Bringing Changes To A ‘Troubled’ Board

To the Editor:

As a candidate for a position on the school board in this year’s election on November 6, I am urging all the voters to carefully examine the platforms of the individuals running for the three open seats. The present Board of Education is faced with many critical issues and has had many problems with the way it operates. Some of the candidates do not seem to recognize this and will only bring more of the same to an already troubled board.

I have served for five years as a school board member in another district, and I know how school boards are supposed to function. I have a good working knowledge of the budget process and the important relationship between Board of Education and superintendent.

Nearly 70 percent of your tax dollars are spent in funding our educational system, and school budgets are increasing every year. It is imperative that your taxes are spent wisely and that all expenses are justified. I will recommend that the school board explore the feasibility of employing a zero-based budgeting plan, instead of using the previous year’s budget with additions.

The Board of Education has to develop better communications with the public and other town agencies. At the present time, board policy prohibits a citizen from addressing the school board at one of their meetings, unless the question or comment concerns a subject on the agenda for that meeting. This policy is wrong and should be changed. It typifies how insulated from the public the board has become. They call this portion of their meeting “public participation,” but it is more like “public elimination.”

I will work very hard to get our school board to improve its communications with the public and other agencies and to insure that every dollar spent on our schools is justified and necessary for the futures of our children and the protection of our property values.

This year there are many individuals running for various elective offices in Newtown. One group that candidates have traditionally spoken to in the past is the seniors at the Newtown Senior Center. Unfortunately this is not possible this year as I have been told by the supervisor of the Senior Center that due to impending renovations and scheduling problems, candidates will not be permitted to address the seniors at the center. In addition, information packets and candidate flyers will also not be accepted for distribution to the seniors.

Therefore I am asking the members of the Senior Center, and anyone else, to please contact me with any questions regarding my platform or candidacy. I can be reached at 426-2071 or emailed at georgec2@earthlink.net. I look forward to sharing my thoughts with any voter regarding the challenges facing our Board Of Education.

Sincerely,

George J. Caracciolo

Board of Education Candidate

Republican Party of Newtown

17 Schoolhouse Hill Road, Newtown                 September 21, 2007