Features

In Case You Missed It, Here Is What Posted Over The Weekend

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: May 17, 2021 10:20 AM

A number of stories posted to

newtownbee.com this past weekend.In case you missed them, here is a list of some of those stories, not in particular order.“Newtown Realtors Expand Annual Pet Food Drive,” by John Voket, published May 15. Read more at

newtownbee.com/05152021/newtown-realtors-expand-annual-pet-food-drive.

“Hawks Hope Hard-Fought Loss Fuels Hunger For Playoffs,” by Andy Hutchison, published May 15. Read more at

newtownbee.com/05152021/hawks-hope-hard-fought-loss-fuels-hunger-for-playoffs

“EDC Recommending Sale Of ‘Tech Park’ Parcel,” by John Voket, published May 15. Read more at

newtownbee.com/05152021/edc-recommending-sale-of-tech-park-parcel.

“Borough Election, Budget Vote Generate Low Turnout,” by John Voket, published May 16. Read more at

newtownbee.com/05162021/borough-election-budget-vote-generate-low-turnout.

“Recent Student Happenings At St Rose,” published May 16. Read more at

newtownbee.com/05162021/recent-student-happenings-at-st-rose.

Donations For Newtown Lions Stuff-A-Truck Food Drive Help Fight Hunger

Police Reports | April 2-April 15, 2024

Fire Reports | April 10-April 15, 2024

Hawk Lacrosse Players Support 15 For Life Foundation

Lions Club’s Lose The Litter Day Returning As Part Of Earth Day Celebration

Unfortunately as voter turnout continues to decline the chances of it increasing also decline. The LC and BOF already know that the budget will be approved by virtue of the low turnout so why try to make smart decisions? The so-called referendum is essentially just a rubber stamp. They will continue to increase the budget by 2-5% every year because it's low enough to not cause a pushback under the cover of "inflation" and "maintaining the schools." Sending the budget to vote with 9% turnout is meaningless and a waste of resources on April 23rd.

Go Out And Vote April 23

I have seen Mr. Pisani repeatedly assert in the pages of the Bee that Newtown schools are "testing at a failing 64.9%". I'd be curious if he could elaborate on this statistic, as I have been unable to verify it independently. Which test exactly is our school system failing? How do our schools compare to other towns? How does our score compare to historical measures? It's very hard to draw conclusions from a single data point, so here are a few more data points to think about for context: Newtown is consistently ranked among the top 20 school districts in CT by the US News and World Report and Niche, which consider a range of performance metrics in their rankings; on average, Newtown students perform similar to, if not better than, students in neighboring school districts on standardized math and reading tests; the only data point on the CT Department of Education District Report Card where Newtown "fails" -- that is, falls behind the state average -- is access to art instruction. I'm glad the council member has acknowledged in this letter what taxpayers in high-performing (and high-spending) school districts like Darien, New Canaan, and Westport already know: "School funding does impact student achievement." Please keep that in mind when you vote this week!

All I Ask Is That You Think About It

An investment is done with a hope for a return. The operative term here is 'hope'.

Continue To Invest In Newtown’s Schools

Test scores these days measure how well kids absorbed the answers that the State DOE tells the school systems to teach.

Vote For The Budget

Your kids got a 'Blue Ribbon' education. Those days are long gone.

Supporting Our Kids By Supporting Our Schools

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In Case You Missed It, Here Is What Posted Over The Weekend

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