Bringing Focus To The School Board

To the Editor:

On November 3 voters will have the opportunity to elect four members to the Board of Education. There are seven candidates from three political parties, including myself, vying for these seats.

I am sure that all of the candidates are well-intentioned, qualified individuals, who wish to contribute their time and effort to improving our school system. Unfortunately, adding four new members to a seven-member board will not be enough to guarantee that our children and the taxpayers are getting the best representation possible on this important governmental body. Unless the operations of this board changes from the ways in which it has been functioning for years, things will remain the same.

The BOE needs to become a proactive board with each member having the ability to put forth new ideas for the board to consider and debate. The responsibility of school board members is not limited to attendance at meetings to address issues placed on the agenda by the chairperson and the superintendent. Individual members need to challenge the status quo occasionally and present new ideas for discussion and debate. To do otherwise results in a stagnant school board that deliberates only on those items deemed worthy by the chair and the administration.

If elected, my focus will be on helping to shape a new Board of Education that operates in a dynamic fashion, so that every member has the opportunity to contribute new ideas to improve our educational system and to minimize its cost to the taxpayers.

For many years the BOE has functioned with too much power and influence vested in the chairperson and the administration. It is time to change this and restore the mandate of policymaking to all the board members, individually and as a governing body. Regardless of whom you vote for on November 3, please make sure that your choices to fill these seats understand and appreciate this concept.

George Caracciolo

Schoolhouse Hill Road, Newtown                         October 19, 2009