Alves' Education Plan Aimed At Improving Danbury Public Schools

***News Release provided by Roberto Alves Campaign***

DANBURY, C.T. — City Councilman and Democratic candidate for Mayor Roberto Alves today released his plan to support Danbury schools, teachers, administrators, and staff after years of underfunding by the City. Alves’ plan centers around using existing funds and resources to bolster education in Danbury.

“It’s no secret that Danbury Public Schools need support and it’s time the city stepped up to the plate and stopped sweeping the issues under the rug,” said Councilman Roberto Alves. “We know that the key to a good education and a prosperous future starts with fair funding, but the Administration refuses to use available funds, like the unexpected $2.5 million increase Danbury received in PILOT funding, to address the issues we face. We need to support our schools and that’s exactly what my plan will do.” concluded Alves.

Alves’ plan, which can be seen below, emphasizes the need to strengthen and add after school programs geared towards youth engagement, technology, and STEM. It calls for the application of ARP (American Rescue Plan) funds to help address serious space and overcrowding issues, enriching academic environments by updating technology, and creating an inclusive community-based approach to assess the needs, health, and conditions of our schools.

Alves for Danbury, Education Plan
I’m a graduate of Danbury public schools, it’s where I met my wife, and our children attend school here. It’s no secret that Danbury Public Schools need support. Our schools are filled with talented teachers, staff, and students, but if we want to keep up with student body growth and ensure that we deliver the best education we can to our youth, we must adequately and strategically fund them while keeping taxes down.

• Use the unexpected increase of PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) funds from the state to help reduce the education funding gap

• Apply ARP (American Rescue Plan) Funds to help address space and overcrowding issues, enrich academic environments with updated accessible technology, ensure building safety and health, strengthen community-school-family partnerships to support students, and makes sure that Danbury’s educational system is equitable for everyone
• Take a broad and inclusive community-based approach to assess the needs, health, and conditions of Danbury Public Schools from building updates to repairs, educational supports, budgeting, and funding
• Ensure that the Career Academy is completed on time and provides innovative, focused education to interested students, and hires qualified instructors to meet the growing needs of our community

• Strengthen and add after-school programs geared towards youth engagement and learning in technological skill-building, STEM, music and the arts, tutoring, and specialized skill training and development especially for young children

• Create a community-based strategy focused on recruiting and retaining ESL and Special Education teachers who are in high demand nationwide

Roberto Alves has been endorsed by the Connecticut Working Families Party, Western Connecticut AFL-CIO, AFT Connecticut, SEIU 1199 New England, CSEA SEIU Local 2001, CEUI, Carpenters Local 210, and has earned the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction. A product of Danbury’s public schools, Roberto Alves is a City Councilman At-Large and brings nearly a decade of private sector and community-driven experience to the position. He lives on West Redding Road in Danbury with his spouse Robyn, and their two children, Julius and Catalina.
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This news release was produced by the Roberto Alves Campaign. The views expressed here are the author's own.