Job Well Done

To the Editor:

Well done Dr Robinson!

I wanted to publicly thank our Superintendent of Schools, Dr Janet Robinson, for a very thorough presentation on the current situation regarding the high school expansion at Wednesday’s [September 17] Legislative Council meeting. Anyone sitting in that meeting, as I did, surely left with a very clear idea of where we stand today. Dr Robinson’s presentation included:

Senator John McKinney

Ed Barrett, construction manager, Morganti Inc

Joe Costa, Fletcher-Thompson Architects

Bob Mitchell, Building & Site Commission (also an architect)

Ron Bienkowski, Newtown Schools business manager

Each of these gentlemen came forward and spoke to their expertise on the current situation and remained until all questions by the Legislative Council were answered. As the final vote indicated, the council saw the additional funds requested were in fact a situation that is best to move ahead on, rather than endure the probable increased costs of delaying the project. By inviting all these people to come speak, Dr Robinson ensured that every angle was covered, and the authority itself could answer all questions immediately. I would also like to thank each of these gentlemen for making themselves available and staying through the end of that long meeting to ensure all questions were satisfactorily answered.

Dr Robinson has made herself available on many other occasions to speak publicly and answer questions, and I very much appreciate the increased communication and information she provides districtwide. She jumped into the frying pan last January and has handled hurdle after hurdle with grace and intelligence.

I’ve listened to all the professionals and I am convinced these additional funds are necessary for the high school expansion and we cannot afford to delay this project. I expect the Board of Selectmen will send this to referendum, so please join me at the polls in October to vote this through!

Thank you,

Audrey Greenwood

7 Susan Lane, Newtown                                       September 22, 2008