Candidate Q & A: Southington Board of Education

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 Southington Board of Education. Following are the answers from those who responded to our inquiry.

Kathleen Cavanaugh Rickard, Democrat

1317 Mount Vernon Road

Employer: CompuMail Corp.

Education: Southington High School; CCSU, BA

Civic association: Southington Chamber of Commerce

Budgets were lean this year. How do you think the schools have been affected?

The schools have been affected by larger class sizes, especially in the secondary grades. Several programs have been impacted – while not totally cut, services were reduced. School supply accounts are low, so as the school year goes on we may see increased supply needs. That being said, Southington has a tremendous team of educators working for our children. I know our staff is working harder, with less to provide an excellent educational experience for our students.

The federal stimulus money has helped reduce the impact, but only for 2 years. We have looked at creative ways of generating income by renting space and selling advertising space. We have joined consortiums to increase our buying power. We are cutting costs by conserving energy.

What steps would you recommend to improve the schools?

We have made great strides in educational consistency in our elementary schools. We still have work to do in our middle and high schools. We need to make sure that all of our students, at every level, are being given the best education possible. I would like to see an improved system for communication between teachers, guidance counselors, social workers and administration. One student falling through the cracks is one too many. We need to maintain our facilities and also resolve our middle school space issues.

What is your opinion on re-districting?

We recently established a re-districting committee to begin looking at this issue. This was prompted by the upcoming completion of the renovations to Plantsville and South End elementary schools. I don’t believe that any family looks forward to the possibility of being redistricted; however I am confident that the committee will thoroughly research all issues prior to presenting a plan to the Board of Education. The last time we redistricted we made sure that neighborhoods were kept together, that incoming 5th graders had the option to remain at their current school, that several public hearings were held, etc. I am sure that these types of things will be done again to ensure an easy transition for everyone.

Michelle Schroeder, Republican

73 Berkley Ave, Southington

Employer: All Tech Sign Co LLC Business Manager

Education: Torrington High School

Civic and professional associations: President Derynoski Elementary School PTO, Volunteer and member of Grace United Methodist Church and Nursery School, Co-Chair on the Nursery School Board, Religious teacher; S.T.E.P.S. (Southington’s Town wide Effort to Promote Success); Girl Scout and Cub Scout volunteer; Epilepsy Foundation of CT’s Mud Volleyball Tournament volunteer and participant; Chairperson “Shining Peace upon the Pettit’s,” American Cancer Society “Daffodil Days” and “The Penny Drive” for Bread for Life. Awarded the prestigious “Presidential Volunteer Service Award” from President Obama, through the Southington Town Council, May 2009; Southington Board of Education “Profiles in Professionalism” Award, 2008. southingtonrepublicans.org/

Budgets were lean this year. How do you think the schools have been affected?

As our town stands now, we have the highest quality teachers and family volunteers that actively support our children and our schools. Great effort was made in this year’s budget to not remove programming. There has been a close eye placed on all aspects of our school system to be sure that the children of Southington continue to receive the best possible education. It is a difficult and tedious job to balance education and budget; however, Southington Schools are watching, with the upmost attention to detail, each student’s education, while helping them individually to “grow forward” into responsible and well educated adults.

What steps would you recommend to improve the schools?

It is important to closely watch and address safety and zero tolerance in our schools. Open communication has improved over the last several years, and I will work to see that this communication effort continues. It is important that all forms of government are open and honest with all aspects of the running of the town of Southington. It is also imperative that the families, faculty and staff, and taxpayers have open communication and up-to-date information on all of the happenings in our schools and in our town.

What is your opinion on re-districting?

Redistricting balances the space available so that it is being used to its greatest capacity. I will be sure as a BOE member that, if redistricting were to happen, it will have minimal impact on our children and families, and that it will maintain the comfort of the learning environment in each school. All schools are on the same level of learning at this time and will remain that way.

No matter which school that you enter into in Southington you will get the same level of education, which is the best education possible. An important issue our schools face now is growing class sizes. Maintaining or minimizing class size for the safety and best possible education of our children is always the best direction to head in the prosperity of “growing forward” in Southington.

Colleen W. Clark, Republican

612 South End Rd, Plantsville

Employer: Southington YMCA

Education: Cardinal Spellman High School (Bronx, NY) and Post College (Waterbury)

Civic and professional associations: South End School PTO (past president), JFK PTO, SHS PTO, Mary Our Queen CCD teacher, VBS coordinator and parish council past president.

Budgets were lean this year. How do you think the schools have been affected?

Due to the expectation of lower state funding, the BOE budget was frozen earlier this year. And when you freeze your budget , you aren’t able to do what you had originally planned . Supplies not purchased, maintenance projects not done, and positions left unfilled are just a few examples of things our school system did without.

And while our staff and administration has been able to maintain the high quality of education that Southington residents expect, we will eventually have to restock supplies, do the maintenance, and hire necessary staff. And that will take funding.

It’s reminds me of not going grocery shopping for a couple of weeks. You may get by for a while eating from your freezer or pantry, but your list will be long when you finally get to the store.

What steps would you recommend to improve the schools?

I would recommend smaller class sizes for all grades K through 12. I would add additional support for reading and math in the elementary schools so that students would have the foundation needed for the higher expectations of middle and high school,, I would suggest the upgrade of all elementary schools so that students would have equal access to modern facilities and technology.

I would recommend the renovation and expansion of the middle schools to bring them to the 21st century. I would support continued professional development for our staff and administration. And I would recommend a partnership between the Board of Education and other town boards so that no one loses sight of the critical importance of the education of our children.

What is your opinion on re-districting?

Change is generally not easy or well received by most people. I think most people would rather control a change in their life rather than a outside force making the decision for them. But the fact remains that in a town like Southington, an apple orchard could quickly become a housing development that brings additional children a particular school. And additional children to a school could mean overcrowding, which might lead to redistricting.

But I think that with the same curriculums , comparable facilities, and high quality teachers and administrators, all our schools deliver the quality education that Southington residents expect. That might make the process, if needed, a little bit easier.

 

Brian S. Goralski, Republican

80 Buckland Street, Plantsville

Employer: State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families

Education: Southington High School, Western Connecticut State University, BS Justice and Law Administration

Civic and professional associations: Board of Education, past co-president PTO at Derynoski Elementary School, Youth Soccer League, Youth Athletic Association, Coach; Girls Softball League, Youth Basketball League, Southington Town-wide Effort to Promote Success (S.T.E.P.S.)

southingtonrepublicans.org

Budgets were lean this year. How do you think the schools have been affected?

The economy always has an impact on the budget process for the Board of Education. This year despite serious cuts to programming, none were eliminated. The trend of reducing programs is not a new one for Southington due to the fact that smaller class size has been an ongoing focus. This year we saw an increase in class size in many grades and the effect of that will not be known for years. Southington students continue to improve academically as a direct result of the fact that Southington is fortunate to have the highest quality teachers, administrators and support staff that work hard to provide the best for our students. This year’s budget process was one that involved cooperation and teamwork between the school system employees, Southington’s elected officials and the community throughout the process.

What steps would you recommend to improve the schools?

The Board of Education has the responsibility to provide the best possible education in a safe, secure and comfortable environment. The current Board of Education has made accountability for students a priority and partnered with community groups to increase social responsibility amongst our students. These partnerships create real life opportunities for students to enrich their education and better understand the connection to their community. The Board of Education has also made strong efforts to improve the consistency of instruction between the schools. This is accomplished through curriculum development and supporting these efforts through the budget process. All of these efforts are accomplished through open, honest and trusted communication. The Board of Education has the responsibility to continue to move forward in these areas.

What is your opinion on re-districting?

Redistricting is a sensitive and necessary activity for our community. The Board of Education is fortunate to be receiving improvements to our buildings that make this discussion relevant. Redistricting allows for the Board of Education to appropriately utilize our buildings and space to improve consistency of instruction and assist in the budget process. Education involves change and preparing ourselves for the future. Redistricting is one form of change that can improve the overall quality of education we offer our students. I strongly believe the process of redistricting should involve open communication and participation across the community. Having personally experienced the process with my own family, I am aware of the concerns redistricting create. Likewise, I realize the rewards are great if done in such a way as to improve a student’s educational experience.

Rosemarie Micacci Fischer, Republican

462 Wedgewood Road

Education: University of Hartford: BS in Business Administration, New England School of Law, Juris Doctorate

Civic and professional associations: Board of Education, Parishioner Saint Dominic Church, CCD/Religious Education Instructor, DePaolo PTO Co-President, Flanders PTO Member

www.southingtonrepublicans.org

Budgets were lean this year. How do you think the schools have been affected?

The Southington School District is fortunate to have such high caliber teachers, administrators and staff. We also have involved parents and an invested community. It is true that the budget was very lean this year. My goal is continuous improvement. There are times for growth and times to maintain. The current economic climate has made all of us re-evaluate our fiscal house and make adjustments. The budget was lean, but we worked very hard to ensure that the reductions were applied in a responsible way and spread across all programming.

What steps would you recommend to improve the schools?

I am very proud of our school system. We have to continue to address class size and school safety. We are raising the bar so that all students are prepared for the future. Also, the communication within our schools, with our community and with other town officials has never been better.

What is your opinion on re-districting?

Redistricting is a very important issue and, when necessary, must be done in a sensitive manner to minimize the impact of our children and families. The goal is to balance the space available within an individual school with the need for children to feel safe, comfortable and ready to learn. Many factors must be considered and appreciated. Redistricting is not simply moving lines on a map.

Terri Carmody, Republican

158 Tanglewood Drive, Southington

Employer: retired teacher

Education: Ridgefield High, Sacred Heart University BA; CCSU, MA and 6th year

Budgets were lean this year. How do you think the schools have been affected?

The Board of Education presented a budget that I believe was reflective of the economic climate. Through the efforts of Dr. Erardi and his staff, we were able to use stimulus money and energy savings to help fund some shortages. Even with these efforts, we have seen class size grow and some services affected. Although these financial constraints have been difficult, I believe that our schools still deliver a quality education.

What steps would you recommend to improve the schools?

The Board of Education must continue to evaluate our curriculum to ascertain that the course offerings are relevant. The recent tests results demonstrate that the programs we have in place are producing admirable results. I believe the ultimate goal for the Board of Education is to constantly monitor the progress our students are making and make adjustments when necessary. I personally am proud of the achievements accomplished in our schools.

What is your opinon on re-districting?

Redistricting is always a controversial issue. However, in order to assure that the Board of Education maintain equity within our schools, we must examine enrollments. A thorough study will be done before any decisions are made. The Board of Education must consider what is best for the students throughout the district.

David Derynoski, Democrat

389 Wedgewood Rd, Southington

Employer: EDAC Technologies

Education: Southington High School, Univ. of Hartford

Budgets were lean this year. How do you think the schools have been affected?

The 2009/2010 school year will not be business as usual, although we did not loose any programs many were reduced to a point ware they are just getting by. This year’s success will be driven by the PTO’s and the dedication of our staff.

What steps would you recommend to improve the schools?

Professional development, continuous improvement and teaming will play a key roll in moving our system from “good to great”. The successes that we have achieved over the last few years have generated a positive mindset within the BOE of “let’s get to the next level”.

What is your opinon on re-districting?

With the completion of the building projects at Plantsville and South End schools expected for the end of this school year it is imperative that we conduct a in-depth redistricting of our elementary schools. This will allow for balanced class sizes and appropriate student population in each of the schools.

Patricia P. Johnson, Democrat

67 Ferncliff Dr., Southington

Employer: Century 21 Lil 1

Education: Caldwell High School, Caldwell, NJ; Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ

Organizations: Southington Democratic Town Committee

southingtondemocrats.com

Budgets were lean this year. How do you think the schools have been affected?

Southington schools were dramatically affected by the 2009/2010 budget; students and teachers are making do with far less than they need. Yearly school supplies have not been increased in 6 years; parents are forced to purchase these needed school supplies. Class sizes have increased at Southington High School because of a lack of funding for additional teachers. The numbers of paraprofessionals at all of our schools have been reduced. Many athletic contests at the Middle and High Schools have been eliminated to save money. Additional maintenance in and around our school buildings is needed.

In addition, Southington Public School administrators and the Board of Education have found creative ways to reduce the costs for those things that must continue. Energy saving measures have been found to reduce heat and electric bills. State and federal grants are being used to continue to provide learning opportunities for our students. Private educational funding has been found to continue the professional development of our school staff.

What steps would you recommend to improve the schools?

Although buildings must be maintained and supplies purchased and energy costs contained, the single most important aspect of education in Southington is student learning. To continue to improve student learning, we must look at each student in every grade with a plan for improvement. Instruction designed to help each student succeed will continue to help improve the school system as a whole.

Southington Public Schools will continue to be improved by maintaining quality programs for professional development for our teachers and administrators. Improvement of instruction is always a goal for our dedicated professionals and the Board of Education.

What is your opinon on re-districting?

Student learning opportunities must be equal is all of Southington schools. Because of population shifts, this is not happening. New housing developments have brought large numbers of children to some schools with large class sizes, while leaving other schools with very small numbers. To make the schools and class sizes more equal, redistricting must sometimes occur. Because I support equal opportunities for all of our students, I believe that there should be some careful redistricting. Children entering the fifth grade should be allowed to finish their elementary school education in their old school. Great consideration and sensitivity should be given to keeping neighborhoods together. There should be opportunities for parents and others to contribute to the discussion of redistricting. The process is difficult, but ultimately will provide a better learning enviornment for all children.

Sharon Neupaver, Democrat

6H Queen Terrace, Southington

Jensen’s Communities

Education: GED from Plainville High; Associates Degree in Office Administration- Legal, Tunxis Community College

Budgets were lean this year. How do you think the schools have been affected?

The schools have been affected by not having enough books for all the students. Large class sizes that the classrooms cannot accommodate. There are not enough supplies and either the teachers or the parents must spend out of pocket to supply their students with everything they need. Trying to divvy up the money to cover all the different programs in town including the schools without the support of any state or federal help, is the hardest part of a budget. When you count on state or federal money and they don’t come through, you must change your thinking. We must work on our town budget without putting state and federal money into the budget. I do know that some commissions have had cuts to their budgets that were submitted.

What steps would you recommend to improve the schools?

Steps needed to improve the schools are first and foremost update the books and order enough for each student to have a book. Making sure that students have the means and opportunity they need to succeed. Smart Board Technology starting in Kindergarten is one step. Go after more grants. Find a grant writer.

What is your opinon on re-districting?

My personal opinion on re-districting is that it is a great idea in concept. If you cannot supply busing for the students to be re-district and expect parents to do the transportation, it will not work. Some parents work and cannot drop and pick up their child/ren at another district or parents that don’t work may not have a vehicle to get their child/ren to another district.

Jill Notar-Francesco, Republican

190 Winding Ridge, Southington

Education: BA degree in Psychology / Education from Hunter College, New York.

Civic and Professional Associations: Board of Education, BOE member of the Capital Region Education Council; BOE Advisor, Southington Science & Mathematics Initiative; Recipient of the 2007 ‘Celebrate Southington!’ award for outstanding community service and volunteerism. southingtonrepublicans.org

Budgets were lean this year. How do you think the schools have been affected?

Budgets across all school districts in Connecticut and the nation were indeed lean this year. There are economic hardships everywhere, and Southington is no exception. This school year our Southington district saw reductions in several teaching positions and reductions in a variety of our programs. The Board of Education worked hard to be prudent and diligent in distributing funding shortfalls over several programs, reducing, rather than completely eliminating any one program.

Although our budget difficulties have impacted our schools in many ways, the spirit in which Southington educators have risen to the challenges of decreasing resources in these extraordinary times demonstrates the excellence of our personnel. Through the efforts of our hard working, caring and committed staff, our Southington children will be provided with every opportunity for achievement through our high-quality schools.

What steps would you recommend to improve the schools?

As a member of the Board of Education since 2007, it is my expectation that every child enrolled in our schools will receive a high-quality education in a safe and pleasant learning environment. Students will graduate our schools well prepared for their next step of higher education or the workforce.

I favor improvements that are ongoing in school safety and in the area of academic rigor at all levels. These are priorities and should be revisited often. I believe we should also continue to review consistency in our schools regarding instruction and resources, being particularly mindful of the growth in some of our class sizes.

Lastly, it is crucial that the Board continues to promote effective, meaningful discussion on a variety of levels. This includes being attentive to the ideas and concerns of school staff, parents, community members, other town officials and boards.

 

What is your opinion on redistricting?

For good reasons, parents and children are often wed to their wonderful neighborhood schools. So, it is understandable that talk of redistricting prompts great anxiety among them.

It is sometimes necessary for school systems to redistrict to better balance school enrollments. Several Southington schools have seen growth in enrollment over the last few years and need review. With construction of South End School and renovation of Plantsville School, more classroom seats will be available. Redistricting would offer a better balance to those schools needing some relief and optimize classroom space in the district.

I expect that meticulous care, time and effort would go into any redistricting initiative. It must make sense and be a thorough, thoughtful plan in which parents and children will have confidence. Parents should be further confident that, although each school has its own unique appeal, each follows the same curriculum, with instruction consistent throughout the district.

Robert Galati, Democrat

8 Doe Meadow Ct., Southington

Retired Mathematics Teacher, New Britain School System, Teaching Math at Tunxis Community College

Education: Pulaski High, New Britain; BS Mathematics CCSU; MS Guidance CCSU

Sixty additional credits of Education Courses earned at the University of Conn and other Connecticut colleges

Civic and Professional Associations: Board of Education, Democratic Town Committee, Cox Cable Advisory Board, Little League Coach and Coach of Traveling Baseball and Basketball Team, Executive Secretary for New Britain Federation of Teachers, Chair of New Britain Federation of Teachers’ Negotiation Committee, Connecticut Association of Math Teachers, Connecticut Association of School Guidance Counselors.

Budgets were lean this year. How do think the schools have been affected?

Staff, professional development, and co-curricular activities are the areas that are most affected by lean budgets.

Reduction of staff has affected schools throughout the state and, consequently, public school systems have valid concerns about the accompanying results. Numerous studies have shown a strong correlation between small class size and improved student performance. Thus, public school systems strive for small class size and a low pupil-teacher ratio. Professional development is frequently a target of budget restraints. However, staff development is critical to improving student performance. Teaching is both a science and an art. Educational researchers at institutions of higher learning have increased available information about the “science of instruction”. Teaching is a complex task and teachers need to test new ideas, assess the results, and adjust their strategies and approaches to reach all student. Lean budgets usually mean a reduction of co-curricular programs, once called extra-curricular programs. Co-curricular programs are vital to providing all students varied opportunities to expand their experiences and knowledge in a non-academic setting. In addition, co-curricular activities allow students the chance to work with life issues. Students who participate in these types of activities have opportunities to build self-esteem, develop leadership skills, and appreciate the dynamics of being a team member.

What steps would you recommend to improve the schools?

The Southington Public Schools under the leadership of Dr. Erardi have in place a comprehensive set of goals to improve education for the school year 2009-2010. The plan is wide in scope and includes specific strategies to improve student and teacher outcomes. This plan provides the framework for improving education and provides community leaders the ability to measure performance. One area I would highlight is the importance of community support.

When schools and families regard their relationship as a partnership, the result is an increase in student achievement. Furthermore, when the partnership is extended out to community leaders and town government officials the benefits are even greater. A partnership approach gives families and community leaders a greater opportunity to determine options for school improvement and establishes mutual trust and respect. For example, a team approach between school and community may alleviate some problems that arise during the budget process. The ability to provide relevant information about achieving school goals to families and community leaders can and will lead to a better understanding of each party’s responsibility.

What is your opinion on redistricting?

New home construction often brings with it families with school age children and as a result student enrollment may rise at an individual school. This increase can create an imbalance of students system wide, with some classes in some schools too large and in other schools, there may be space available. Larger classes have an adverse affect on educational success. Therefore, from time to time it is necessary to “spot redistrict”. The response is to move small numbers of students in as few schools as possible in order to balance class size. Consideration should be given to families with multiple students and insure no student is moved more than once.