Three Important Meetings
Three Important Meetings
To The Editor:
There are three very important meetings in Newtown next week, involving education. On Tuesday, January 18 at 7:30 pm in the Town Hall South conference room, the finance committee of the Legislative Council will consider the architectâs fees for the proposed 5/6 school, and decide what recommendation to make to the full council. On Wednesday, January 19 at 8 pm in the Middle School auditorium, the full Legislative Council will meet. The architectâs fees for the 5/6 school is on the agenda for that meeting. The Legislative Council encourages public participation, therefore anyone wishing to voice his or her opinion should plan to attend this meeting. On Thursday, January 20 at 7:30 pm Dr John Reed, the superintendent of schools, will present the 2000-2001 proposed school budget to the Board of Education. The Board of Education will work with the proposed budget for several weeks and present their adopted budget to the Legislative Council in February.
In my opinion, waiting as long as we have to get started on the 5/6 school has cost Newtown valuable time and money. Time that our schools and our children cannot afford and money that could be put to better use elsewhere in the school system.
The Legislative Council traditionally cuts the education budget. In my opinion, this tradition has become excessive. While enrollment increases the percentage of the town budget that goes toward education decreases, and Newtown has fallen to the bottom of whichever list you choose to look at, when looking at per pupil expenditures. We are at the bottom when compared to the rest of the state, when compared to nearby towns and when compared to economically comparable school districts.
These three meetings next week are every important to our school system and our children, both in the near future and in years to come. Please plan to attend these meetings and either form your own opinion, or share the one you have.
Sincerely,
Joe Hemingway
10 Overlook Knolls, Sandy Hook     January 12, 2000