Maintaining a Strategic Focus in Changing Times. November 19-20, 2010. Mystic Marriott Groton, CT.   

The most important benefit of attending the Annual CABE/CAPSS Convention is the valuable information you take home to your community. The ideas and strategies you learn through networking with fellow board members and superintendents, attending clinic sessions, workshops, roundtables, speakers, and exhibitors can be considered back home in your own district.

The Annual Meeting of the Nutmeg Board (21 CE, EEB, PESES, MSABTS)
Yet again, the Nutmeg Board meets and does all the wrong things to amuse and educate you. Their actions will be analyzed from the legal perspective. This mock board meeting is patterned on the CABE Journal’s “See You in Court” column.
Presenter:
tmooney, Attorney, Shipman and Goodwin, LLP

Budgeting in Tough Times (21 CE, EEB)
This presentation will explore legal considerations associated with budgeting in the current economic climate, including information on:
-Personnel issues (e.g., non-renewal, reductions in force, collective bargaining);
-State and federal funding mandates (e.g., minimum budget requirement, supplementing/supplanting, special education);
-The latest developments at the state (e.g., Connecticut’s state budget, Education Cost Sharing grants, special education excess cost grants) and federal (e.g., American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, “Race to the Top” funding, Title I and No Child Left Behind developments) levels related to education funding; and
-Common legal pitfalls related to budgeting.
Presenters:
Daniel Murphy, Director, Division of Legal and Governmental Affairs, Connecticut
State Department of Education
Andreana Bellach, Attorney, Shipman & Goodwin, LLP
Christopher Tracey, Attorney, Shipman & Goodwin, LLP

Sports in the Public Schools – A Legal Update on Board and Administrative Responsibilities (EEB, PESES)
This workshop will discuss:
-Funding sports programs in difficult times: Booster Clubs, Pay-for-Play Policies and Corporate Sponsorship
-Creating and Enforcing Student Athletes’ Codes of Conduct
-Addressing the Use of Performance Enhancing Drugs
-Best Practices for Preventing Hazing and Bullying on Athletic Teams
-Supervising and Evaluating Coaches
-Non-Renewing and Terminating Coaches
-Avoiding Liability: Discrimination, Gender Equity and Maintaining Boundaries
-Allowing Access to Sports Teams by Disabled Students
-Broadcasting Athletic Events and Other Developments in Digital Media
Presenters:
Julie Fay, Attorney, Shipman & Goodwin, LLP
Anne Littlefield, Attorney, Shipman & Goodwin, LLP
Peter Murphy, Attorney, Shipman & Goodwin, LLP

Regionalization Roundup – A Review of Regionalization and Shared Services and the Legal Issues Relevant to the Cutting Edge Means of Controlling Costs (21 CE, EEB, PESES)
The workshop will explore regionalization and shared services as a mechanism for reducing spending and balancing board of education budgets. We will review the laws that enable school districts to regionalize and share student and operational services, such as special education services and the transportation of students, as well as regionalized purchasing cooperatives. We will also provide some pragmatic advice regarding the best ways to mobilize these efforts.
Presenters:
Ruth Levy, Superintendent, Regional School District #4
Gary Mala, Superintendent, Regional School District #17
Kevin Roy, Attorney, Shipman & Goodwin, LLP
rsantiago, Attorney, Shipman & Goodwin, LLP