Date: Fri 08-Mar-1996

By ANDY GOROSKO

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Hawley-School-Borough-Zoning

Full Text:

Borough Zoning Sets Hearing On Hawley School Plan

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

The Borough Zoning Commission has scheduled a public hearing for Thursday,

March 14, on the school board's proposal to expand Hawley School on Church

Hill Road.

The hearing is slated for 7:30 pm in Town Hall South, 3 Main Street.

The town's Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z), which serves as the borough's

planning commission, endorsed the high school expansion proposal at a February

15 session.

School officials had been planning to couple the $3.5-million Hawley School

expansion proposal with a $26.5-million Newtown High School expansion proposal

at a referendum. But because the high school's septic system is believed to be

a source of nitrate pollution in domestic water supplies on Oakwood Drive, the

state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is requiring the town to

either install nitrate elimination equipment at the high school or connect the

high school to the municipal sewer system now under construction.

The DEP requirements will delay a referendum on the high school expansion

proposal, resulting in the Hawley School proposal going to a referendum

separately and earlier than the high school project.

It now appears the Hawley School expansion referendum will occur this spring,

and the high school expansion vote will come in the fall.

The Hawley School expansion project would add approximately 22,000 square feet

of space to the elementary school. It would add a new gymnasium, media center,

science room and administrative area to the school. The project calls for only

minor renovation work within the existing building. Windows throughout the

school would be replaced. The expansion proposal, however, doesn't include

construction of a school cafeteria. Hawley School students have lunch shipped

to them from the nearby Newtown Middle School. Students at Hawley eat lunch in

the their classrooms.

School Board Chairman Herb Rosenthal told P&Z members February 15 that

expanding Hawley School may eliminate the need for a fifth public elementary

school for the foreseeable future.

Mr Rosenthal told P&Z members that school officials consider expanding Hawley

School an essential measure to deal with the school system's "enrollment

crunch." Student population statistics indicate local public school enrollment

is expected to increase for at least eight years, he said.

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The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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Date: Fri 08-Mar-1996

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