To the Editor:

We need a broader range of experience on our Board of Education. After all, the most effective boards are composed of directors who collectively bring a variety of expertise to the job of leadership, oversight, and governance. Vote for me, Dennis Brestovansky, and you’ll add a director who’s spent a career managing businesses and delivering value from large operating budgets. You’ll get the perspective of a former university teacher and an experienced charity and for-profit board member. You’ll also get someone who will listen to and represent your interests whether you have children in our schools or not.

I’ve been a Newtown resident for 20 years and father to four who have benefited from our schools. My family loves it here — my eldest and her family just settled in the borough. Yet, these are challenging times for town and state. It’s disappointing to hear about potential newcomers who don’t choose Newtown. Old friends are increasingly talking about moving away. Perceived value for taxes has a lot to do with it.

A top school system has far-reaching advantages for students, property values, quality of life, and a thriving town. However, relentlessly increasing taxes can quickly offset those upsides. Especially now, we must get good results from our investments or have the courage to change course.

I believe in community service and have worked with our schools, athletics department, and St Rose church. Recently, I helped lead a self-study analysis for the current BOE.

Our elected town representatives must collaborate to create a long term, viable vision for Newtown and use that vision to guide our decisions. With your support, I look forward to being part of that conversation and working with you to make our school system everything we want it to be at a cost we can afford.

Dennis Brestovansky

Longview Heights Road, Newtown September 30, 2019