Restore Funds To The School Budget

(The following letter to Newtown’s Legislative Council has been received for publication.)

Dear Members of the Legislative Council:

I’d like to share a video with you (below), created by my 12-year-old son, Max, who is currently a student at Newtown Middle School. This video won third place at the state level of competition in the Reflections Contest. Max was also selected to participate in the Western Regions Music Festival. He is an honor roll student, and class representative.

 Max is a direct result of a well-rounded education that includes not only his core academic subjects, but art, music, and technology as well. Additionally, due to our own efforts, he has another distinct advantage over many other kids; he was exposed to different languages and cultures since he was born, building within him an understanding and acceptance of all walks of life. All these factors shape a child’s mind and stay with them as they become adults, facilitating “out of the box” improvements to our lives.

Our son’s talent and passions were lit and fueled by the people that make our schools desirable and unique. Though we are supportive of the arts and technology at home, it was not until some turning point moment in his school days that the desire to reach a new level was fostered and as a result, this is directing the course of his future career.

In your daily lives, many of the decisions and purchases you make come from some form of compelling visual and musical representation. What inspires our eye, and stirs our emotion are brought to us by people who were once children that were provided with a well-rounded education. More importantly, music, art, and language study reorder the neurons of the brain to find different ways to present a message. In a volatile global climate, building common understanding among people of diverse opinions helps protect our country.

There is a story just like Max’s in every child that we as a town support through our tax dollars. As a community member and taxpayer, my financial commitment to another person’s child is honored when that child becomes a productive, well-adjusted, functioning member of society no matter what career path they choose. We need people from all walks of life.

 I ask that you have a serious conversation as to the benefits of restoring funds to the proposed education budget. Teachers spend 1,080 hours a year in direct, influential contact with our children and varied programs give Newtown students a competitive edge. That said, the BOE must be held accountable to use restored funds for this purpose and not to increase salaries.

Newtown’s citizens should vote with confidence and pride that their tax dollars have produced new citizens armed with the 21st Century skills that allow our country to remain a global and financial superpower. Perhaps one of our students will be the one to have the creative solution for our own town’s issues.

Enjoy Max’s video at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyaqCy-PggI (switch to 480p for better resolution).

Desiree Galassi

151 Huntingtown Road, Newtown                             March 20, 2010