Address The Issues

To the Editor:

As a former educator, the mother of a teacher, and a longtime Newtown resident, I am, generally, a big supporter of education. With that in mind, I would like to address some items contained in John Voket’s Bee article published last week. The piece was titled: “School Contract Details Released.”

Item Number One: “Therefore, district permits a reasonable amount of professional development for the superintendent, as she deems appropriate, to attend to such matters and pay for the necessary fees for travel, registration, and subsistence expenses.”

Question Number One: Was Dr Robinson’s trip to China deemed professional development and appropriate? If so, what other “matters” have we Newtowners underwritten during her tenure and, at what cost? I never have heard a response, despite much discussion.

Item Number Two: “…the board will fund an alternative retirement plan selected by the director of business, with an annual contribution of $21,311.”

Question Number Two: The school system has often likened itself to a large corporation and, in fact, is the largest employer in town. In the “real” world, in today’s economy, how many large corporations are doling out costly perks like that? I am appalled at the contribution the BOE makes to Mr Bienkowski’s retirement plan. His benefit alone is more than the majority of the educational assistants make in a year. This perk would seem ill advised given the tenor of the town. Additionally, my experience is that many EAs are also certified teachers who are underpaid, underappreciated, and overworked.

Not addressed in The Bee article but a question worth posing at this time: Just how many EAs were terminated, reassigned to a less desirable position, or suffered reduced hours and in what areas of concentration? As far as I am aware, this has yet to be disclosed.

I’d like to offer a popular sporting or military adage: “The best offense is a good defense.” Perhaps this is a tact the new communication director could assume. Thinking logically, it would seem to me that it would behoove the BOE to get out in front of issues and control the narrative versus the perception of a bunker mentality. The more secretive the board is, the most suspicious the townspeople become.

Frankly, I have always tried to be circumspect when writing to The Bee. Over the course of time, I have realized that this is not the education system I defended for so many years. Philosophy has changed. Parental concerns appear to be less enthusiastically greeted or dealt with in a timely manner. The blatant disregard for what is palatable to townspeople is repugnant. Issues are ripe for discussion and dialogue — not monologue.

Closing suggestion: Address the issues. I, for one, look forward to the conversation.

Respectfully,

Roseanne G. Loring

9 Cobblestone Lane, Newtown                                    October 4, 2011