Unnecessary Chaos And Trauma At NHS

The following letter to the Newtown Board of Education has been received for publication.

Dear Newtown Board of Education Members:

We are deeply disturbed over the administrative suspension of NHS choral and theater director Ms Sabrina Post by Dr Evan Pitkoff.

We have always been supportive advocates of maintaining the academic excellence of the Newtown School System. In our unobtrusive manner we have helped in the passing of yearly school budgets, supported the building expansion of NHS and the building of Reed Intermediate School. Our son Ryan (Class of 2000) was a student member of the committee that successfully obtained the national recognition of NHS Blue Ribbon award and furthermore, we (a committee of two) spent four years canvassing the community for donations by writing letters, making phone calls, arranging events and writing grants that raised $89,000 of private and corporate money to help in the installation of the $254,000 sound system for the high school auditorium. Thanks to our efforts, this system is used by nearly all of the town’s school music programs, community civic and religious groups, as well as the theater students during their spring performances. This school system is renowned statewide for its music programs and the number of students that participate. It is one of the factors that contribute to the excellence of this school system and the students in these programs participate in musical and theater programs all over the state!

This spring, the production of Showboat by these very talented Newtown students, however, has been seriously jeopardized by Dr Pitkoff’s actions. Whatever disagreement he might have with Sabrina Post, a highly regarded teacher of more than 400 students, it could have waited until the conclusion of the school year. If Dr Pitkoff’s purpose for these students is chaos and unnecessary emotional and psychological trauma than he has been extremely successful. What he accomplished was tantamount to dismissing a winning coach on the eve of a pivotal playoff  game!

For the NHS drama students who are seniors — who eat, drink, and live for the theater, like our daughter Jessica and her friends — the loss of Ms Post’s guidance is indescribable. In Jessica’s mind, her senior year has been ruined. Instead of anticipation, excitement, and delight, all of her future musical performances and activities have been shadowed in apathy and despair.

Dr Pitkoff is totally clueless because he lacked the decency (or courage?) of facing these students himself after his horrendous action. The students deserve better and no “quick fix solution” will diminish the needless pain and hurt that they have individually experienced. (Thank you, Dr Pitkoff for being such an astoundingly inept guardian of the students’ needs!)

Sanctions should be placed on Dr Pitkoff. He has clearly demonstrated a lack of vision and restraint in his undermining the district’s music programs, and has shown a total disregard for due process. As taxpayers, parents, and an educator, we lack the confidence in Dr Pitkoff’s ability to lead this school district to greater excellence and have serious doubts that he can maintain the excellence we have achieved. The students of this district are apparently not his top priority and we are disappointed if the school board approves this most egregious action by Dr Pitkoff. For the sake of the students, Sabrina Post must be restored to her position immediately!

Sincerely,

Phyllis Braun, PhD

Kevin Braun, DDS

58 Biggs Hill Road, Newtown                          February 20, 2005