The New Britain Herald has asked the candidates in the municipal elections questions on the issues facing our communities. Today we present a question-and-answer session with candidates for New Britain Board of Education.

Sharon R. Beloin-Saavedra (Democrat)

125 Kenwood Dr. New Britain

Education: New Britain High School, BA, Central Connecticut State University in political science

Employer: Full time parent of three children and current BOE President

Civic Org: former member of: Board of Finance; Commission on Persons’ with Disabilities; Special Education Parents Council; Plainville Association of Retarded Citizens (serving New Britain youth); Democratic Town Committee, elected to the Common Council two terms 1989-1993

What is the most important challenge facing New Britain Schools?

The most important challenge facing the New Britain school district is the continued, long term resource deprivation. Student achievement in the face of compounded resource deprivation is a monumental hurdle. Stabilizing the funding stream with increases based on actual costs of providing education — taking into account all of our contractual obligations — would greatly benefit our students. The federal government wants all students to achieve the benchmarks of NCLB at the same pace without acknowledging that the tools to achieve this success vary greatly from community to community based on the wealth of each town.

Why are you running, and what are your qualifications for the office you seek?

I believe my college education, legislative work experience, previous tenure on the Common Council along with my community and family experiences uniquely qualify me for re election to the Board of Education. I am a life long resident of New Britain. I attended DiLoreto and Pulaski schools and graduated New Britain High School in 1983. I married became a parent and made the choice to raise my family here. I am a dedicated and outspoken advocate for this city and it’s children.

What needs to be done to raise test scores and stem dropout rates?

Dropout rates and student achievement are directly related. Beyond the CMT/CAPT scores are the everyday study habits, classroom behavior and participation, attendance, a sense of self worth, developing a positive relationship with an adult in the school, feeling connected to the whole and the ability to visualize the future and plan for it. The school system alone cannot address all the various social issues urban students have to deal with. Our students need a healthy family life and community support. Housing, safe neighborhoods, peer pressures, the cycle of poverty, lack of parental education, language barriers and family instability are some of the issues many of our students face. I am proud of and excited about our new initiative “GO” or Graduation Odyssey - a dropout prevention program focusing on 6th and 9th graders. This program will offer supports to move lower performing at risk students on the graduation path This is a collaborative effort between the school system and community organizations. The district is also working on Saturday Academies to provide academic and enrichment programs which will continue to engage our students beyond the normal school week. The Board of Education has also adopted the College Keys Compact which requires as your default curriculum a college track for all. The New Britain school system has received the grant “Project Opening Doors” which is aimed at increasing participation in and successful completion of Advanced Placement courses.

Do you believe No Child Left Behind has been effective? Why or why not?

The goal of NCLB is a good one. All students should be held to high expectations and be taught by quality teachers. Student achievement should be measured and systems held accountable. However, all thing not being equal - it is unreasonable to expect all students to achieve at the same pace. You must meet a student at their instructional level and move them forward. For some students the finish line for individual achievement is a two mile run for others it might be a 10 mile run. If they begin the journey from different starting points - can they cross the finish line at the same time? NCLB sets a time line for achievement and percentages that must be met. Everyone is measured against the same time frame for achievement regardless of how far they have to go. A better system would be based on a growth model. The measure should not be where did the student score on the scale but rather how far have they moved.

Paul Carver (Republican)

286 Garry Drive

Employer: State of CT. Department of Public Utility Control

Education: Saint Thomas Aquinas High School. Attended Greater Hartford Community College and Central Connecticut State College

Civic and Professional Organizations: Corporator for the New Britain YMCA, Corporator for Community Mental Health Affiliates, Served on the Board of Directors for the New Britain EMS, Former member of the New Britain Public Library Board (four years as President of the Board), member of the New Britain Institute Board of managers, Church Elder and Congregation President.

Web site: www.nbrtc.com

What is the most important challenge facing New Britain schools?

Balancing the needs of a 21st century education, to educate students to the standards of a modern job market, giving them the skills they will need to be successful in life in a climate that demands fiscal restraint.

What are your qualifications and why are you the best candidate?

I am a life long resident of New Britain, a product of local schools and I have a long history of involvement in the community. I served on the City Council for ten years, was Chairman of the New Britain Parks and Recreation Commission and have been on the BOE for the last four years. As a board member I chair the Finance and Facilities committee and have closely monitored Board expenditures. My son graduated from NBHS in 2008 and my daughter is currently a freshman at the High School.

Do believe needs to be done to raise test scores and stem dropout rates?

More parents need to become involved with their children’s education. Too many students come to school not prepared to take adult direction and give their education the proper dedication and respect required. Education requires some self-control and self-discipline, these characteristics must be taught in the home or children will have a difficult educational experience.

Do you believe No Child Left Behind has been effective? Why or why not?

NCLB was designed to collect data and set a standard for reform. One size fits all mandates from Washington have reduced NCLB to a test driven program that measures failure, but provides no guidance or funding for success.

Judith K. Greco (cross endorsed)

126 Lincoln St.

Employer: Retired Educator

Education: Bachelor of Science, CCSU; Masters in Guidance Counseling

Civic: President of the New Britain Boys and Girls Club, past president of the Hartford County Retired Teachers, Member Alliance for Youth, Triad, Past Member of Board of YWCA, Past Co chair of The Race in the Park-Ct Breast Health Initiative, Member Alliance for Youth, Triad

What is the most important challenge facing New Britain Schools?

Parenting-There seems to be a lack of real parenting of most of our students. There are many one parent families who live below the poverty line. There is little or no value placed on education. It is a sacrifice to make ends meet and the important goal in families becomes money. Education is secondary. The discipline problems that are the result of the parents being overwhelmed, trying to maintain a job and a home, spill into the schools and hamper a learning environment.

What are your qualifications and why are you the best candidate?

I was a teacher for several grades in the New Britain system. I’ve been in the neighborhoods of New Britain for many years. I taught in middle school and then became a guidance counselor. I moved up to the high school and became a housemaster. I went on to become the Principal at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. I have been in all aspects of education. I feel I have a real sense for the problems currently facing the students in New Britain and have the experience to find solutions for the needs of the students. I feel my “hands-on approach” will benefit the Board, community and school system.

What needs to be done to raise test scores and stem dropout rates?

We need to look at the “whole child.” We have a much diversified population of children from many languages and cultures. The original learning is not present today so therefore some of the standardized tests cannot fully measure intelligence or abilities.

I feel for the dropout rate, every effort, counseling, intervention programs, needs to be enhanced to provide support and serve with positive intervention of each potential dropout.

Do you believe No Child Left Behind has been effective? Why or why not?

This phrase is a “buzz word” without substantial meaning. There should never be a child left behind. We are, as educators, through our effort, patience and understanding supporting each child as far as they can go. We cannot expect each child to be an overnight success but with a sense of reaching out and motivating each child to their abilities, we can ensure their success in this world. It is up to the educators, board members and families to strive to have each child become a successful, productive individual in our society.

Luisa Leal (Democrat)

196 Winthrop St; New Britain, CT 06052

Employer: seeking employment

Education: Some college; APICS CPIM course of study in Resource Management.

Civic and Professional Organizations: Member of St. Marks Episcopal Church

What is the most important challenge facing New Britain schools?

Some of the most important challenges facing New Britain schools are the limited resources and the limited tax base to pay for these resources given the overwhelming need in a urban district such as New Britain. We need to be creative and resourceful in finding funding and designing curriculum to best serve the needs of this district

What are your qualifications and why are you the best candidate?

My passion for and belief in the utmost importance of a sound educational base are two qualities which contribute to my viability as a candidate. My experience as an involved mother of two children and my ability to research and comprehend the issues facing our educational system and its impact on the community, I believe, validates my qualifications to be part of the process. My previous experience on the Board of Education also further lends to add to my qualifications.

What do you believe needs to be done to raise test scores and stem dropout rates?

Insuring that literacy comprehension is well founded at an early age will certainly facilitate to improve test scores, which in turn fosters confidence in a child, which in turn then leads to a more engaged student. How we provide that foundation as a community is where the challenge lies. Programs which help to develop this foundation are critical and should be implemented as early in the process as possible; whether it be via in school or outreach efforts.

Do you believe No Child Left Behind has been effective? Why or why not?

While No Child Left Behind is a noble concept in theory and a necessary aim it is a challenging mandate for those districts which are not only resource deficit but face other added challenges which require social services in collaboration with the educational system. For the government to mandate these requirements and to not provide sufficient funding towards implementing them appears to set up certain districts for defeat, especially in urban areas.

Anthony J. Kane

48 Russwin Road

Employer: Cheshire Public Schools

Education: BA in Music, BS in Education, University of Connecticut; MS in Music Education pending completion of exams, CCSU

Civic and Professional Organizations: Music Educators National Conference

What is the most important challenge facing New Britain schools?

Our lack of resources is one of the biggest challenges. If we received the kind of money that Hartford gets, we would have $43 million more to utilize in hiring staff and implementing effective programs such as smaller learning communities. These programs have proven track records of success in raising achievement. Our diversity as a district makes it necessary to have more programs than suburban districts. Unfortunately, we have fewer resources at our disposal to implement such necessary programs. As a result, we end up losing students to magnet schools in Hartford because we cannot offer the programs that parents want for their children. We also need to increase parent involvement. The more informed parents are, the more they can participate in their child’s education and support their learning. What happens at home is crucial for success in school. We need to get that message out to all parents.

What are your qualifications and why are you the best candidate?

My background as a classroom music teacher gives me a very realistic picture of the challenges that public schools face today. I have spent many hours studying and visiting New Britain’s schools in order to gain a better understanding of our district. I combine a strong work ethic and positive attitude in my dedication to this community, currently serving on the Civil Service Commission for the City and volunteering with my wife and daughter at the Jerome Home. I also have served on the Executive Board of The Main Street Singers. As a young father, I have a personal stake in the future of New Britain’s schools. As a product of the New Britain Schools, I look back on my education with fond memories, and enjoyed the diversity and acceptance of my fellow students. The quality of our schools is a key component to the revitalization of our city. I will promote practices and changes that will help the children of New Britain reach their fullest potential.

What do believe needs to be done to raise test scores and stem dropout rates?

I believe that we need to hold all of our students to high standards, both academically and behaviorally. Students will often perform at higher levels of achievement if the bar of expectations is raised. To meet the academic challenges, behavioral expectations also need to be high. There should be fair and just consequences for students who fail to meet these expectations. Student behavior will improve if the consequences are fair and consistent, and the student understands the reason for the consequences. We also need more resources from the state to implement effective programs and hire more paraprofessionals and teachers.

Do you believe No Child Left Behind has been effective? Why or why not?

I believe it has been effective in the way it has challenged schools across the country to address learning needs for all groups of students. Schools are using more research-based interventions and strategies than ever before, and NCLB has been a driving force. On the other hand, there are many deficiencies. New Britain is put at a disadvantage when compared to suburbs due to the higher number of students in poverty, those who are English Language Learners, and those who have not attended pre-school (although we have made significant progress in recent years). All these factors negatively impact test scores, which fuels the perception that our schools are “failing.” The lack of resources, which is really an issue the state needs to address, further compounds the problem. We need more money for staffing and to implement programs that work and will raise achievement.