Bee Story Contradicts

Its Own Headline

To the Editor:

Last week’s front-page article, “School Board Tells Charter Panel To Dump Finance Board,” was patently inaccurate. It characterizes the sentiments of one board member as reflecting the entire board, when, in fact, the article itself contradicts the headline: “Mr Buzzi said he was speaking as a taxpayer and not as member of the school board.” It further states, “Mr Buzzi reiterated a preliminary idea that was floated the week before, when several other members of the school board were invited to discuss changes with the charter commissioners.”

As one who participated in the prior week’s meeting, I can say with certainty that the notion of “dumping the Board of Finance,” was never proposed. Rather, three board members spoke independently about the complex process of implementing capital projects and the need for a more streamlined approach. Speaking as an individual, Mr Buzzi suggested the incorporation of the town’s fiscal authority. The minutes of the meeting reflect Mr Buzzi as saying “that the Board of Finance function should be within the council.”

Our exchange with the Charter Revision Commission lasted two hours and included several topics on which we were asked comment. The Newtown Bee never reported on this meeting and instead offered a follow-up article with a regrettable headline and an erroneous implication.

I am disappointed that The Newtown Bee, which has long stood for principled journalism, would allow such misguided reporting. It not only misinforms the public, but it also undermines the political process.

Lisa Schwartz

Vice Chairperson

Board of Education

7 Merlins Lane, Newtown                                 September 13, 2006

(Editor’s note: As Ms Schwartz notes, the wording of the headline of the referenced article did not accurately describe the report on both meetings included in last week’s edition of The Bee. (See “Corrections” on page A-2.) The article itself, however, was accurate, and The Bee stands by the reporting in it.)