To the Editor:

I am writing about a specific change that the Charter Revision Commission (“CRC”) is considering with regards to the Board of Education. They are proposing to drop from Section 2-30(c) of the Town Charter the following language:  “At each Town Election the number of candidates of any one political party elected to serve on the Board of Education shall not exceed a bare majority of the number of candidates to be seated”.  And instead the CRC is proposing that minority representation on the Board of Education follow Connecticut General Statutes §9-167(a) which states if the total membership of a board is 7 the maximum from one party can be 5.

This sentence was added as a result of a proposed change in 2008 by the then Charter Review Commission which the voters approved and was codified into the charter.  Why should we take it out now?  Is this not a disservice to the voters who approved this change?  And more importantly, is this not a disservice to our town and the children of our town?  

Decisions regarding our schools and the education of our children should not be dominated by any one party.  Decisions by the Board of Education should be first in the best interests of the children and then for our town.  Unfortunately, I feel that if the proposed language is approved – allowing a 5-2 political balance on the Board of Education – politics will play a significant role on this board.  It should not.  A political balance on the board would guarantee comprehensive discussions before decisions are made.  Again, this is in the best interest of our children and our town.

I respectfully request that the Charter Review Commission keep a bare majority of four from one political party on the Board of Education.    

While I am a member of the Democratic Town Committee, this letter represents my own opinion.  If you agree, please speak up now!  Please write to the CRC members or appear at one of their upcoming meetings to express your opinion.  Their next meeting is April 30th at 7:30 p.m. at the Council Chambers in the Municipal Center. 

Regards,

Maureen Crick Owen

16 Tamarack Road, Newtown, April 27, 2015