc.  CT ranks in the top with NY & MASS.
• teachers salaries;  professional resources and accountability provided.  Alliance District (30 districts) and Commissioners Networks.
• priority school districts (16) $550 million additional totaL.  ECS.  All school districts spend the same - rich pay their way and poor get more $$.
• "money" is the solution requested - the first things - poverty, hunger and inadequate housing - the plurality in CCJEF 2005 - "education clause not a panecea"
  
• CCJEF doesn't have standing - no meaningful vote by students, standing??? Not a class action.  TRIAL BY ANECDOTE.
• Justice Palmer quoted.  Local control supported and "regional" education, too.  Local responsibility.
  

JUDGE STATES FACTS, WILL WRITE A REQUEST:  Flesh out the decision 4-3 CCJEF.  Constitutional issues.
First:  Towns "creatures of the state" CT says.  Horton v Meskill.  ECS arbitrary.
Second: Plaintiffs:  Politicial questions - role of courts.  Unlike race, this is not an equality case for action $$.  Is it right to look at constitution in a vacuum?  Spending on one thing v other issues?  Constitutional claims by all???  Explain how courts can balance things like these???

Briefs requested from both sides in 30 days:  Justicial responsibility:  Is the court able to mandate spending in one area (schools, mental health, others) over another;  rich v poor towns.  ECS formula???

 

First Witness:  Sharon Locke, not pictured above,  Superintendent in Naugatuck ("borough"), former Ass't Superintendent in New Britain.

• Farmington (full paying lunch 90%), West Hartford (similar, 80%) and Old Saybrook. (75%-80%). 
  
• Data analysis skills SDS analysis tool (?). 
  
• Strategic Planner.  Action Plan, accountability tools.  Monitored progress. Grant writer. NWEA assessments, MAP assessment tool.  Keeps assessing each kids strengths as each question comes up - COMMON CORE  (drum roll) - OBJECTION TO OVERALL TESTIMONY ("Is not an expert"). Denied.
• Zero based budgeting.  Reorganized New Britain back to neighborhood school districts.  Magnet schools were taking high performing students away. 
  
• TRANSPORTATION COSTS in magnet system. 
  
• NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS now. 
  
• What's reasonable for New Britain and not a Utopian plan...someone's been sleeping in my bed and eating my free lunch...COURT IS IN RECESS...for free lunch?

"WHEN DID YOU STOP FLOGGING YOUR DATA?"
Graphic "C.C.J.E.F. TRIAL CONTINUES:  FOR THE DEFENSE"


SECOND DAY...we can't find it online...but here is a link to What Wait! column:  http://jonathanpelto.com/2016/01/13/alert-malloywyman-attack-on-parents-students-teachers-public-schools-and-the-out-out-movement-is-a-national-disgrace/

• Dates to exchange data:  Jan 11 to Court, Jan 7 to exchange discs Thursday.  Courtroom 312 for the trial.

• Questions broached on having instant transcript for both parties and the court.

• Redacted data?  Privacy laws?  Testimony about protected info in the record - names OK (but SS#, etc. to steal identity).

REBUTTAL


So will the State of CT's argument hold water?  If not, then what?  This is state-side and not focused on the Hartford area, as was Sheff.

Also called to testify was Acting Superintendent of the Bridgeport school district:  http://ctmirror.org/2016/06/02/bridgeport-schools-leader-says-she-asked-the-state-for-help/#

Background on Bridgeport takeover by the State previously...

Bridgeport Superintendent Tapped By Illinois Governor As Running Mate
'Extraordinary Opportunity,' Says Bridgeport's Controversial Schools Superintendent
The Hartford Courant
By KATHLEEN MEGAN
8:15 PM EST, November 8, 2013

Bridgeport's embattled superintendent of schools, Paul Vallas, has been tapped by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn to run for lieutenant governor.

"I have been presented with an unexpected and extraordinary opportunity," Vallas said in a statement. "I am extremely honored and have accepted, recognizing that this opportunity requires that I will need to resign my position" as superintendent.

Vallas said that the decision was not easy, but added: "I am completely aware that the new [school] board, elected just this week by Bridgeport voters … has a desire to work with a superintendent of its own choosing."

Vallas, who was the former public schools chief in Chicago, Philadelphia and New Orleans, as well as a one-time gubernatorial candidate in Illinois, arrived in Bridgeport almost two years ago. A school board appointed by the state hired him to turn around the failing district...

School funding trial will look at preschool too
CT MIRROR
By: Jacqueline Rabe Thomas | October 15, 2015

Should the state be responsible for preparing children for kindergarten so they show up ready to learn? 

That question will be argued as part of a trial in state court in January. Among other things, the trial will explore the impact preschool education has on school readiness and whether the state is offering preschool to enough children....

Story in full:  http://ctmirror.org/2015/10/15/school-funding-trial-will-look-at-preschool-too/

W E S T O N    P U B L I C    S C H O O L S  - http://www.thewestonforum.com/53053/photos-first-day-of-school-in-weston/?utm_source=Weston+Forum&utm_campaign=f0e2a275d7-FO_ONLINE_TODAY&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_848b12f59d-f0e2a275d7-193260349

 

Overflow in 2010.  Where will we be in 2015 and later?  Bus Schedules here:  http://www.westonps.org/page.cfm?p=3702

    
Quorum present:  President Grey speaks well of Northwestern Community College retiring Prez. (she is retiring as is he).

We watched the beginning and the end of this meeting - just started watching as students, who had waited through the entire meeting, got to make "public comment" at the end.  Two female engineering students spoke in favor of keeping their unique environmental engineering program intact...and then we began watching the beginning, thru the ceremonial parts including the announcement of a quorum (but how many were on speaker phone and could they really hear what was said?

A quorum present? 
Board of Regents names Ojakian as interim CSCU president
CT MIRROR
By: Mark Pazniokas | August 21, 2015

The Board of Regents for Higher Education voted unanimously Friday to name Mark Ojakian, the governor’s chief of staff, as interim president of Connecticut’s largest system of public colleges and universities...

...Even if he only serves the two years, Ojakian could become the longest serving leader of the young college system: Since the state's dozen community colleges, four regional state universities and an online college merged into the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system three years ago, it has had two presidents and two interim leaders.

...The merger was a Malloy initiative.

Ojakian generally was praised Friday, but students and a faculty member said the general hope was that the board ultimately would name a president with significant experience in higher education.

"I hear that he's a competent administrator, and that's a hopeful sign," said Bob Brown, a Tunxis Community College history professor and co-chair of the Faculty Advisory Committee. "I don't know how to assess his connection to the governor, whether that influences the system. I'd like not to speculate about that."

"We need a leader that has managerial and academic experience to keep the CSCU system alive and well," said Wyatt Bosworth, Central Connecticut State University's representative to the student advisory committee.

John I. Board, a Western Connecticut State University student and former advisory committee member, said the system is at a crossroads, with students questioning the value of the merger in the face of tuition increases.

No one has seen the promised efficiencies, he said.

"Everyone is losing patience," he said. "I think this is the last opportunity."

Rep. Roberta Willis, D-Salisbury, the co-chair of the legislative committee that oversees higher education, said she was keeping an open mind about the possibility of a leader without traditional higher ed credentials.

"I think stability and consistency is certainly a strength at this point," said Willis, who noted other college systems nationally have chosen leaders from government. "I think at this point someone with administrative experience is certainly a strong point in someone's favor. The ability to listen, communicate and build trust right now are really the critical skill sets someone needs at this time."

How about Weston?

Greenwich students’ scores on the new state standardized tests are set to be mailed out to parents within the next week — but some parents are concerned that they will not get as much information as they want about their children’s performance...http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/Greenwich-parents-want-more-detailed-results-on-6522918.php

 

CT MIRROR report:  https://ctmirror.org/2019/08/21/the-states-new-education-commissioner-collaborator-listener-hard-worker/

We watched online 2 days later...

FOCUS: "COMMUNICATE POSITIVE THINGS" WAS THE MESSAGE I GOT...



Our idea, after listening to the Board, for a new nickname for the S.D.E.:  Connecticut - a "safe place" to teach and learn.

    

   

• "BAIT & SWITCH":  "The Dashboard" for teacher training at first funded - now no more $$:  http://www.thehour.com/local/article/New-teacher-training-becomes-unfunded-mandate-12476116.php
  

• And a Legislative bright idea unfunded - "THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD IS THE BETTER":  http://www.thehour.com/news/article/New-state-standards-for-expelled-students-could-12474427.php

Auditor retires (c)
CT STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
October 4, 2017

    

             
HIDDEN COSTS: 

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND IN CT







  


   

       

 

• Patrice McCarthy in audience - a lawyer, was pointed out.
• CABE speaks next.  CAP.   Unions.  Etc.
• Demographics changing - UCONN - 10 yrs - enrollments down up to 30% - but not in cities.
• Social Security is 3-1 - similar to education.  "Stakeholders" definition should be changed to "caretakers"
• Demographics should be similar to community on Boards.
• Red Sox and Yankees analogy???
• Sphere of influence and impact of Superintendents (from Milford Public Schools - winner of "Superintendent of the Year") - creativity not stifle creativity.  Community.  Children's self-worth.  Dignity.  Do children have hope for the future.  Invested in children's education, that everyone including the community will be in a better place.
• Superintendents should take time to review "Smarter Balance" - use different methods.  The beginning of a new era.  "Culture of Inquiry;"  implementation at all levels.
• Leadership matters.  Comprehensive plan coming...5 yr version...
  

  
SO I GUESS THIS COULD WORK IN FAVOR OF THE CHANCELLOR'S PLAN?  SHOULD HIGHER ED CHAIR. CHIME IN?

Are we prescient?  

  

SKYPED IN FROM ELSEWHERE...



SCHOOL DISTRICT REORGANIZATION M.O.R.E. COMMISSION SUB-COMMITTEE for 2015...CALLED A "WORKING GROUP"
"Working Group" September 22, 2015

NOT LIVE BUT VERY INTERESTING

In watching the sub-committee with guest speakers I was not inspired to think that Maine is the place to be looking for ideas.  How did it go?  Skype in and out.  Mayors on this "reorganization" task force wanted to know  "What there resistance?"  YES...and then there was a malfunction of technology...so they went to telephone tie in and that worked - similar to CT Tax Panel working groups!  Sometimes more familiar technology with distracting visuals is better - and definitely puts a damper on POWER POINT.

---

NEW Special Education subcommittee of M.O.R.E. Commission: 
http://www.housedems.ct.gov/more/SPED/pubs/SPED_Agenda_2014-01-09.pdf

FOR THE RECORD:  FIRST MEETING THE DAY AFTER TASK FORCE FINALLY WAS ORGANIZED:  http://www.housedems.ct.gov/more/SPED/pubs/SPED_Minutes_2013-12-05.pdf

---

M.O.R.E.
Mandates Sub-Committee Organizational Meeting
MEETING MINUTES
Friday, October 18, 2013
1:00 PM IN LOB ROOM 1D

The meeting was called to order by Chairman, Representative Sayers at 1:06 P.M.
 
The following sub-committee members were present: Rep. Peggy Sayers (Chair), Rep. Bill Aman, Rep. David Arconti, Rep. Christopher Davis (Republican Lead), Rep. Frank Nicastro, Rep. Melissa Ziobron, Betsy Gara, Kimberly Glassman, Bob Labanara, Fillmore McPherson, Leo Paul, David Roche, Art Ward, Kurt Miller, Vincent Loffredo, Sheila McKay

Chairman Rep. Sayers welcomed everyone and made opening remarks

Sub-Committee members introduced themselves

Rep. Larson (MORE Commission Chair) offered introductory remarks, thanked the Chair for her leadership, and introduced a discussion on special education mandates

Chairman Rep. Sayers stated her interest in examining the provision of special education services to children and adults, the problem of people “aging out” of the special education system, and the cost of special education services to municipalities.  She looks forward to hearing from municipalities on these issues.

Betsy Gara discussed how towns must pay for special education services up to 450% of the average cost of other students, at which point state funding kicks in

Rep. Aman questioned whether too many students may be identified as needing special education services

Sheila McKay stated that she will provide some basic information to the sub-committee on the special education system, the legal definition of “special education,” and the requirements for students to be identified as requiring special education services

Jesse Hubbard discussed the formation of a special education working group within the MORE commission and informed sub-committee members how they could join

Chairman Rep. Sayers stated her goal to continue discussion and work on issues that were not resolved last year, such as prevailing wage and binding arbitration.  She suggested that working groups be formed to study each of these issues more closely

Rep. Ziobron requested that all relevant information collected by last year’s sub-committee be re-posted or re-sent to committee members

Rep. Larson (MORE Commission Chair) stated that flood hazard insurance is expensive in East Hartford, might be elsewhere in the state, and is worth examining by the sub-committee.  He said that constituents paid roughly $14 million over the past ten years for this coverage, but insurance companies have paid out only a fraction of that amount...

Please search the Commission's archives for the remainder of these minutes.

---

M.O.R.E
Board of Education Sub-Committee
MEETING MINUTES
Monday, November 18, 2013
1:00 PM in Room 1A of the Legislative Office Building

Those present:
Rep. Ryan, Rep. Alexander, Rep. Carpino, Rep. Case, Rep. Cook, Rep. Davis, Rep. Demicco, Rep. Johnson, Leo Canty, Jim Vigue, Brian Anderson, Chris Wilson, George Rafael, Eric George, Matt Knickerbocker, Gayle Weinstein, Paul Formica, Conor Casey, Patrice McCarthy, Craig Edmondson, Stephen McKeever, Jennifer Berigan, Sarah Hemmingway.

Those absent:
Gary Buzzell, Rich Carmelich, Emma Cimino, Paula Clarke, Carol Clifford, Garrett Eucalitto, Andrew Feinstein, Gerri Flemming, Tom Frattaroli, Christina Ghio, Mark LaPlcaca, Jennifer Laviano, David Lenihan, Cindy Mangini, Shelia McKay, Kevin Reynolds, Lon Seidman, Brenda Sisco, Bonnie Stewart, Don Stein, Joyce Stille, Kashina Walsh-Weaver, Patricia Walters, Rep. D’Agostino, Rep. Fleischman, Rep. Lopes, Rep. McGee, Rep. Morris, Rep. Srinivasan.

The meeting was called to order by Board of Education Sub-Committee Chair Rep. Kevin Ryan at 1:15 p.m.  Representative Ryan welcomed members of the BOE sub-committee and asked that members introduced themselves...

Representative Ryan then discussed future meetings and possible agendas:

Rep. Ryan – We’ll take a look at times to meet depending on everyone’ availability.  In terms of possible topics, is there anything regarding regionalization that we should consider?  I know that there is discussion of a Special Education sub-committee forming. 

Matt Knickerbocker – I think we should look at mandates, in terms of teacher evaluations and new requirements and the possibility of eliminating them. 

Rep. Ryan – This was a recent topic of discussion by CABE, I think they could make a similar presentation here. 

Gayle Weinstein – I think we should look at unfunded mandates but understand there is a sub-committee for that as well.  Is there a way to look at their minutes to make sure we’re not duplicating efforts? 

Rep. Ryan – MORE as a whole is looking at regionalization.  Unfunded mandates are part of the context.

Rep. Johnson – Attended the Sheff Movement Forum that demonstrated a greater segregation of schools, particularly in Eastern Connecticut.  The Forum discussed the historical context, current litigation, and compliance with current mandates.  Rep. Johnson suggested that they might be appropriate to have present before the sub-committee. 

Representative Ryan closed the meeting by inviting people to contact him, Jesse Hubbard, or the sub-committee administrators with any questions or ideas...
 
Please search the Commission's archives for the remainder of these minutes.

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M.O.R.E.,  Board of Education Board of Education Budget Sub-Committee
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
2:00 PM in Room 1C of the Legislative Office Building

Those present:
Conor Casey, Craig Edmondson, Paul Formica, Tom Frattaroli, Jennifer Herz, Mark LaPlaca, Sheila McKay, George Rafael, Don Stein, Gayle Weinstein, Rep. Alexander, Rep. Cook, Rep. P. Davis, Rep. Fleischmann, Rep. Johnson, Rep. Demicco, Rep. Ryan.

Those absent:
Brian Anderson, Jennifer Berigan, Gary Buzzell, Emma Cimino, Cindy Mangini, Paula Clarke, Carol Clifford, Rich Carmelich, Garrett Eucalitto, Eric George, Sarah Hemingway, Matt Kickerbocker, David Lenihan, Vin Loffredo, Patrice McCarthy, Kevin Reynolds, Brenda Sisco, Bonnie Stewart, Joyce Stille, Lon Seidman, Jim Vigue, Kashina Walsh-Weaver, Patricia Walters, Chris Wilson, Rep. Carpino, Rep. D’Agostino, Rep. Lopes, Rep. Maroney, Rep. McGee, Rep. Morris, Rep. Srinivasan.

The meeting was called to order by Board of Education Sub-Committee Chair Kevin Ryan at 2:15 p.m. Representative Ryan welcomed back the members of the BOE sub-committee and asked that the members reintroduce themselves...

One recommendation, or topic of further discussion and exploration, that was brought to Rep. Ryan’s attention by one of the legislators that was not able to attend the meeting. Rep. James Maroney suggested we look at ways to expand the use of the Connecticut Educational Network in order to provide more resources to local districts. Rep. Maroney cited Utah as having a model that was very good.

Rep. Ryan posed the question to the sub-committee if there were any ideas that people had at the moment, the following were prosed ideas:
•    Gayle Weinstein- a big cost being incurred by the small towns in the burden of proof, in regards to special education for students.
o    Rep. Cook commented that an IEP Task Force was established in years past which discussed the above topic. At that time the subject was lacking enough support to go forward out of the task force.
o    Rep. Fleischmann commented as well that there was just not enough support for changing the burden of proof and that the focus of this sub-committee should be on items that can have some traction to succeed.

•    Rep. Davis- the potential for the regionalization of curriculum development.
•    Tom Frattaroli- budget process in small towns.
•    Don Stein- for those towns that are a part of a regional school district there is a lack of checks and balances on local’s boards, the hope would be to establish a board of finance for the regional school district.
•    Ms. Weinstein- a struggle facing small school districts is paying personnel to do the mandatory reporting for all the unfunded mandates. Potential fix would be to look at changing the funding ratios.
•    Rep. Johnson- Happy to see the recommendation of regionalizing schools with regard to special education. For the towns like hers and others in Easter CT changing schools over to magnet schools affords them the opportunity to regionalize. The potential for a pilot program for general population students regarding regionalizing would be nice to see.
There was discussion regarding the parameters around which the subcommittee schedules its meetings. There will be an email going out to the members in order to establish a time for future meetings that works best for a majority of the members.

Finally Jesse Hubbard head administrator of the M.O.R.E. Commission stated that it would be great to have the members come to the next meeting with ideas for presentations...

Please search the Commission's archives for the remainder of these minutes.

THIS MAY BE A GOOD THING
Since the time of the "Common Core" issue below, there has been a possible sea change in National Education policy.  New administration directed by Charter School advocate...

• NEASC to rule on CT Community Colllege merger:  http://ctbythenumbers.info/2018/01/04/accrediting-organization-to-decide-fate-of-plan-to-merge-12-community-colleges-into-one/
  
• Policy changes via the courts seem to move west to east...see immediately below!
  
• Hello, what's this? 2016 School Funding case in Alaska!  What"s up on the west coast?
• And so another school budget gets started...here's some opening lines from the very first Speak Up...
• ABOUT WESTON WAS REVERSE REDSHIRTED...
• Bravo, W.H.S.!