Earl Smith’s

Integrity

To the Editor:

I was surprised to read that Ms McClure said of Earl Smith, “That’s a lie.” I have always found Mr Smith a person of very high integrity and honesty. I cannot believe that Mr Smith would say anything but the truth.

Mr Smith had served in the Newtown school system for many years as an English and Latin teacher. From 1961 to 1991 Earl was the assistant principal at Newtown High School. Earl Smith has always supported education and bent over backwards to help its supporters. He is the past president of the Connecticut Retired Teachers Association and from firsthand information (my mother is a retired teacher) has served the organization outstandingly.

In addition to his duties as a teacher and assistant principal, Earl is a professionally trained, CT Federation of School Administrators contract negotiator, and has negotiated contracts for over 20 school districts over the years. I doubt very much if all of these school districts would have placed their trust in someone who could not be counted on to tell the truth in something as important as a school district contract if Earl’s integrity and honesty were not beyond reproach.

Statewide, leaders such as our Secretary of the Treasury Denise Napier and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal have worked with Earl for many years on teacher/administrator and educational issues.

What should have been a very simple and straight forward procedure, the process of finding a replacement for Mr Gissen, is now tainted and sets a poor example for our youth. I sincerely hope that this “clears the air” regarding his integrity. Perhaps Ms McClue was mistaken in her statements last week and it was not the honesty of Earl Smith which was in question, but those of others that might be in doubt.

Sincerely,

Joseph Bojnowski

6 North Branch Road, Newtown                                     June 13, 2007