Letters of Endorsement

To the Editor:

 I am writing to endorse Lillian Bittman, Board of Education (BOE) candidate. Please vote for her on November 6 and allow her to continue helping our children and improving the quality of their education.

 I always thought that one of the most important things that a member of the BOE should have is experience in our educational system. But I’ve learned that it’s simply not enough. The BOE does not administer our school system. Our town has paid staff to take care of that. The BOE is specifically there to oversee the paid staff, using their business, community, strategic planning and educational system experience to ensure that good decisions are made. For example, during the last round of budget cuts, our former superintendent of schools recommended reducing the number of second-grade teachers. The BOE rejected that proposal and found alternatives that allowed us to maintain our teachers and keep class sizes from growing.

A dedicated BOE member does not simply attend meetings every two weeks. We need BOE members who spend time in the community, take their roles seriously and treat their responsibilities as they would their full-time jobs. If done well, this includes reaching out to the community, the Board of Finance and the Legislative Council. This takes time, passion and dedication. With the right amount of outreach, we will avoid budget votes that fail.

I hope that voters realize the importance of communication, business and strategic planning skills, real leadership experience, proven involvement in our community, and the ability and willingness to dedicate the time and attention needed to successfully serve on the BOE. I believe we have candidates who have one or two of these attributes, but only one candidate who has them all — Lillian Bittman.

Azra Sholtes

2 Miya Lane, Sandy Hook                                  October 31, 2007