Board Should Show More Consideration For The Public

To the Editor:

On Tuesday, October 14, I attended a Board of Education meeting that was well attended by students, parents, members of the Legislative Council, candidates for local office, and other interested citizens. Once again there were those who had to stand for hours because of inadequate seating in the board’s meeting room. Additionally, it was difficult to hear all comments being made at the head table. As a candidate for the BOE I suggested to the board in a letter to the editor published on October 3 seven recommendations intended to correct these problems. I respectfully suggest, once again, that the board see to it that the public be able to seat itself, see and hear its business being conducted.

At the meeting on October 14 there was considerable discontent voiced by students, parents, administrators, and even the board itself over the lack of adequate and timely notification of the imposition of fees for club activities imposed on students. There was considerable discussion of why students were not notified in a timely manner of the fees in addition to the opposition to the fees themselves. Clearly, there was a need for a better and swifter method of transferring information to all interested parties.

I would like to suggest to the board that instituting a website for the school district could be a way to notify all of us of things on a systemwide basis that need to be communicated. Individual schools have such a mechanism –– why not the district? We live in an age where computers are part and parcel of our daily activities. What better way for all to access, at their convenience, information about our district? BOE meeting notices could be posted, cancellations could be posted, agendas for meetings, systemwide notices, requests for bids, new hires, retirements, special events, delayed school starts, etc. A website would not serve as a substitute for the press and radio but be a communication adjunct to them and be able to be updated continuously if need be.

As a candidate for the BOE I have been prodding our elected officials to be more responsive to the citizens, students, and educators across a broad front of activities. This is but one small way to move in that direction.

Paul Mangiafico

15 Kent Road, Newtown                                           October 14, 2003