LETTER TO EDITOR: Region 15 budget proposal

     From 1985-2001, I was a high school science teacher. The latter 7 years, I was also the science department chair at Norwalk High School. The experience provided me with knowledge and understanding regarding budgets, scheduling, and staffing. It was also a time when the state first introduced the CAPT assessment as a means of measuring the aptitude of high school students. Many districts were left scrambling as they tried to create a curriculum that would embody changes which had to be made. I attended a number of discussions, meetings, and workshops focused solely on this topic. I also attended conferences held state-wide to explain the assessment, and to answer any concerns. The one district heard about over and over again in all of these presentations was Region 15.

     Region 15 was in the forefront of educational reform and was well ahead of other districts in their teaching and learning practices. When I enrolled in post-graduate courses at Sacred Heart University, Region 15 was presented as a model of curriculum development and teaching methods.   Taking a look at the district profile, it is astounding the level of achievement accomplished by the district given its level of funding. The high school continuously ranks among the best schools in the state, and has also attained national ranking. The graduation rate, the scores on standardized tests, and the success of students after graduation is well-documented.

     Norwalk High School is also my alma mater. When I would run into fellow classmates, I was often asked if it was still the same. I eventually came to the realization that the school had become two places. It was the place I remembered as a student, and the one in which I was now teaching.   Education is in a constant state of growth and change.   Methods and materials effective years ago do not meet the needs of the classroom today.   Technology has become an integral part of the curriculum as it has in society.   It is no longer a luxury, but a tool necessary for learning.   The district needs to properly fund the budget in order for teachers and students to do their work effectively, and not waste time on task time trying to get old, outdated computers and infrastructure to function properly. They should not have to be dependent on the availability of materials in order to complete projects and assignments.   They should also have the necessary resources and books in the library which is an extension of classroom learning.

     Connecticut is an expensive state in which to live.   We pay high taxes on property, utilities, gas, and sales. Unfortunately funding for schools is the largest expense of towns and cities, so it continuously becomes the main target regarding the cost of living.   It is also the most valuable asset in society. My 85 year old parents, pay high taxes, live on a fixed income, and vote in favor of the school budget where they live. The children of immigrants and mill workers, they were raised with an understanding and appreciation of a quality education. An education funded by one generation for another. Region 15 has earned its reputation as an exemplary school system. The proposed budget must be adopted and passed if it is to maintain the level of achievement we, and those across the state, have come to respect.

Angela Flynn

Southbury, CT