Voting For Standards Of Service

To the Editor:

Following the budget deliberations from beginning to just a few days before we vote on the budget referendum I find myself struggling with the suggestion by PTA and some Board of Education members that we should vote Yes not in support of the budget, but out of fear of that a No vote would bring further cuts to an already debilitating budget.

I turned to Newtown’s Code of Ethics, Standards of Service to help guide me as I struggled with the question of how to vote:

Section 36-2 Introduction: “Officials and employees have a special responsibility, by virtue of the trust invested in them by the town’s residents, to discharge their duties conscientiously, impartially, and to the best of their ability, placing the good of the town above any personal or partisan considerations”

Section 36-2 (b): “Officials and employees will conduct themselves with propriety, discharge their duties impartially and fairly, and make continuing efforts toward attaining and maintaining high standards of performance.”

Dr Robinson and the Board of Education, while discharging their duties and continuing their efforts toward “attaining and maintaining a high standard of performance” have stated from the onset that a $2.5 million cut would have a negative impact on educational programs.

When asked by the Legislative Council if the school budget, as presented by the Board of Finance, would enable our Board of Education to provide services needed by the schools to function properly, Dr Robinson replied: “No.”

In a vote of 9-3 the council approved the standing budget as recommended by the Board of Finance, stating that Dr Robinson was mistaken: she could find a way to make further cuts.

 In my opinion, when voting on the Budget Referendum:

 Yes means that I believe the proposed budget supports elected officials on both sides of the budget, Municipal and Education, achieve their charge of “attaining and maintaining high standards of performance.” That I believe the decisions made by the Board of Finance and Legislative Council can better guide the educational needs of our children than the Board of Education — not that I am afraid of further budgetary cuts.

No means that I do not believe the proposed budget supports elected officials on both sides of the budget achieve their charge of “attaining and maintaining high standards of performance.” That I do not believe the decisions made by the Board of Finance and Legislative Council can better guide the educational needs of our children than the Board of Education — not that I want further cuts made from the proposed budget. 

As a resident of Newtown, my vote will be based on making the continued “efforts toward attaining and maintaining high standards of performance” attainable for elected officials on both the municipal and education sides of the budget, not out of fear of further cuts.

Respectfully,

Karen C. Pierce

10 Chestnut Hill Road, Sandy Hook                            April 20, 2010