Starting this week and continuing until the November 6 election, The Newtown Bee will present profiles of candidates for the town’s elective offices. This week, candidates for the Board of Education, the Board of Assessment Appeals, the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Police Commission, and the Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers. 

Each candidate was asked a series of seven questions. The following questions are answered with corresponding numbers in each candidate profile. They are not re-stated in each individual profile.

1. What is the most critical governmental matter facing Newtown today?

 

2. If elected, how do you plan to contribute towards addressing that issue?

 

3. What is the single most valuable skill or talent you can offer to the community, and how will you apply that talent or skill to best serve our community?

 

4. Is there an issue or need that you believe does not get enough attention in town? What would you do to address that issue?

 

5. Since almost 70 cents of every tax dollar collected in Newtown is spent by the school district. What are the priorities the Board of Education and the district’s administration should address in spending those tax dollars?

 

6. How should the Fairfield Hills Authority balance commercial and recreational uses of the facilities there as well as the surrounding campus to serve the best interests of the entire community?

 

7. Much has been said recently about prevailing negative attitudes and a general mood of dissatisfaction in the community. Some blame rapidly escalating property taxes, while others have issues with the current political leadership. Do you think the prevailing mood in town has grown more negative in recent years, and if so, what can you do to help make it ‘nicer in Newtown?

Board of Education

 

George J. Caracciolo

17 Schoolhouse Hill Rd

426-2071

E-mail: georgec2@earthlink.net

Family: Married; two grandchildren in Newtown schools.

Party affiliation: Republican

Newtown residency: 11 years

Education: BS behavioral sciences, magna cum laude; graduate A.M.A Middle Management; former member MENSA.

Occupation: Retired Lieutenant NYC PD.

Question responses:

1. Recapturing and maintaining the quality educational system that Newtown has always been noted for, at a cost that the taxpayers are comfortable with. This is a difficult balancing act but imperative for the futures of our children and the potential impact on property values. I will recommend that the school board explore the feasibility of employing a zero-based budgeting plan, which would require the administration to fully justify every expenditure, instead of just adding to the previous year’s budget. Continually throwing money at the schools will not guarantee a great education. It is primarily the people involved in the system that will make the difference. The school board and the administration have to take a hard look at the staffing levels in our schools and find ways to accomplish its goals through consolidation of responsibilities and with less support staff where possible. Salaries and benefits make up the largest expenditure in the school budget. If we moved toward less personnel and paid them more, we would save money in the long run and operate our system with the best people.

2. I will work hard and make every effort to change the way the school board operates. School board members are not educators, they are the ombudsmen for the public. They have only one employee…the superintendent of schools. Their primary responsibility is to set policy. Their mission is to determine what kind of educational system the public wants and how much they are prepared to pay for it and to direct the superintendent to present plans to accomplish this. The schools belong to the taxpayers, not to the Board of Education. There needs to be greater transparency on the board and improved communications with the public and other agencies. The fact that a taxpayer cannot address the school board at one of their meetings on a subject or issue that is not on their agenda is ludicrous and a blatant example of how insulated from the public the board has become. They call this portion of their meetings “public participation.” I call it “public elimination.”

3. I previously served on a Board of Education for five years in another school district. I know how school boards operate and how they are supposed to operate. I have a good working knowledge of the budgeting process and of the relationship between school board and superintendent. I understand the importance of communications with the public and other agencies and the responsibility of the board to conduct their business with full transparency. I also have a great interest in public education and an appreciation for the limits of taxpayer’s tolerance in funding an educational system. I believe in the team player concept, but I also believe that the team has to be provoked occasionally with persuasive argument in order to consider policy changes. The school board cannot be successful if it operates in a vacuum or if its members are hesitant to challenge some-thing.

4. One of the most critical issues that does not seem to get enough attention, particularly by the school board, is the readiness and condition of the infrastructure and plant facilities within the school system. There doesn’t seem to be adequate planning to insure that our school buildings and grounds are fit for present and future needs and that they are maintained properly. The Board of Education has repeatedly transferred funds budgeted for this purpose into other areas whenever reductions are required due to budget defeats. This policy will only lead to larger expenditures in the future and can possibly result in placing our children in unsafe or unhealthy conditions. The Hawley School HVAC system, which has been in desperate need of replacement for a long time, is a perfect example.

5. The Board of Education and the district administration have to work together to provide an educational system that will restore Newtown’s reputation as one of the best school districts in the state. The high school is in jeopardy of losing accreditation, some of our buildings have serious and long neglected maintenance problems, many classrooms are overcrowded and parents are required to provide school supplies and pay for extra-curricular activities for their children. There is something wrong with this picture when we are continually paying increased taxes every year to support our schools. Every year that a budget is submitted to the school board by the superintendent, it should be a new budget that addresses current needs and not just the previous year’s budget with additions. Programs and expenditures have to be reevaluated every year and every dollar requested should be justified.

6. It is difficult to comment on this question because it appears that all of the information concerning the legalities has not been fully explained. There is also a great deal of political controversy concerning Fairfield Hills. My interest as a school board member would be to insure that there will be an appropriate reservation of space for potential expansion or replacement of school buildings if the need arises in the future. To this end, I would closely monitor the events surrounding the development of this area to make certain that the school district’s needs are considered.

7. There certainly has been growing dissatisfaction and pessimism in the community over the last few years. There are many critical problems that have to be resolved, and I am confident that they will be. This is a great town and even though there are some issues that have caused divisions, such as Fairfield Hills, a new town hall, property taxes, political leadership, etc., there still remains a basic solidarity among our citizens to do what is best for Newtown. My contribution to this effort will be to change some ways that the school board operates so that parents and taxpayers will have more confidence and pride in their schools and their property values will not be impacted by a failing educational system. Hopefully the voters this year will elect the individuals committed to accomplishing this and not those who just offer more of the same which will further divide the town.

Kathy Fetchick

18 Clapboard Ridge Road, Sandy Hook

203-270-9941

E-mail: kfetchick@charter.net

Website: http://www.newtownrepublicans.org/bios/kathyfetchick.shtml

Family:  Married to Jeff for over 12 years.  Two children, Garrett and Madison.

Party affiliation: Republican

Newtown residency: Over 26 years

Education:  Newtown High School, 1983.  University of Connecticut, BS computer engineering.

Occupation: 1995 – 2003, Product Manager & Software Engineer, DataViz Inc.; 1988 – 1995, Project Manager & Software Engineer, United Technologies Corp; 1986, 1987, Software Development Intern, United Technologies Corp.

Question responses:

1. Currently, I am a member of the long term strategic planning committee, and I believe it is critical to come up with a long term strategic plan.  The plan needs to be a living document which can be modified as time moves forward.  Measures and timelines should be put into place to track progress.  The plan must also take into account the financial capabilities of the town.  Also, it needs to be simple enough to be incorporated into the daily life of the municipal and educational entities.

2. If elected to the Board of Education, I plan to work with the school administration, parents, students and town leaders to establish a longer term planning mechanism for the school district.  I would like to see that this is available for everyone to see and to track our progress.

3. One of my most valuable skills is one that I learned in engineering school and have applied in all of my career – the ability to take a large problem, look at it from all different sides and break it up into manageable pieces. This is directly applicable to working on the Board of Education.  What I have learned in attending over two years of BOE meetings is that managing a school system is a complicated task.  With an eye on the big picture, we need to continually review our processes in order to balance the needs of the school system with the needs of the town and our responsibility to the taxpayers.

4. One of the functions of the Board of Education should be to provide a link from the community (parents, students, and town leaders) to the school system.  I believe that the Board of Education needs to spend more time in dialog (two way communication) with the community.  Currently, communication only flows from the community to the Board of Education during public participation at their meetings.  Since the Board of Education meetings are working meetings, I would like to be able to provide an additional venue where there is an opportunity for a real conversation about school issues.

5. The Board of Education needs to work with the school administration to solidify long term, measurable goals for both the educational policies and the physical structures of the school system.  We must ensure that everything is being done to maximize our tax dollars.  The Board of Education needs to take a fresh look at their planning mechanisms so that we can increase the quality of Newtown’s education system.

6. Fairfield Hills is a beautiful piece of property.  Owning the property offers Newtown a unique opportunity to provide commercial and recreational services that have not been possible in the past. If planned properly, everyone can benefit.  Planning is important and the most difficult part of any project.  It is exciting to hear about the Newtown Youth Academy and all of the upcoming leases which are in process.  Given the size of Fairfield Hills, I believe the Fairfield Hills Authority will be able to balance both commercial and recreational needs.

7. Sometimes, I think people forget to take a step back and look at the big picture.  I believe people move to Newtown because it is “Nicer in Newtown.” We have a beautiful town with townspeople who really care about Newtown.  People in town regularly pull together for all sorts of causes – running for a cure for cancer, support for a new dog pound, support for the thousands of kids in town sports, and support for the schools – just to name a few.  The people are truly the heart of Newtown. Through the Board of Education, I plan on creating more opportunities for communication.  Our schools will be better served by listening and responding to all opinions about the schools.  We can then truly understand how the school system can best serve the students and the community.

 

 

Lillian D. Bittman

17 Rose Lane, Sandy Hook

426-0197

E-mail: bittmanboe@aol.com

Web info: http://www.thenewtowndemocrats.com/LillianBittman.html

Family: I’ve been married to Tom Bittman for 23 years, we met in high school, and dated for five years. Our daughter, Laura, is a junior at Newtown High School.  Our son, Danny, is a seventh grader at Newtown Middle School; and our son, Jack, is a second grader at Sandy Hook School. Three cats and thousands of books round out our family.

Party affiliation Democrat

Newtown residency: 12 years

Education: I have BS in journalism from the University of Kansas, and I’ve nearly completed a master’s in management.

Occupation: I was appointed to the Newtown Board of Education in June, replacing Tom Gissen, who resigned. For the past nine years I have operated the student newspaper programs at Sandy Hook School and Reed Intermediate School, each of which draws 50 students per year. As a volunteer, I meet with the children weekly and through a laboratory experience, teach them about newspaper writing, the newspaper business, newspaper production, and critical thinking skills.

Prior to moving to Newtown, I worked for IBM in Rochester, MN where I managed business partner programs, and led corporate-wide international events for the AS/400 Division.  Earlier in my career, I managed a community-wide strategic-planning effort for the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce, and owned and operated a city magazine for that same city of 130,000 people.  I began my career as a reporter in Oklahoma. 

 

Question Responses:

1. As a growing community, Newtown needs to proactively manage the changes that are reshaping our infrastructure. More people means more children in our schools, more traffic on our streets, and more people requiring town recreational services, just to name a few issues.  Our government must plan for these inevitable changes strategically; casting the net wide so together as a community we can set realistic community priorities.  That means we no longer can afford to have isolated silos of planning, where government agencies and bodies are publicly fighting over the same pot of money. When that happens, no one truly understands the priorities of Newtown, and we arrive at the divisive culture we have today where budgets fail repeatedly, and the town suffers under rising taxes.

2. With my background in community strategic planning, I know that the first step forward is through good government communication. As a Board of Education member I will work to develop a good working relationship with the finance board and Legislative Council.  We must talk to each other, address each other’s concerns in a timely manner, and be open to differing opinions. This will engender trust between our governing bodies.  Then, we must include large segments of the public in our strategic planning discussions.  There actually is no other way to make planning strategic without including many people in our community.  That done, the budget process can become more tenable, and much less divisive.  Newtown citizens will determine its priorities both for revenue generation and spending.

3. At heart, I am a communicator who seeks all sides of an argument when I make a decision.  I abhor knee-jerk reactions and I value thoughtful discourse. I ask the tough questions. Originally trained as a journalist, I know life is rarely black and white, or stagnant.  Everything changes.  That’s why I believe an effective leader does not deny that change is happening, but rather manages change for their community.  That means seeking all sides of an argument, and helping the community at large find the right solution that is financially viable.  I’ve done this in every organization and community I’ve served. I know I could, and am, making a difference in Newtown.   

4. The condition and capacity of our schools certainly gets attention, but only at budget time when the issue is used as a political football – again, dividing our community.  Comprising 70 percent of the town budget and representing a driving force in maintaining property values, the condition of our public schools should concern all residents. Actually, it should unite us.  Effective school spending is a win for everyone. Quality schools are a factor in driving economic development, which then can keep property taxes lower.  As a BOE member, it is my job to help Newtown residents make an informed school spending decision by ensuring that they understand what they’re getting for their money and why. The same is true concerning my role with the Legislative Council and Finance Board. On the BOE, I can’t create economic development, but I can help create a school system that will. 

5. Our high school is on probation with NEASC.  While 75 percent of the problems have been resolved, the largest issue, facility overcrowding, has not been resolved. We have 1,743 students in a facility meant to house 1,600 students. If Newtown does not approve the high school expansion project, students will not physically have the space to take critical classes.  Already today, electives and honors classes fill quickly, forcing the school in some cases to turn students away from these classes. This is an academic issue, and could drive college-bound students out of our district, as their parents move to other districts. If that is not bad enough, according to the industry, construction costs are rising 10-12 percent a year, which means Newtown can not even afford to delay the high school expansion project. Enhancing curriculum, bringing up SAT scores, and attracting talented teachers are all important priorities, but without an accredited high school, they fall flat. This is the number one priority facing the BOE, and the town

6. Ask the community – again.  This is the heart of strategic community planning.  No one elected official has the right or the information to make such decision, without first understanding what the majority of Newtown residents truly want today, not two years ago. That done, then it is a financial decision.  How much tax revenue does Newtown need Fairfield Hills to generate to make it viable?  Are there other revenue sources such as usage fees? What are the maintenance costs? Newtown owns the land, would public buildings be a better financial decision in the long run? For me as a BOE member, the issue of Fairfield Hills is a community revenue opportunity that could solve a host of Newtown spending dilemmas.

7. Newtown people are angry – at wildly different things.  That in itself is evidence that we are a community in transition and growth. Yes, taxes are part of it, but so is the feeling of powerlessness. Right or wrong, many residents on both sides of several community issues feel deceived. Conspiracy theories abound on all sides.  When this happens in a community, it is time to shine a spotlight on everything. The trust is broken. The cycle of knee-jerk reactions ends when it reaches me.  I don’t buy into the pattern. I look for causes, and then solutions.  I talk to everyone and try to listen with an open mind. That builds trust. Trust builds working relationships, which actually solve problems. It’s called statesmanship, something this country has lost in the last 20 years as we’ve devolved into petty bipartisan bickering. I’ve brought statesmanship back to help Newtown move forward calmly and intelligently.

Sara Frampton

6 Pebble Road

Newtown, CT 06470

(203) 426-3976

E-mail: sara@missframpton.com

Family: single

Party affiliation: I am running on the Democratic ticket for the Board of Education.

Newtown residency: I am a native Newtowner so I have lived here a little over 26 years.

Education: Graduated Newtown High School 1999; BA political science Sacred Heart University 2003; teaching certificate State of Connecticut 2003; MA elementary education Sacred Heart University 2004; certificate in educational technology 2004.

Occupation: This is my third year as a teacher at St Mary’s School in Milford.  I am also the co-coordinator of the Technology Department at St Mary’s.

Question Responses:

1.  I think the division of the town is our most pressing problem right now. The citizens appear to be mad at each other.  There are a lot of things being said with bias, misquotes, half truths and interpretations which are causing a lot of resentment.  This is a large town with a lot of groups that have different priorities.  We need to put personal feelings aside and look at what is going to be best for Newtown as a whole.

2.  If elected I am going to do my best to help heal this rift.  People are asking questions and not getting answers.  Almost 70 percent of our tax dollars go to the Board of Education and where a lot of it goes seems to be a mystery. The past few years in particular, there have been programs cut or threatened to be cut and then all of a sudden after the budget passes the money is found. I am not objecting to it being found, however it is spreading mistrust in those preparing the budget. I think the Board of Education needs to be more open and honest when addressing costs. The Board of Education needs to work on getting the trust back of all the taxpayers.

3.  I am not afraid to ask questions and share answers. I will not be brushed aside. I think my openness will go a long way in repairing the breakdown of trust.  The Board of Education needs to realize: there is no blank check there is a lot of room for improvement in the quality of education the students are currently receiving the community is looking for answers, and just because I said so is no longer working. The students should not be involved in the budget process at all (they should not be threatened with losses if the budget doesn’t pass this time). We need to get real value for our tax dollars being on the Board of Education is not a power trip - it is an awesome responsibility.

4.  There are a lot of citizens complaining about waste.  I think this needs to be addressed.  If there is waste, we need to get it under control and if there is not then we need to prove this to the public.  Being responsive to the Board of Finance’s request for answers should go a long way to help.

5.  The board should make sure we are getting a good value for our tax dollars and should be able to tell the difference between a want and a need. 

6.. Our community is very diverse.  We need to make sure that Fairfield Hills will be self sufficient when it is finished.  We need to have enough commercial use to cover the cost of upkeep for the complex including the recreational portion. Once Fairfield Hills becomes self sufficient this will free up tax dollars for other municipal and educational needs.

7.  It is always easier to blame someone else. I think that now is the time to look at our needs and start working together as a community.  Learning the difference between needs and wants should help our escalating property taxes.   I plan on asking questions and sharing answers.  I care about Newtown, and I have seen a big difference in recent years.  I want the town back that I grew up in and I need your help. It is everyone’s responsibility to pay attention to facts and become educated voters.  If you do not become educated about the real facts and vote November 6th, then you are not doing your part to get us back to “Nicer in Newtown.”  We all need to work together and stop wasting effort tearing each other apart.

Julie Luby

15 Fox Run Lane South

426-9944

E-mail: thelubys@charter.net

Website www.thenewtowndemocrats.com

Family: Wife, mother of three – 8, 4 and 1 ½  years old – two in Head O’Meadow.

Party affiliation: Registered Democrat

Newtown residency: 5 years.

Education: B.A., Lehigh University; M.A. Sacred Heart University; Sixth Year in School Administration, Sacred Heart University; Principal’s Institute, Harvard University; Award for Academic Excellence, Sacred Heart University; Award for Outstanding Research, Sacred Heart University.

Occupation: Region 15 High School English Department Chair for the past four years.

Question Responses:

1. Our community, like the rest of the country, is facing tough economic times while trying to flourish and grow.  Newtown needs to set priorities and goals and then rally collectively to achieve those goals.  My background as a parent and an educator will allow me to be a critical participant in the budget preparation and passage process.

2. As a Board of Education member, I will join my fellow board members in providing leadership for our school system by finding ways to improve our schools while being fiscally conscious.  I will seek to establish a forum for parent and community input to be sure that the school system shares the goals of its community.

3. I offer the community a Board of Education member who wears all of the “hats.”  I am an experienced educator, a mother of three and a taxpayer.  I am keenly aware of the importance of quality leadership on the Board of Education.  As a mother, I know what I want for my children.  As a school administrator, I know how to point our new superintendent in the right directions and evaluate her successes.  And as a taxpayer, I, like you, don’t want my taxes to be any higher than they already are.  With these three perspectives, I can ask the questions and make the decisions that will lead our school system to its pinnacle in a responsible manner.

4.  I believe that communication has broken down in Newtown and people with differing needs are competing for limited resources.  We must bring the community together through dialogue, goal setting and short and long term planning.  Until all members of the community feel welcomed, respected and engaged, we will struggle to make progress.  Our recent difficulty in passing a town budget is a direct reflection of our need to have leaders who share the perspectives of all of the town’s constituents.  As a parent, educator and taxpayer this is what I offer the town.

5. As an educator I have developed and spent school budgets in five different school systems.  The vast majority of the schools’ budget is the fixed costs of transportation, teachers’ salaries and other contractual obligations.  It is only a small percentage of the school budget that is discretionary.  An effective Board member will seek creative ways to keep those large items in check while spending the rest of the budget in meaningful ways.  It does not have to cost money to improve instruction.

6. To best serve the entire community we must garner community input and support and develop a long term strategic plan that addresses the needs and interests of all the Newtown populations.  There must be spaces reserved for children and seniors.  This space should reflect the community and improve our quality of life.

7.  A “Nicer Newtown” will be achieved when the townspeople have confidence in their leaders.  As a Board of Education member, I will seek and use community input to inform my decision making, and I will communicate the goals, choices and decisions of the board, back to the community.  The Board of Education must be accessible and welcoming to parents and community members alike.

Anna Wiedemann

 

13 Clearview Drive, Sandy Hook, CT

426-1035

E-mail: aroosterw@yahoo.com

Website: http://newtowndemocrats.homestead.com/2007Candidates.html

Family: Happily married to Dan for 30 years. Three great kids – Jennifer 26, is an materials control manager in Newtown; Stephanie is 22 and lives in Vermont and works in real estate; James is 19 and a sophomore at UConn.  Sadly we lost our beloved dog and sweet cat this summer and are down to one cat with the personality of ten!

Party affiliation:  Democrat

Newtown residency: 19 years

Education: High school graduate, some college courses.  

Occupation:  recently retired from the Newtown school district, where I worked for 12 years, most recently at NMS in the guidance office.

Question responses:

1. Cost of a rising budget connected with rising taxes.

2. Looking at ways to be more creative in finding budgetary solutions, i.e. grants. Federal grants that are available, state grants that are an offshoot of programs currently being offered in Newtown.  Other grants that could be available for programs not yet utilized in Newtown.

3. I have strong networking skills.  Having worked for the Newtown school system for 12 years, and having attended Board of Education meetings for the better part of 15 years has afforded me a better understanding of what is involved in the schools. I believe I am in touch with what students, staff and parents needs are. Being a volunteer with the VNA, I am also in touch with the growing concerns of seniors.  My affiliation with these and various other organization gives me a unique perspective into how everything in the town relates, which will allow me to consider all sides of the situation when issues arise.

4. The “us versus them” attitude.  According to the town charter it still remains one budget. We need to address the perception of “spend it or lose it.”  If there are truly monies left at the end of the year, all parties need to be held accountable in returning funds and using that to help pay for CIP projects and paying down town debt.

5. By prioritizing the issues that needed to be addressed, the Board of Education is looking at each school and addressing issues such as overcrowding, poor air quality, older buildings that need to be tended to such as roofing issues, old furnaces, etc.. This, along with the day to day running of the district, cost per pupil expenditures, high fuel costs, rising health costs, shows very little excess in the budget. With long range planning and the implementation of the needs of each school, the Board of Education will help citizens understand their budget and will be better able to help make passing the budget a simpler process.  

6.  Making part of FFH zoned for commercial use to help offset the tax base.  The recreational aspect is currently being addressed with the gift of Pete D’Amico in building the Newtown Youth Academy. 

7. One of the problems in Newtown is complacency.  Whether it’s in the political arena, schools, sport groups or other organizations, there is a lack of volunteerism.  When you go to any type of event or meeting, you see the same faces over and over again.  Wouldn’t it be “Nicer in Newtown” to see everyone getting involved and supporting these groups rather than discussing the negatives!

Desiree Galassi

 

151 Huntingtown Road

E-mail:dgalassi@earthlink.net

Website: www.independentpartyofnewtown.com

Family: Husband, David, three children ages 6, 10 and 12.

Party affiliation: I am registered as a Republican but running as a candidate for the Independent Party of Newtown.

Newtown residency: 10 years

Education: Bachelors in communication arts, St John’s University, NY,   masters in education, Queens College, NY.

Occupation: Part time foreign language teacher. Currently volunteering as PTA president at Middle Gate, SMART Boards Committee Chair.

Question responses:

1. Lack of understanding and lack of vision for the future has created many problems for Newtown.  The need for a second extension to the high school is the best example of lack of planning.  It is costing the taxpayers considerably more now than it would have 10 years ago due to significant increases in construction costs and Newtown receiving less money from the state for school construction projects since our wealth rank increased. We have not properly planned to deal with the rapid residential growth, which has stretched our resources.  Long range planning would have saved our taxpayers millions. Likewise, we lag significantly behind the world with respect to technology in our schools. Less developed countries such as Pakistan have bought 700,000 lap tops for their high school students while in other countries, technology is replacing the use of text books. In Danbury, and other neighboring towns SMART boards are outfitted in every classroom.  We can no longer ignore that technology is rapidly replacing traditional teaching methods. If we believe that our teachers are our #1 resource in education, we must seek to provide them with the tools they need to ensure our children will be competitive in a global market.    

2. As a PTA president of Middle Gate School, I believe I have successfully used my management and strategic planning skills to benefit Middle Gate staff, students, and families.  My teaching experience has helped to communicate, motivate, and stimulate creativity and responsiveness of our PTA.  My outreach efforts with our PTA families has helped to accomplish our goals and objectives. I plan to use these skills to help our Board of Education strategically plan for the future and to help to establish a better communication system to/from all families in the community. I have already proposed that a technology subcommittee be created to formulate a plan for our long term goals for technology in all Newtown schools.  The committee would address how to outfit classes with technology in a cost effective and timely manner, and study what is needed to outfit our high school expansion and renovation project with the appropriate hookups to facilitate the inevitable incoming technology  thus saving money. 

3. I have a keen ability to bring a project to fruition in a timely and cost effective manner. Within a single year, Middle Gate realized almost 40k worth of capital improvements while employing fiscally responsible plans to maximize our potential. I improved our communication with the Middle Gate families with a new web page, created a program that has integrated senior citizens and older students in our school activities. I manage 40 chair people, 53 committees and I am the guardian of our funds, insisting that all transactions be done in the full view of the members and with proper protocol. I recognize that surrounding myself with talented and knowledgeable people is the key to bringing a project full circle.  I intend to continue this tradition on the Board of Education, and bring the community in closer relation with the projects of the Board Of Education.  I believe this is the way we will grow in understanding and commitment to our town.

4. Often people ask me, “What’s in Newtown?”  With the exception of the Labor Day parade, we have an undeveloped potential for tourism and recreation.  Eichler’s Cove was purchased but little progress has been made to fully optimize that investment for the town.  Fairfield Hills continues to be enigmatic with the exception of the warp speed recent approval of the Newtown Youth Academy. It is a bittersweet improvement, oddly approved a mere five weeks before local elections.  We need a group of new people to study and make recommendations for tourism in Newtown.

5. The safety and well being of our students and staff, followed by curriculum needs, addressing under funded areas such as technology should continue to be our priority.  The high school expansion project encompasses all those needs in addition to answering the NEASC report.  $97 million worth of capital improvements and renovations to our schools including replacement of our antiquated heating and ventilation systems are necessary and urgent to increase efficiency in the manner we consume energy and protect the health of our people.  The town’s inability to find ways to expedite these needed repairs has caused the price tag to grow exponentially, at a  6 percent escalation cost. It is very challenging to then address needs in other areas such as adding foreign language to the lower grades, keeping our textbooks current, and upgrading obsolete computer equipment.  

6. Most people are not aware there are only 22.5 acres of land slated for economic development at FFH. The balance of 140 is for open space. Newtown has not identified a site for a future school building should one become necessary.  Statistics show Newtown’s population will rise by 50 percent in 25 years.  Bills in the state indicate a movement toward full day kindergarten.  If our leaders could identify and secure a location for a possible new school that was not on FFH campus then there would be many possibilities for development at FFH, bearing in mind  22.5 acres is not sufficient to sustain a large shopping district.   There needs to be a balance of what we’d like to see and what is inevitably necessary.

 

7. The mood has certainly grown more apathetic and there is significant frustration with our town leaders.  Unfortunately change is a slow and requires people to work earnestly and without self-interest in order to change the apathetic attitude in our community. To begin the healing process we need to have a new voice of leadership from the top down.  The first selectman is the most visible leader in town government and this person sets the tone for the rest of the boards in the town. Our current leaders confuse their citizens as to what our town’s priorities are. They have not collectively and vociferously supported the high school expansion project that addresses the  accreditation of our school while they make significant effort to communicate their unconditional support of their desire to build a new town hall. I plan on making it Nicer in Newtown by continuing to communicate with people, nurture understanding, and build relationships.  I currently respond to almost 60 e-mails a day.  While this is time consuming, it is what is necessary to build unity.  We are all in this together to make Newtown nicer and more productive.  

David K. Nanavaty

 

28 Currituck Road, Newtown

(203) 270-0081

E-mail:  adcosan@sbcglobal.net

Website:  www.independentpartyofnewtown.com

Family: My wife, Lorraine, and I have been married for 23 years.  We have three children: two sons, Adam and Colin, and a daughter Sasha.  We also have two Labrador retrievers, Cosmo and Lily.

Party affiliation:  I am a candidate running with the Independent Party of Newtown

Newtown residency:  I moved to Newtown in 1970 with my parents, brothers and sister, and then returned with my own family in 1994.

Education: Newtown High School 1972; Western Connecticut State University BS Secondary Education/English 1978; Quinnipiac University School of Law J.D.  1986.

Occupation:  Senior Assistant Public Defender for 18 years for the State of Connecticut-Division of Public Defender Services.

Question responses:

1. Newtown’s failure to have a town wide long range plan for population growth and commercial development.  Increased population growth combined with no structured plan for commercial development leaves residential homeowners bearing the increased costs.  A plan that incorporates a future vision for Newtown would provide a blueprint to address the needs of a growing population.  Ten years ago, I asked our town leaders if there was a long range plan in place for Newtown as it relates to population growth.  I was told there was none. Ten years later, our town leaders are just beginning to take steps to address this lack of vision.

2. I am running for reelection on the Board of Education, so if reelected my concerns will address educational issues.  But as a member of the Board of Education, I will continue to support the practice of annual enrollment projections. This is the long-range planning tool utilized by the Board of Education when planning for the potential of increased enrollment. It is also the tool which provides the board with an early warning as to the need for capital projects such as the Reed Intermediate School and the Newtown High School addition.  This planning tool is being looked at by the Board of Finance, who is adopting this Board of Education tool in seeking to address the build out potential for Newtown.  

3. My most valuable skill or talent is my four years as an incumbent member of the Board of Education.  During this time, I have been able to use my legal training and background to assist the board in contract negotiations, grievance and suspension hearings, and the review and adoption of policies.  I will not suffer from a learning curve experienced by all new board members. I have been involved in all phases of the Hawley HVAC proposal and the Newtown High School addition.  I wrote the board substance abuse policy which provides help for those students who need help, and punishment for those students who sell substances to other students.  I have worked with the other Board of Education members to make our budget easier to understand, and to make sure that children are our top priority. 

4. I would like to see more activities for teenagers.  While there is a plethora of activities for youngsters and teens who are sports enthusiasts, there are few activities that appeal to those who do not play sports.  I would like to see a cooperative approach between the schools and the Park and Recreation department to find a solution.  If a committee of interested parties could brainstorm, I’m sure a solution could be found.  Of course, a part of any long-range plan for Newtown should involve providing productive solutions for all the citizens of town, including children and teens.

5. The chief priority to the Board of Education is the children the board serves.  The entire board budget is directed to provide the most cost-effective quality education for the children of Newtown.  We may disagree as to where the budgeted funds may be allocated, but we should not disagree as to whom those funds should benefit.  The entire budget document is a compromise between important and necessary competing interests.  Class size, gifted programs, transportation, sports, music, salaries and benefits etc.  All of the costs are important in providing quality education to the only priority a Board of Education should have…our children.

6. A long-range plan should be developed which looks at the property and facilities as a living process.  Every time a commercial use is proposed there should be an equivalent recreational and educational use.  If equity is reached along the lines of positive development in this fashion, the interests of all par-ties can be achieved.

7. Yes, the political prevailing mood in town has become more negative.  When boards or commissions act, they should not be second guessed by other elected officials who do not have all the facts. This has happened recently all too often in Newtown.  Articles in The Newtown Bee, which represent only one side of the story, appear all too often, leading to inaccuracies which then have to be corrected at a later time.  This never used to happen.  The solution is easy!  Let’s not criticize until we have all the facts.  Let the boards and commissions charged with authority exercise that authority.  If there is need to criticize, make it constructive.  Why continue to run to the newspaper to express your point of view.  If someone has a problem with actions taken by a board or commission, talk to the chairperson.  Be proactive and not reactive.  Maybe, if people show more respect towards each other, and act with some common courtesy, it can again be “Nicer in Newtown.”