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April 5, 2005 A colleague's viewpoint regarding the delays in building a Middle School in Killingworth appeared in this column on March 22 and was titled "RSD 17 Middle School: getting involved". This was one point of view. I am writing to offer another. Like the original article, this also has not been reviewed or endorsed by the full KDTC. The logo the KDTC has chosen for its EYE Columns displays several eyes that symbolize multiple viewpoints. Democracy is based upon the free expression of conflicting views. In keeping with that principle, this is one of those times you are getting more than one "eye". In the early stages of the Middle School project, opposition was frequent and primarily focused on potential site problems. We have progressed passed this point. Three successful wells have been drilled and site work is commencing. Although the lawsuits from the neighbors have not formally been resolved in court, a preliminary attempt to halt construction has been denied. Progress is being made. In my opinion, the underlying reasons for the delays in getting the project under way are a result of mistakes the School Building Committee itself made. Consider the following:
These mistakes and others deserved questioning, challenges, and honest dissent. And that is what they got. I believe the final result of a process that undergoes the scrutiny and input from the people results in a better end product. I felt compelled to write this column on behalf of those citizens who saw these errors and stepped forward to voice their legitimate concerns. On the subject of referendums, I'd like to pose a question to RSD17 and Town of Killingworth officials. The current process involves the voters being asked to approve an overall CONCEPT for a specified amount of money. If approved, the next step is for specific engineering plans, P&Z & Wetlands etc. reviews to be performed. Why can't future referendum questions be worded in such a way as to authorize only the expenses related to this next step, rather than giving the applying group total authorization to spend the money in any way they see fit? A second referendum would be required, but the voters would then be able to approve a very specific plan rather than a generalized concept. By the way, I want this new Middle School in Killingworth to be built as soon as possible and like many others, am working to help the process. I believe we are past the point of no return and should be focusing on building the best school that $48.4 million will buy, a school that will be problem free for as long as possible. My suggestion about future referendums is a move to learn from the mistakes of the past to better serve the future. ( The Killingworth Democratic Town Committee’s next meeting will be held in the Library Meeting Room on May 1, at 7pm. To learn more about us you are invited to attend the meeting or visit us at www.killingworth.dems.info.)
March 29, 2005 Congratulations, Killingworth. According to a recent issue of Connecticut Magazine, we're one of the state's top-rated towns. Scores for education, crime, economy, cost of living and leisure earned us the number ten spot in our population category. Killingworth residents like it here and it's nice to have our satisfaction confirmed by an outside, objective source. But some of the things that make Killingworth so desirable also reflect issues that we must address if we want to maintain the quality of life we all enjoy. First, and perhaps most urgent, is population. At 6,018 Killingworth is near the upper limit of its 3,500 to 6,500-resident group. If development continues unchecked, we will eventually reach between 9,000 and 10,000 - barely a small town at all. Our cost of living is already higher than many of us would like. Growth will drive it higher still by increasing demands on town services, the school system and our infrastructure. The Killingworth Democratic Party is acutely aware of the need to manage growth in carefully planned increments, accommodate future requirements and seek practical ways to preserve open space. According to the magazine, there is relatively little need in our community. That hardly comes as a surprise. The median house price of $319,000, second to only one other top-ten town in our class, makes it difficult for most, but not all, of those in need to live here. As Democrats, we believe one role of good government is to assure that even the most vulnerable among us have the basic necessities. There is another, more insidious side to our "wealthy" profile. The young people who were raised in this town and know its ins and outs cannot afford to buy homes here. They are often the citizens who step up to fill the dwindling ranks of our volunteer fire and ambulance services. Forced by economics to move out, they contribute elsewhere. Every year we are left with fewer of them to lend continuity and vibrancy to our community and its vital safety services. Finding a way to deal with this problem is a prime concern for Killingworth and a priority for the Democratic Party. The low crime rate, high mean SAT scores, and healthy per capita library expenditure reported by Connecticut Magazine are gratifying, but are they enough? Certainly we would all like our town to be even safer, our students more accomplished and our library better funded. To the extent that government can advance these goals, the Democratic Party will keep them on the agenda. Killingworth measures up by the magazine's parameters. But as the authors point out, "there are lots of reasons for loving a place - or not loving it - that go beyond the results you see here". Our town has its own special character - a uniquely rural personality in a conveniently suburban setting. We're not like surrounding towns and, in many ways, we don't want to be. It's up to each one of us to define what we value here, what we want to protect and preserve, what we want to change, and what we want to build. Those choices belong with the community. They must not be left to outsiders, to a vocal minority, or to chance. Make your choices known by participating in the local political process. Stay informed. Attend town meetings. Volunteer for a committee. And whatever your affiliation, please help the Killingworth Democratic Town Committee by sharing your thoughts and concerns. To learn more about us visit www.killingworth.dems.info or join us at our next meeting at the Library on Sunday, April 3 at 7:00 PM .
March 22, 2005 Over two years ago, on February 10, 2003, the voters of RSD 17 approved the "planning, design, acquisition and construction of a new intermediate/middle school," by a vote of 2,152 to 1,757. Since then, a variety of delays, including legal challenges, have prevented the project from moving forward in a timely manner. As of this writing, the project has now been delayed by over a year. The result of this delay is that we will get less of a school building for our money as the cost of building materials continues to rise. I am a member of the Building Committee as well as an RSD 17 parent and a Killingworth resident. Having lived in our town for 10 years, I did not expect that everyone would immediately come together and sing kumbayah once the project was approved by the voters. However, I did anticipate that when the smoke had cleared, the view of the majority of the RSD17 residents would prevail, and that the project would progress. The divisiveness that the new intermediate/middle school generates within the community - even now, subsequent to passage of the referendum authorizing its construction - continues to surprise me. In my opinion, this divisiveness is fostered by a small but vocal minority with its own agenda; and I would characterize the result as a tyranny of the minority. No one denies that there are several legitimate reasons for some delay of the project or that some citizens have had genuine concerns. Some mistakes have been made by everyone involved in the process to build the new school, but the overall effect of this small minority has been to multiply and lengthen delays, and to exacerbate a distrust of elected officials associated with the project. Most of you who are concerned about the pace of progress of the new school and who live and vote in Killingworth are independents, not affiliated with either party. Nevertheless, regardless of whether or not you belong to the Democratic or Republican Parties within the town, there are occasions during which you can express your opinions on this issue; you do not need to belong to a political party to get involved in local politics. (Of course we Democrats would welcome you to our party should you choose to join one.) In addition to the regular, monthly meetings of the Democratic and Republican Town Committees - each of which can be instrumental in getting things done in town-you can voice your feelings decrying the lack of progress on the project at the bi-monthly meetings of the Board of Selectmen. These meetings take place on the second and fourth Mondays of every month in the Town Hall. You can call the Town Hall to confirm meeting dates and times. The meetings are, of course, open to the public and a ticket of admission is not required. The Building Committee of the RSD 17 Board of Education also holds regular, open meetings on the second Wednesday of every month in the lower media center of HK High School. During these monthly meetings, residents are invited to hear updates regarding the project's status and to share ideas of what can be done to help move the project along. Both of these gatherings, as well as other regularly held meetings of standing town committees (specific days and times for which are available by calling our Town Hall), provide an opportunity for dialogue and transparency in the town which builds trust and puts rumors to rest. The referendum to construct the school was approved by an overwhelming majority of voters, and in a democratic republic, referendums that receive majorities are enacted. Nevertheless our new intermediate/middle school is now increasingly likely to open in January 2007 rather than in September 2006. That is the case despite its having been approved by more than 25 officials and state and local agencies in addition to a clear plurality of voters. If you are madder than hell and you don't want to take it any more, and if you would like to see the new school built without further delays, then get involved and voice your opinion. ( The next meeting of the Killingworth Democratic Town Committee is Sunday, April 3 at 7:00 in the Library Meeting Room. A welcoming hand is extended to you to attend our meetings.) TOP
March
8, 2005 NEMO - Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials - is an educational program for land use decision makers that addresses the relationship of land use to natural resource protection. It was originally conceived as a pilot project to help local officials in three Connecticut coastal towns ameliorate the impact of nonpoint source pollution (polluted runoff) on the Long Island Sound. Killingworth is a vital watershed that provides clean water to metropolitan New Haven and shoreline communities from Guilford to Old Saybrook. The Conservation Commission was quick to recognize that the NEMO program could assist the Planning and Zoning Board, the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission, the Water Pollution Control Authority, the Land Conservation Trust and other influential local groups in a coordinated effort to safeguard our precious and irreplaceable resources. Three NEMO workshops have been held to date. All were well attended. The first, on reducing runoff, focused on the problem of nonpoint pollution and innovative ways Killingworth can avoid or alleviate it through careful planning, zoning, subdivision and site design. Case histories from nearby towns illustrated the success of conservation-oriented regulations and new technologies. The second workshop defined a timely and important town need: conducting a community resource inventory (CRI). The CRI identifies all of a community's natural, social and economic assets. This is an essential first step in achieving the meaningful analysis, relevant planning and effective implementation needed to maintain environmental health. The workshop also introduced participants to a computer software program that enables users to overlay a series of maps to visually depict different aspects of a community's assets. (An excellent example of this technology is available at http://grotongis.town.groton.ct.us/homepage/MapServices.asp.) The third workshop, which was designed primarily for acting board and commission members on Planning and Zoning, Inland Watercourses and Wetlands and Conservation, discussed the relative merits and drawbacks of allowing fees in lieu of open space. This practice enables towns to request a fee up to a certain amount of a property's fair market value instead of an open space donation for subdivisions. All Killingworth residents are urged to attend the upcoming NEMO workshop on Open Space Planning. This subject is of paramount importance for Killingworth, where critical woodland habitats and a unique rural character are under mounting pressure from development. Originally scheduled for February 21, the Open Space Planning workshop was canceled due to snow and will be rescheduled soon. Ambitious as the NEMO program is, it is only the beginning. Now comes the hard work of undertaking a complete CRI, reviewing land use and other regulations, considering alternative strategies and developing a far-reaching plan for conservation and development. It will require the combined effort of dozens of volunteers serving on numerous committees, commissions and boards. It will lay claim to the time and energies of town officials and consultants. Most of all, its success will depend on the support and involvement of all Killingworth's citizens in shaping our collective future. The Killingworth Democratic Town Committee next meets at the Library on Sunday, March 13 at 7:00 PM. Visitors of all affiliations are welcome and Democrats are encouraged to join us.
March
1, 2005 We've established in previous columns that Killingworth needs all of us if it is to be the revitalized rural community we envision. With that in mind, it is time to start thinking about next Fall's candidates for office, Boards and Commissions. It is my opinion that we need new vision and new leadership in this community that cuts across the board. It is time for new people to step forward, learn the ropes, and begin to replace those who have served in the same positions for many years. Because the changing of the guard is inevitable, a large pool of willing and knowledgeable volunteers and candidates is essential to a well-considered future. Revising the Town Charter is a major step in shaping the Killingworth of tomorrow. The Board of Selectmen will be recommending a Charter Revision Committee shortly. It must be a broad committee that includes members of the Killingworth Democratic Town Committee, the Killingworth Republican Town Committee and the unaffiliated or Independents. The Committee may require six months to a year of concentrated effort on a number of areas. The first order of business is to bring town statutes in line with state statutes. The time may have arrived for the serious consideration of a larger Board of Selectmen and a town manager whose sole responsibility would be town business. Another decision to be considered is whether or not Planning and Zoning should be divided into two separate boards. It is certainly time to address the senior/affordable housing issues that are often eluded to but bring forth few concrete solutions. We will not have a real community in the long term if we do not hold unto a multi-generational population. Locations for cluster housing that conform to soil based zoning must be actively sought. On the subject of the much needed athletic fields, I still believe a central location is the best solution. We need to look at a large tract of land where adequate parking could be accommodated. The new Town Hall issue needs to be revisited and a modern, functional building that will serve the needs of the coming decades, planned. In anticipation of playing fields at the Bosco site and the new middle school, I would also urge a proposal that the state look into traffic control needs from the traffic light at Route 148 to the circle at the intersection of Route 80 and 81. I strongly believe the time has come to look at increased funding for our town library. At present, the operational expenses of the Killingworth Library are not fully funded by the town. The Killingworth Library Association has to raise approximately $80,000 a year for some of those expenses. This has made it almost impossible for the Library Board to build the endowment fund. The Library is, in many ways, our town center. If the town, through its political process, chooses not to increase its support to the library, then we have to think of other means to assist the library in raising revenue in order for it to continue the same level of service it offers today. We have much on our plate. Let's all rise to the occasion and thoroughly consider these and the other issues pressing to be addressed. (The Killingworth Democratic Party meets again at 7:00 in the Library Meeting Room on Sunday, March 13 th . Our hand is extended in welcome to those interested in attending.) February 22, 2005 The last several years have been filled with momentous political events. National, state and local politics have all laid numerous contentious and divisive issues at our doorstep. We have been forced to earnestly consider those issues and respond with our votes. We hope for the best, yet must consider the worst. It is in such times that the choices we make define us. Inevitably, we learn something about ourselves both individually and collectively. The voter turnout in Killingworth for the last election exemplified our shouldering of responsibility. We showed up in numbers that reflect our consideration of what matters. The numbers also show that our town was divided on national issues. In Killingworth, the election was close. At the other end of the spectrum we cast our ballots on a second referendum on the proposed Killingworth Recreational Complex on the town-acquired Bosco property. The proposal was, as you know, defeated. The surprise here was the large turnout and overwhelming voter rejection of the project. No one anticipated this resounding negative response. The second referendum is not brought up here to rub salt into the wounds of those who supported it. Nor should it be a source of great satisfaction to its opponents. The facts remain salient for us all. We invested valuable time, money and human resources. We needed two referendums to determine the will of the constituencies of our town. It took us nearly three years to decide that this proposal was not the solution to a problem that still remains before us. In retrospect it now seems ill advised from the start. What did we learn? That we hadn't heard from most of you until the final vote. Of Killingworth's 4,596 registered voters approximately 915 are Democrats and 1177 Republicans. Anyone can do the simple arithmetic. The largest political entity in Killingworth is not a political party. It is the unaffiliated voter. Yet this largest political entity in Killingworth does not have an organization. It does not have a committee to head it. It does not have a weekly column in our local newspaper. It issues no statements or press releases. It runs no candidates for First Selectman. Its voice is only heard when our town is confronted with major issues, many of them divisive. Killingworth will continue to face the challenge of defining itself in the coming years. Intelligent planning is essential. Identifying our needs before they become problems is the only way to control growth. In order for that to happen we need the input of all our citizens. In short, we need to understand more about what the constituency of our town deems both important and prudent. The Democratic Party is far and away the minority party in our town. It is our goal to level the playing field. A democracy is supposed to represent all of its citizens. It is with that thought in mind that we hereby urge any and all “unaffiliated” voters to help us. We hope that party affiliation matters and we are working anew to prove that. We need to hear and understand your opinions. Many unaffiliated voters feel that joining a party means a loss of individuality. However, there is no neat ideological ribbon that binds us all. There is, rather, a belief in a process that ties us all together. We don't agree on every issue. I'm sure many Democrats voted for the recreation complex. I'm sure many voted against it. Our common goal is to find the solution that we believe does the least harm for the most good, for all of Killingworth's citizens. If you are unaffiliated we cordially invite you to become a registered Democrat. A trip to the Town Office Building to fill out a simple form is all it takes. In return you will be able to help formulate the choices offered to us all as we confront the challenges that Killingworth faces today and tomorrow, instead of merely vetoing someone else's idea of a solution. If you're not ready to join us officially we welcome you to join us as a visitor at one of our monthly meetings and make your viewpoints known. We want to hear from you, no matter what. We want to know who you are. We want to know what you want. We want you to help make it happen. Killingworth needs us all. The Killingworth Democratic Town Committee next meets at the Library on Sunday, March 13 at 7:00 PM. Visitors of all affiliations are welcome and Democrats are encouraged to join us.
February
9, 2005 The time has come, yet again, for all good people to come to the aid of their country – the country town that is Killingworth! More than 6200 people occupy Killingworth's 36 square miles. Defining and addressing the individual and collective concerns of our citizens requires more than 169 official positions – more if subcommittees are considered. Including the Board of Education, there are approximately 42 elected officials. The remaining consist of appointed officials or members of boards, commissions, agencies, authorities, and study groups. The opportunities seem endless: justice of the peace, Town Charter committee, land use, municipal agents to the aging, planning and zoning, etc. There are many public ways in which our citizens contribute to our community. For instance, there are more than sixty volunteers with the Fire Company and more than twenty volunteers and attendants with the ambulance association. There's the Killingworth Women's Organization and the Lions Club, the Land Trust and the sports' coaches, the Trails' Group and the church groups, the library volunteers and the PTO, and the town's political parties, to name just a few. The volunteerism in our community is impressive. Yet, my purpose in this particular article is to suggest that you consider participating in official town roles. Of the more than 4300 registered voters, approximately 4% at any given time is needed to fill Killingworth's official town roles. But who? Many of our residents have fulfilled their "calling" to public life through decades of service - people like Lou Annino, Sr., Rick Albrecht, and Pamela Ahearn. It is also common, given the lack of folks standing in line for openings, for some to simultaneously occupy various posts. People like Hilary Kumnick and Linda Dudek come to mind. How did they start? For some, the family legacy left no alternative but civic participation. For others, a simple inquiry or comment at a meeting opened the door for an invitation to participate. I hope this article serves to open the door for you. Although some of our residents simply do not currently have time to dedicate, others presume that someone else will do it - the "they" I keep hearing about but have yet to meet. Still others may be interested but are hesitant to volunteer or step forward because of a perceived lack of relevant expertise or knowledge of how to get involved. If you want to participate, there are at least three ways to get into the pipeline. The first and easiest is to attend the relevant meeting. Each month, the Killingworth Chamber of Commerce's Krier and the Killingworth Today website publish the meeting schedule for many, though not all, of these town committees ranging from Board of Finance to Pay as You Throw. All official meetings are also posted at the Town Hall and are open to the public. The second avenue is to communicate with the Killingworth Democratic Town Committee chair, Michael Sanders, or a member of the Nominations Committee. The KDTC is notified of vacancies and maintains a list of people interested should openings arise. The political parties make recommendations to the Board of Selectmen for committee appointments and also support appropriate candidates for town elections. Both parties often search high and low to find people willing to dedicate time. I believe that the respective political parties would be eager to learn of your interest in being considered for current or future openings in a variety of roles. Third, to be considered for appointment, you can also discuss your particular or general interest directly with the First Selectman. You can help shape Killingworth's policies and future. If you have ideas, interests, energy, and/or expertise, you can be part of the solution. You don't have to be a maven. If you are simply interested, willing to listen and learn, and able to dedicate time and energy, the town needs you! The KDTC Nominations Committee is currently in the process of accepting names for consideration for the Democratic slate in the 2005 municipal elections and for a standing list for future openings on appointed town boards and commissions. Feel free to contact the Killingworth Democratic Town Committee at P.O. Box 752, Killingworth, for more information. (The next K.D.T.C. meets in the Library Meeting Room on Sunday, February 13, at 7:00. A welcoming hand is extended to you to attend our meetings.)
February
1, 2005 There is an understanding in democratic societies that a contract exists between the citizen and his or her government. We acknowledge that a certain degree of freedom is given up by each to insure the common good of all. As the amount of wealth produced by invention and production in the twentieth century grew, the concept of the common good broadened. In most western nations it now includes a minimum of financial security and basic health care. Part of our particular minimum financial security grew out of the most desperate economic times of the past century. The Great Depression of the 1930s left working and middle class Americans adrift in a grim reality of steep unemployment statistics and low wages. Without unemployment or health insurance, without protection for widows and orphans, without pensions for the elderly, houses and belongings were repossessed. Many people lost any semblance of independence as generations moved in with one another and breadlines grew across the land. In the midst of those dark times, Franklin Delano Roosevelt stepped up to the plate with a "New Deal". It was to be woven into our mutual contract, and a significant part of it was the Social Security Program so many rely on today. Defending the program in 1935, FDR told the nation "..it has been increasingly difficult for individuals to build their own security, government must now step in and help them lay the foundation stones." He championed the case for unemployment insurance and Social Security because he saw the need to give the average citizen a straightforward measure of minimal financial protection. It was to be a protection that drastic swings in either the economy or political ideology could not undermine. To rally the spirit of what was then a very somber nation, FDR proclaimed loud and clear that we had "nothing to fear but fear itself." How ironic that fear is now being used in an attempt to dismantle the heart of these "foundation stones." And it is being attempted at the same time good paying jobs are being exported by corporations. Many of these corporations are also downgrading or eliminating their own pension plans. It is being attempted in spite of outrageous public cases of accounting and investment fraud, corporate greed, and growing corporate influence over government policy. Knowledgeable men and women from both sides of the political aisle are denying the existence of a Social Security "crisis". The Congressional Budget Office and members of the Social Security Administration do not see an imminent crisis. Most agree that some minor adjustments are needed for future years, adjustments not unlike those that have been made in the past. A well-informed public will accept necessary changes that are argued for openly, in an atmosphere conducive to finding real solutions to real problems. The rallying cry for an "ownership society" seems to leave out the mechanisms already in place for Americans to buy into corporate America through IRAs and 401ks. Millions of workers have been using both for decades now to enhance their retirements. It gives them the flexibility of putting more savings away in better years and less in leaner ones. At the same time, the payroll tax ensures the worker a basic safety net contributed to continually by him or herself along with his or her employer. The "foundation stones" remain in place. The concept of an "ownership society" as one in which everyone jumps into the stock market is pretty narrow. Social Security is not a free lunch; workers contribute to it. They own a part of it just as they own a part of the social contract that brings Americans together as a nation. For the common good, we agreed in 1935, under FDR, to a safety net for all of us. We Americans pride ourselves on problem solving. There is nothing so wrong with Social Security that some honest Yankee ingenuity can't fix. The process must be an open one; the facts presented in a clear, straightforward manner; the debate, public and civil. This is far too important an issue to be handled within any framework that resembles "politics as usual." (The Killingworth Democratic Town Committee dedicates today's column to the memory of John MacVean Lally. His presence will be missed at our table.)
Tuesday,
January 18, 2005 What a privilege to have been elected your State Senator. Regardless of our differences, I want to acknowledge and thank Bill Aniskovich for his many years of service. Over the course of the year, I will be reporting to you concerning events in our state government, particularly as those events affect this Senate District comprised of the towns of Killingworth, Madison, Guilford, Branford, North Branford, and Durham. In all that I do, I will seek to motivate and effect positive change. I will not "go along to get along." Before we get into the 2005 session of the General Assembly, I must share with you the experiences of the recent political campaign. By Connecticut and national standards, we started the campaign a bit late, and so Patty Ann and I and our growing group of campaign staff and volunteers worked intensely for four months to hone and deliver our message. As a new candidate, I knocked on hundreds of doors (got nipped by only one dog), spent vast hours greeting voters at supermarkets, attended every significant community event that I could find and enjoyed the house parties that so many supporters gave on behalf of our campaign. Our campaign manager, Tom Swan, tells me that we had over 400 volunteers working on Election Day. That included my six children whom some of you met at the polls and told me good things about. In another life, I had been elected to the New York State Legislature, but this State Senate campaign had some distinct differences from a New York campaign. One difference was our focus on candidate "visibility" - finding very prominent places in the district where I could stand with volunteers and signs and wave at passing cars. Remarkably, it brought about a connection with the voter which I did not initially appreciate. Standing with Patty Ann and our dog Mo at the intersection of Route 79 and I-95 in Madison from 6:30 to 8:30 one October morning was a special experience. The comparatively small size of our state also permits the close involvement of the state constitutional officers in political campaigns, and many appearances were made on my behalf by State Comptroller Nancy Wyman, Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz and particularly, Attorney General Dick Blumenthal. The good relationship I developed with those state officers should help my service in Hartford. Further, until this campaign, I had never before campaigned at garbage dumps, and I took particular note of the appropriate irony of politicians appearing at such sites, including Killingworth's transfer station. In all these campaign events and experiences, I heard your many concerns about such significant issues as unacceptably escalating property taxes, the high cost of healthcare and particularly prescription drugs, the threats to our environment, open space and quality of life, the very incomplete transportation system of our region and state, the sporadic state economy and "the culture of corruption" in Hartford. All those concerns, which you frequently and well articulated, helped prepare me for the substantial challenges of state legislative office. They have inspired me to be a voice for positive change. My best wishes for the New Year, and please know that your prayers, insights and advice will be helpful to your new State Senator. (Ed Meyer is our new State Senator from the 12 th District. He has already been named Assistant Majority Whip.) Tuesday, January 11, 2005 The reform of Public Education (the No Child Left Behind legislation) is admirable in its goal to improve and equalize education for all children in our public schools. The intention, to have every child proficient in reading and math by the year 2014, is commendatory and of great importance to the success of our children and our country. Each year public school children must demonstrate adequate yearly progress (AYP) on a Mastery Test. All Connecticut Public Schools are expected to meet a proficiency level set by the State Department of Education (SDE). This level will be raised several times prior to 2014. In 2014 all children will be expected to be performing at a 100% proficiency level on the Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT). The State issues a yearly report of the progress being made by the school and district. This is an excellent goal to strive for and presents a challenge to all school districts. But it must be remembered that children are a very diverse group with different abilities and aptitudes, multiple learning styles and learning rates. One size does not fit all! So much emphasis and importance is placed on a test given just once a year. What happens if a child comes to school for this test tired, sick, upset, or just having a bad day? A list of failing schools is published each year. A school can "fail" for a variety of reasons. Ninety five percent of a schools student population must take this annual test. For those schools receiving Title I federal funds, the ramifications of failure can be very serious. To qualify as a Title I school, there must be forty children in any of the following subgroups: ethnic/racial, low-income students, students with limited English language skills and special education students. Data is formatted to show how African American and Hispanic children score on the test. If any of these four groups fails to make AYP, the entire school ends up on the failing list. If these schools do not make AYP in subsequent years, students can choose to transfer to non-failing schools in the area. After repeated years on the failing list, the school can be closed, taken over by the state and reconstituted. Some school systems have made the difficult decision , in light of the legislation's inadequacies, to avoid the sanctions and the red tape by opting out of federal funds. Connecticut has one of the top-ranked public school systems in the nation. Our state has some of the toughest standards for teachers entering the profession. Despite the high ranking, in the first year of NCLB, our state had 28 schools on the failing list. The second year this number went up to 149. This year additional schools in Connecticut did not make the grade. Ed Moscovitch, statistician and author of "Projecting AYP in Connecticut Schools", estimates that by 2014, without changes to NCLB, 93% of our state's public schools will be on the failing list. This is a frightening scenario! For some children making slow, gradual progress is appropriate to their needs. However, their progress may not meet the steadily rising proficiency level set by the SDE. As a result, even though the improvement shown by these children is a great achievement for them, NCLB does not take this into account. A more humanistic approach is needed to bring common sense and respect for individual differences to this educational philosophy. If amendments and significant changes are not forthcoming for "No Child Left Behind", public schools in certain areas may see enrollments go down and schools closed. There is both a cost and a space issue when this happens. How many children can be absorbed by the surrounding schools without crowding their classrooms and facilities? What will be the financial responsibility of those towns? The per pupil expenditure will create more problem areas as children leave. Those children who cannot afford to financially supplement vouchers will be left behind in an even worse situation. The NCLB law will be hurting those that it had intended to help most. These children will be left behind! Our public school system is the foundation of our democracy. It is also crucial to the economic success of our nation. The workforce of tomorrow will require that today's students receive a rigorous curriculum. The mastery of this curriculum and the critical thinking required of tomorrow's workers demand a high level of student success. How to achieve the balance between the need for school accountability, the learning needs and styles of students and the need to fully educate our students in meaningful, comprehensive ways is a challenge that confronts our state and the nation. The Killingworth Democratic Town Committee meets again on February 6 th at 7:00 in the Library Meeting Room. Our hand is extended to you to attend our meetings.
January 4, 2005 Happy New Year and best wishes to all! A heartfelt thank you goes out to the voters of the 35 th District for the opportunity and privilege to serve as your State Representative. It has truly been an honor representing Killingworth for the last two years and Clinton and Westbrook for the last four years. Meeting you at your home, at the town transfer station or land fill, or at an event in town has been rewarding and has reinforced my commitment to voice your concerns in Hartford. The outstanding support I received during the campaign has been a source of inspiration for me. Everyday I am encouraged by the knowledge and passion the people of the 35 th District demonstrate towards the issues and the pride you display in our towns. You care about our towns as much as I do and this motivates me to work even harder. It is amazing the difference a year makes. We started 2004 under a cloud as then-Governor Rowland faced impeachment proceedings, the financial outlook for Connecticut was not bright and the public's regard for elected officials was at an all-time low. Today, the former Governor has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft of honest services and tax fraud, there is an estimated $250 million surplus for fiscal year 04'-05', and Governor M. Jodi Rell and the State Legislature have made great strides in restoring peoples' faith in government. While we have turned the corner, there is much work to be done over the next two years. One of the most important issues facing the 35 th District and the State is how our tax dollars are collected and appropriated. This is an area that I will pay particular attention to over the next two legislative sessions. It is imperative that we do a better job analyzing our tax structure. A Tax Incidence Study will determine who is paying the taxes, who is exempt, if the tax breaks are benefiting Connecticut's economy and if any of the taxes are regressive in nature and are hindering economic growth. How tax dollars are spent is the other side of the equation that needs to be addressed. In light of the recent budget difficulties, it is necessary that we have mechanisms in place that will put us in a better position to withstand economic downturns and make us more accountable. I will work to implement provisions that allow for a more efficient and effective state government. We must do a better job of evaluating and monitoring State programs and services so that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and proficiently. The end result of these efforts will allow the State to lend greater support to our municipalities, which should ease the local property tax burden. Other benefits include the ability to appropriate monies toward other priorities, such as education, growth management initiatives, prescription drug coverage for seniors and the State's bonded indebtedness. Overall, I am optimistic that 2005 will be an even better year than last. As long as we are practical in our approach and disciplined when making budget decisions, Connecticut will once again be a model for other states to follow. Together we can do it. May all of you have a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. Brian O'Connor is State Representative from the 35 th District.
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