BULLETIN BULLETINThe Connecticut Association of Schools The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Affiliated with the National Association of Secondary School Principals g Member National Federation of State High School Associations g Member National Middle School Association VOL. 79 / NO. 9 JUNE 2005 CONSTRUCTION OF NEW SCHOOL IN SMALL CHANGES YIELD BIG IMPROVEMENTS IN SRI LANKA IS UNDERWAY! CAS ANNUAL MEETING n May 12, 2005, mem- ber school principals Oand assistant principals traveled to Portland, CT for the association's 53rd annual meet- ing. The administrators in attendance — predominantly from member high schools — adopted two changes to the CAS Constitution and two changes to the CIAC Bylaws (see page 12 for additional information). They also elect- ed a new slate of officers and Bob Carroll (left) and Brother's Brother Representative L. Hingston approved a nominal dues (center) present first check to the Ariyawansa School principal. increase for elementary, middle and high school members. Earlier this month, Assistant Executive Director Robert Carroll returned from a trip to Sri Lanka where he Attendance at the annual meet- got a first-hand look at the devastation caused by the ing has declined steadily in CAS President Don Gates convenes tsunami. While there, he participated in a ground-breaking recent years. In an attempt to 53rd Annual Meeting. ceremony for the new school which will be built with the reverse this trend, several funds raised through the CAS Tsunami Relief Effort. He changes were made to the meeting format this year. First, the meeting was also met with local educational leaders -- including the moved off-site. This year's event was held at the picturesque Saint Clements Minister of Education, Dr. Tara De Mel, and the president Castle on the scenic Connecticut River in Portland. Secondly, in lieu of an of Sri Lanka, Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge -- and reviewed afternoon meeting followed by an awards dinner, the business meeting and the architectural plans for the new school. awards ceremony were conducted within the confines of the school day. continued on page 6 continued on page 8 CAS-CIAC ENLISTS NEW PARTNER: THE U.S. ARMY By Michael Conde, CPT USAREC The United States Army Recruiting Army training focuses on the overall he/she is universally identified as the protec- Command has joined forces with the Con- development of our soldiers and equips them tors of our great nation serving not for the necticut Association of Schools in the whole- to better adapt to the demands of civilian life, fame nor for the acclaim, but because it is the some endeavor of affording our children ultimately giving them the cutting edge over right thing to do. every opportunity to better themselves both the competition. Centered within this train- The United States Army Recruiting scholastically and physically. Today marks a ing is a strong base of Army values which Command remains focused on its mission beginning, as the U. S. Army assumes the include selfless service, loyalty, duty, respect, to keep the doors of opportunity open to duties of sponsorship for the Connecticut personal courage, integrity, and honor. our youth. For example, the army has High School Track and Field events of 2005. Together these values develop the building implemented several programs to assist in Since its inception, the United States blocks of leadership. No other profession easing the burden of the ever-increasing Army has recognized the importance of allocates so much time and resources to costs of college tuition. These programs physical competition. It promotes physical developing those leadership traits necessary allow our soldiers to earn $37,000 through well-being and a healthy lifestyle, thus allow- for continued success. the Montgomery GI Bill, up to $70,000 for ing individuals to more readily handle the Today, our soldiers remain in high college through the Army College Fund, riggers of stress and to achieve excellence in demand because of their proven valor, leader- earn their degree while serving regardless every facet of life. It is for this reason that ship and unwavering work ethic. Not only of location, and even allow Connecticut the U.S. Army has forged an alliance with has the American soldier been identified as state veterans to attend college free of CAS. Time magazine's “Man of the Year,” but charge. 2 CAS Bulletin LEGAL MAILBAG ct news & notes By Attorney Thomas B. Mooney, Neag School of Education, University of Connecticut O Congratulations to David Erwin, superin- Editor’s Note: Legal Mailbag is a regular feature in the tendent of schools in Montville. He received CAS BULLETIN. We invite readers to submit short, law- the 2005 University of Connecticut Outstand- related questions of practical concern to school adminis- ing School Superintendent Alumni Award. trators. Each month we will select questions and publish The award was presented to him at the School answers. While these answers cannot be considered of Education Alumni Awards Dinner last formal legal advice, they may be of help to you and your month. colleagues. We may edit your questions, and we will not identify the authors. Please submit your questions to: O Candice Mills, a graduate student in psy- <[email protected]> chology at Yale University, recently surveyed Connecticut schoolchildren ages 6 to 12 to Dear Mailbag: Yesterday we had A. Dear Entrepreneur: I am find out how early they developed some level Q. a student assembly to discuss some afraid that you have a problem. The of cynicism. "We tend to think of children as recent problems in our school. However, a union is the designated bargaining agent for being extremely gullible — that they believe camera crew from News 13 showed up right all teachers as to wages, hours and condi- everything they hear," said Mills. "We wanted before the assembly with the haughty on-air tions of employment. Responsibility for fill- to see how true that was." True to predictions, talent demanding to attend. She shoved a ing out reports and related release time defi- children younger than 8 years old in the sur- copy of the Freedom of Information Act in my nitely relates to working conditions. Your vey proved to be fairly gullible. But, 8- to 12- face and claimed that the news media has arrangement may be entirely appropriate, year-olds turned out to be a very cynical the right to broadcast public meetings. She but you went about it the wrong way. If you bunch. When told stories about competitors also said that as a member of the public she want to establish a special arrangement that running or swimming in a close race and then had the right to attend the assembly because relates to working conditions for teachers, saying they had won, the children were asked it was being held on public property. As I you must talk to the union first. Past prac- if they thought the characters were lying. escorted her to the news van, she threatened tice is a defense only if the union is aware of Those between 8 and 12 years old doubted the to sue. Does she have a case? the practice for a period of time and does competitors had actually won the race. What's - Barring the Door not demand bargaining. more, when asked why characters might say they had won if they hadn't, the children didn't Dear Barring: No. A school is Dear Legal Mailbag: This cut the characters any slack — they said the A. owned by the public, but it is not a Q. whole cell phone thing is driving me characters were flat-out lying. Mills says the public space. School officials have the right crazy. Now that everyone and his brother information is useful, particularly in U.S. soci- to control access to school buildings, and have a Family Plan, these parents think that ety where children can be inundated with all given your responsibility for students and their little darlings should be reachable 24/7. kinds of information from television, friends related confidential information, you were My real concern, however, are these camera and movies. "Given that children are exposed completely justified in your actions. Your phones. I don't want to be on the receiving to so much, it's good to know when they may local celebrity was correct in claiming that the end of a lawsuit if some student or his or her be more cynical," she said. Freedom of Information Act gives media rep- parents see embarrassing pictures on the resentatives (and others) the right to broad- Internet that were taken on my watch. Can I Linguistic Barriers for CT cast public meetings. Her mistake, however, prohibit cell phones altogether, and if not, is that a school meeting limited to staff and how about these camera phones? Schoolchildren students is not a public meeting. Bar away. - Camera Shy 2003-2004 % Students Dear Mailbag: With No Child Dear Shy: It is not clear that you A. can totally prohibit all cell phones from From Non-English Q. Left Behind and what-not, it is hard School District SpeakingHomes for me to complete all of the paperwork that school, but you can certainly restrict their use. Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 10-233j(b) provides is showering down on me. Some time ago Hartford 52% that school officials "may restrict the student I picked the brightest teacher on my staff, possession or use of cellular mobile tele- New Britain 40% and I asked him to assist me by completing phones in the schools under its jurisdiction. In Bridgeport 38% some of the reports required by the state determining whether to restrict such posses- Stamford 34% department of education.