Budget Debates Haven’t Changed

To the Editor:

Chris and I, and our sons Brian and Matthew, left Newtown in 1987 after ten years for your typical corporate relocation, but The Bee has always been close. I can’t think of a nicer place to raise your kids than Newtown in the 70s and 80s. It seems budget debates haven’t changed one bit in 25 years.

I can remember asking the Board of Ed to stop trying to micromanage John Reed’s efforts to lead the school system, and simply fire him if he didn’t do his job. It appears he had some level of success. Mr Baumer was always entertaining at budget meetings as the lone voice of fiscal responsibility, and there were always those who felt that as long as you threw money at education everything would be fine. Thankfully, neither extreme ever prevailed.

You will get through this blip, but you have to get real. Get really informed. Lose the hysterical rants. Listen to all opinions. Make it about the kids, not about you. Demand excellence, measurable results, and absolute transparency from all areas of budget expenditures.

Newtown is fondly remembered by all of us.

Bob Schafer

Formerly of Surrey Trail in Sandy Hook

Lincolnshire, Ill.                                                                 June 17, 2012