To the Editor:

I am very disappointed and concerned, as all Newtown residents should be, with the recent decision of the Charter Revision Commission to propose language that will maintain a majority of 5 of 7 members from one political party on the Board of Education.  This decision ignores the will of the voters in the 2008 Charter Revision who thought that they were merely adding a 7th member with a bare majority of 4 of 7 members.  The Republican majority of the commission has also done so in a cynical “heads I win tails you lose” manner, because if the voters reject their proposed revision, we will be left with the current confusing and somewhat contradictory language in our charter which has been interpreted to allow for a 5 of 7 majority.

I served on the Board of Education for almost 14 years from 1984 until 1997 when I was elected first selectman.  During that time, the Board of Ed consisted of 3 Republicans and 3 Democrats. As a result, we had to work together to reach consensus on all matters.  I can only think of one instance when we were split 3-3 along partisan lines and that was for the election of a vice chair. That striving to reach consensus produced good results for the education of our children, there were many examples, from mastery and CAPS test scores to the “Blue Ribbon” status of the high school at that time.

My comments should not be taken as a criticism of the current members of the Board of Education.  However, no one can tell about future board members.  A situation that will allow the ideas of the Republican Party that represents the philosophy of 30 percent of the voters to hold a majority of 70 percent of the membership (5 of 7) will require no need to even attempt to reach a consensus on any matter to come before the Board of Education regardless of how controversial it may be.  The same could be true in the future if the Democratic Party representing 25 percent of the voters were to hold the 70 percent of the positions.  With the limit of a bare 4 to 3 majority, it is less likely that extreme ideas will be rammed through.

I urge the Charter Revision Commission to reconsider their action and if they will not, I urge the Legislative Council to do so when they receive the commission’s report.  In the spirit of full disclosure, while not speaking for them, I am the Candidates Committee chair of the Democratic Town Committee.

Sincerely,

Herbert C. Rosenthal

70 Main Street, Newtown                    May 4, 2015