To the Editor:

We are writing to express our strong opposition to the recommendation of closing Hawley Elementary School and our deep concerns as members of the Newtown community.

We moved to Newtown three years ago looking for the best education for our oldest son who was about to enter Kindergarten in 2011. Currently our children attend Hawley  (3rd and 2nd grade) and in the near future kinder garden in 2016. We have read Dr. Erardi presentation to the BOE and we have so many concerns.

How can Dr Erardi recommend putting the Newtown people through two irreconcilable events at the same time: a) The Sandy Hook families returning to a new school where the tragedy occurred (with all implied angst and complexities) and b) imposing Hawley families to join that same school while dealing with their own fears, sorrow and anxiety.

How can the broad impact to the greater community not be factored in? When a school closes it has a negative impact to the reputation of current and future inhabitants. Meaning that people who were considering moving to Newtown will avoid a community where schools are closing, hence, decreasing the real state value of property owners and an increasing taxes for all as the result of having less residents. We know somebody who is in the market for a new house in Newtown (currently renting) and he confirmed that real estate agents are estimating that property value are going to go down 8-10 percent. In addition, we are recommending a family that is being relocated to consider Newtown, they will change their mind once they learn –through their real estate agent – that Hawley is closing.

How can the town propose to close Hawley School, which is an icon for the community from a cultural and historical point of view, and repurpose it as a police station?

Is Dr Erardi really considering the voice of the community?  We attended the two meetings to discuss the closing of a school.  In both, the majority of the feedback was to keep the elementary schools open and to close the middle school.  The majority of the vote was for the BOE to wait one more year.  Neither of those recommendations have been taken into account.

The reputation of the town will suffer. How do you all think the surrounding communities will see Newtown after taking $50 million to build a new school and closing another one the same year?

We have begged the Board of Education to evaluate diligently and do what is best for the students and the greater community of Newtown as a whole.  We hope they realize that it simply would be the worst time to close an iconic school as Hawley while re-opening Sandy Hook.

Sincerely,

Miguel and Adriana Gutierrez

1 Crows Nest Lane, Sandy Hook    June 10, 2015