School Board Needs

Constructive Change

To The Editor:

In a few weeks the voters will have an opportunity to select three new members for the Board of Education (BOE). There are three Republican candidates in the field vying for two of those seats. I am one of them.

My interest in the Newtown schools goes beyond providing the best programs and education for our children, at a cost that is reasonable to our citizens. My goal is also to insure that the school board understands its role in the educational system.

Our school budget is responsible for more than 70 percent of your tax dollars and growing every year. The school board must recognize that a good education for our children is not solely dependent on how much money we spend, but also on the quality of the people involved and the clarity of their mission.

In order to make an informed decision at the polls, the public needs to understand how each of the nominees would represent them on the BOE. For the past several weeks, one of the candidates has addressed the issues in vague and broad generalities and the other (incumbent) candidate has been silent.

Although a single board member has no power to effect change, an individual with strong beliefs on certain issues needs to present convincing arguments to other members in order to reach a majority consensus. Each member of the BOE must have the fortitude and commitment to exercise that responsibility. Going along with the crowd accomplishes nothing and results in a board that is stagnant and without direction.

The recent chaotic situation with the buses and the changed school hours has impacted thousands of families and children in our district and is yet unresolved. As a result, many additional hours and much effort is being directed toward corrective measures, but accountability is required... the administration to the school board and the school board to the public.

Some of the ideas that I will bring to the board for their review and discussion are:

1. Changing the makeup of the board to an odd number from 6, to 5 or 7. This would allow representation from unaffiliated voters, which is the largest group of voters in Newtown and would also provide for more definitive voting procedures on the board. This change would require an amendment to the town charter and the BOE should recommend it.

2. Insist that any major changes to proven systems for providing services, such as the recent bus scheduling and school hours, be adequately tested and proven effective before its implementation. When making drastic changes that impact so many students, the board should be prepared with a back-up plan if the new untried system fails.

3. Insure that the BOE understands its role as policy makers and guardians of the tax dollars. The school board has only one employee –– the superintendent. He should be rewarded for his achievements and held accountable for his failures. The BOE cannot micromanage the administration.

4. Explore the idea of changing when the board meets, from the first and second Tuesday of every month, to the first and third of second and fourth Tuesdays. This would narrow the time between the last and the next meetings, and still maintain the two-times-per-month schedule. With the present calendar there is sometimes as much as four weeks between meetings.

These are just some of the ideas I will bring to the BOE if elected. I have asked the Republican committee to provide a forum for its candidates so the public can be informed as to how each one stands on the issues and to better understand their underlying philosophies. I sincerely hope they will consider my suggestion.

In this letter I have attempted to provide some insight into my beliefs and specific examples of improvements I would encourage in our educational system. I ask for your support on November 4 to bring constructive change to our Board of Education.

George Caracciolo

Schoolhouse Hill Road, Newtown                      September 22, 2003