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The School Board And Its Mission

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The School Board And Its Mission

To the Editor:

As Newtown approaches its upcoming budget referendum, we continue to reflect on the unprecedented challenges this year presents our community. Unfortunately, dire economic uncertainties do not absolve the Board of Education of its responsibilities to meet the diverse needs of an ever-growing school district. All of our recent board meetings have included a reassessment of our own dismal circumstances: diminished state funding, expanding mandates, increased enrollment, skyrocketing special education costs, and the annualization of the Reed school, to name just a few.

That is why it is critically important for us to revisit our mission. We continually deliberate the reapportionment of funds in the event of further budget cuts and each deliberation leads back to the fundamental issue of what makes Newtown succeed: we believe it is our educators. Teachers are our best investment and our most powerful resource. Our statistics clearly illustrate that Newtown scores significantly higher than statewide averages on standardized tests, while operating with substantially less funding than many comparably scoring schools. Currently, Newtown ranks 143rd in per pupil expenditure out of 169 municipalities in Connecticut; yet we achieve levels of success which often set our district apart. In 1999, Newtown High School was awarded a National Blue Ribbon of Excellence by the US Department of Education. We have been touted as having the highest rate of growth among students taking Advanced Placement Courses in Connecticut while also consistently offering an enviable array of resources for students who struggle academically or socially.

Our mission statement reads: All Children Can and Will Learn Well. Newtown schools have worked diligently to ensure the success of every child by providing differentiated instruction in all classrooms, a Herculean effort made ever more challenging by burgeoning enrollment. We are frequently asked, “Wouldn’t it be easier to simply allow bigger class sizes?” The answer is no; it would categorically compromise the results we have thus far achieved. For every child to succeed, the environment must be inclusive and collaborative, with reasonable class sizes and a deliberate and consistent effort aimed at tailoring instruction to individual learning styles.

Our schools’ success is founded on a talented and dedicated teaching staff, diverse academic and extracurricular offerings, and an outstanding sports program. Compromising any of these would be short-sighted and unfortunate not only for our children, but for our growing community as well.

Vote Yes at the budget referendum on April 22. Support our schools and our town!

The Newtown Board of Education

Elaine McClure, Vincent Saviano, Margaret Hull

S. Earl Gordon, Lisa Schwartz, Andrew Buzzi

4 Fairfield Circle South, Newtown                               April 16, 2003

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