To the Editor:

As an elected official representing Newtown in Hartford, I know how critical it is to have municipal partners I can count on for their expertise, town knowledge, and willingness to advocate for their community.

Rebekah Harriman-Stites is truly a partner I can count on.

In her role as vice-chair on Newtown’s Board of Education, she has led the effort to implement a Special Education Contingency Fund to ensure that we are planning for needs of both current and future Newtown students. She has advocated for increased mental health support services and a fully articulated social emotional curriculum, appropriate for students at all levels. As chair of the Policy Committee, she has effectively rewritten existing policy and drafted new policies to reflect today’s learning environment in areas of curriculum, health and safety, personnel, ethics, data protection, and more.

I know that when I have a question as to how a piece of legislation will impact Newtown students, I can rely on Rebekah’s honest thoughts, not only as a Board of Education member, but as a parent herself.

I urge Newtown voters to support Rebekah’s bid for reelection to Newtown’s Board of Education on November 5.

State Representative Raghib Allie-Brennan

2nd Assembly District

Grassy Plain Street, Bethel October 11, 2019