Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, said the celebration of four delegates standing before the Board of Education at its meeting on Tuesday, September 6, was an example "of what great government should represent, particularly at the local level."as previously reported by The Newtown Bee.

Senator Tony Hwang and Representatives Mitch Bolinsky, J.P. Sredzinski, and Dan Carter helped bring Public Act 16-188, signed by Governor Dannel P. Malloy in June, to fruition.

The act implemented legislation that resulted in the town not being punished financially for large federal grants received in response to the events of 12/14 at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The grants were counted as revenue to the town from Hartford going back to the 2013 fiscal year.

Even though the supplemental incident response funds awarded through Department of Justice (DOJ) and School Emergency Response to Violence (SERV) immediately reverted to exclusively covering program and personnel put in place to support students following the mass shooting, there was no means through which the town could recoup the excess cost reductions until the legislation was passed,

Thanks to the "hard work of our representatives," Dr Erardi told the school board, a check for roughly $180,000 is expected to be delivered to the town in March or early April.

"That check did not happen by accident," said Dr Erardi, adding later that ongoing dialogue between the representatives and the district led to the reimbursement.

Working for the legislation was not easy, the superintendent said.

"The ups and downs and trials and tribulations that ultimately led to the successful plan moving forward really took months of conversation and months of organization, not on my part, but by the gentlemen standing before you," said Dr Erardi to the school board.

Both Dr Erardi and Board of Education Chair Keith Alexander thanked the representatives for their efforts.

Sen Hwang said the reputation of the Newtown administration and the district's work to explain the issue was helpful when presenting the legislation.

"It is also important to acknowledge the educators, and the volunteers ... you are truly what's reflected in what is important. We can be in Hartford and deliberate and legislate, but, at the end of the day, there is nothing more important than to ensure an environment where kids are learning joyously and celebrating all that Newtown has to offer," Sen Hwang said. "It is truly an incredible privilege to serve. Thank you."

The legislation, Rep Bolinsky said, passed due to the information provided by the district.

"The information we were able to act upon was accurate, on the spot, available, easy to understand, and the follow-up from Dr Erardi and his administration... It was a real team effort. It involved a lot of people," said Rep Bolinsky.

Rep Sredzinski said the effort was a chance for the delegation to all work together: "Senators, representatives, members of the education committee, [and] local boards.

"It was really great to see us all come together, for us to accomplish something that was going to bring home something to the taxpayers of Newtown," he added.

Rep Carter said the effort was a "true testament" of what a group can accomplish.