To the Editor:

I am disappointed and increasingly frustrated by the overtly political behavior and attitude that the Republican members and Chairwoman of the Board of Education are offering the families of Newtown in the name of service to our community.

During the election season, the Republican candidates regularly refused to speak in public for fear of “the hostile environment that continues to rear up in town meetings and websites.” (Newtown RTC statement in The Newtown Bee on 10/29/21)

Once they were elected, they claimed to be “excited to begin serving and working collaboratively with other Board of Education members to accomplish a common goal of providing the best education possible for the children of Newtown.” (The Newtown Bee, 11/4/21)

Children look to grown-ups as models of best behavior. Grown-ups look to leaders as models of best behavior.

Since their election and installation, the Republican members have shown little interest in their responsibility as models of best behavior, and I have seen little evidence of service or collaboration with others to provide the best education possible for the children of Newtown...

Being concerned about the political nature of words being included in policies instead of those words’ conceptual value to our students’ development is not acceptable or modeling best behavior. Restricting feedback, such as clapping in response to statements by one group but not to those by another, based on personal or political biases is not acceptable or modeling best behavior.

In fact, THESE are the types of behaviors that LEAD to a hostile environment and greater division in town.

I respectfully call on the Chairwoman and these members to reflect on their responsibilities, their oath, how they have been conducting themselves in meetings and decisions, and to make significant efforts to represent all of the children (and by extension, the families) that they have promised to serve, above and beyond personal and political opinions.

Our families and town deserve nothing less.

Pia Ledina

Newtown