Attention elementary school principals! If you haven’t already registered for one of the upcoming arts banquets, there are still a few seats available on Monday, February 6th. But they are going fast! Registration will remain open until January 25th – or until all spots are filled. Don’t miss this opportunity to honor two of your outstanding young artists!

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The 2017 Legislative Session is underway! With an evenly divided Senate and the House featuring barely a majority of Democratic representatives, legislative activity will no doubt be interesting to watch. The budget will likely dominate the overall conversation and “bandwidth” of legislative attention but there are many other high priority issues that will be addressed.

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The CT State Department of Education has issued an alert to initial and provisional 092 holders reminding them of the requirement to complete 30 credits beyond the master’s degree in order to move from the provisional to professional level. While the requirement has been in CT certification regulations since 1980, recent inquiries to the CSDE suggest that some Connecticut educators may be unfamiliar with it.

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The CAS-CIAC Endowment and Flanagan Grant Program, made possible by the generosity of sponsors whose dollars have helped us build a stable endowment fund, provides grant money to member schools to fund new or existing initiatives that lead to enriched educational experiences and/or improved learning environments. The deadline for proposals is April 7th.

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Planning on retirement this coming spring? Want to stay involved professionally but not in a full-time capacity? Consider registering with CAS as an interim candidate. The process is easy. Simply send an electronic copy of your resumé to Ev Lyons (elyons@casciac.org), and we will forward it to districts who contact us looking for interim prospects. Once CAS sends its bank of available resumés to an interested district, the district takes over and contacts candidates directly. So, if retirement is looming and you are not quite ready to pass the day in your Lazy Boy, consider an interim position and contact CAS!

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Nominations are now open for the CAS First-Year Principal Awards. These awards recognize individuals whose instructional leadership, innovative practices and managerial skills have had a positive impact on the school and district in their first year of building administration. One award is given at each level: elementary, middle and high school. Nominations must be submitted by March 3rd.

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CAS is now accepting nominations for the 2017-18 School of the Year Awards. These awards recognize a member elementary and middle school that demonstrate a commitment to continued improvement; maintain a safe and healthy school environment; cultivate positive relationships with parents and the community; and, provide students with rich learning opportunities both in and out of the classroom. If you feel that your school may be worthy of this honor, please consider submitting a nomination.

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Do you have an outstanding classroom teacher? If so, why not nominate him/her for the Exemplary Educator of the Year Award? The purpose of this award is to give recognition to an elementary, middle level, and high school CAS educator who exemplify excellence in instructional practice, leadership in the profession, and authentic engagement with students, staff, and parents. The deadline for nominations is March 3rd.

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Earlier this week, Governor Dannel Malloy and State Department of Education Commissioner Dianna Wentzell announced that schools participating in the state’s School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI) saw significant results during the 2015-16 school year, with school-based court referrals declining by 21% and behavioral health service referrals to Emergency Mobile Psychiatric Services (EMPS) increasing by 24%. SBDI is designed to reduce juvenile justice involvement among youth with certain mental, emotional, and behavioral health needs. It was expanded during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years as part of Governor Malloy’s "Second Chance" reforms.

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As a new year begins, the elementary division is seeking input from members to help in the planning of upcoming programs and services. Elementary principals are asked to complete a brief survey titled “What Should We Do Next?” The results will be used to design timely, relevant and personalized professional learning opportunities that are directly aligned with members’ needs and interests.

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