Date: Fri 01-Sep-1995

By Previous Employees

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: AMYD

Quick Words:

school-choice-vouchers-LWV

Full Text:

For school page:

State LWV To Sponsor Forum On School Choice

School choice and vouchers are important issues to address this year,

according to the League of Woman Voters.

The state league is sponsoring a forum on school choice Thursday, September 7,

from 8 to 9:30 pm at Staples High School in Westport.

The league and other political observers believe members of the General

Assembly will try to pass a school choice/voucher plan this upcoming session.

"The thrust of the league has always been that an informed voter is an

effective voter," said Carolyn Greene, a Newtown league member who serves on

the state league voucher committee setting up the forums. "We want people to

make an educated decision not based on fears and prejudices. We want it based

on facts and what is best for the children."

Mrs Greene said if Newtowners can not attend the Westport forum, the leagues

of Newtown and Southbury will be offering a similar forum in November.

The Westport forum is open to Newtown residents and will feature four

panelists: State Representative Timothy Barth of Naugatuck, co-author of a

school choice/voucher bill; Matthew Boyle, school choice supporter and

president of the Connecticut Confederation of Catholic School Parents; choice

/voucher opponent State Representative Anne MacDonald of Stamford; and Larry

Miller, executive director of Cooperative Educational Services who opposes

vouchers and choice.

During the 1994 legislative session, a school choice bill was defeated by a

tie vote in the State House of Representatives. Proponents have declared that

they have enough votes to win this year.

The bill at the center of debate proposes a law permitting public school

choice and permitting local districts to offer disadvantaged students

vouchers.

These vouchers to private and parochial schools would not exceed 50 percent of

per-pupil expenditure and would not require the receiving school to follow any

additional state mandates.

The bill also proposes starting a charter school program, which would give

groups public money to start schools that would not have to follow state

education mandates. However, these schools would have to set goals and

standards that they must meet in order to keep receiving state money.

Mrs Greene said some state league members are researching the issue, and the

group is expected to take a position on it in the future.

For more information about the Westport forum, call Tammy Pincavage at

226-3215.

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The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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Date: Fri 01-Sep-1995

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