Enfield Candidate Profile: Walter Kruzel, Board of Education

ENFIELD, CT — Enfield's election season is heating up, and there are plenty of contested races with candidates eager to represent their town in November's municipal election. Enfield Patch asked candidates in the town council and Board of Education races to answer questions about their campaigns, and has been publishing candidate profiles each weekday as election day draws near.

Walter Kruzel is running for re-election to the Enfield Board of Education as a member of the Republican party.

Name: Walter Kruzel

Age: unanswered

Position Sought: Board of Education

Party Affiliation: Republican

Family: Married and 3 children

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government: NO

Education: BS-Keene State College

Occupation: Co-Owner Peerless Tool & Machine Co., Inc.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: Chairman Board of Education

The single most pressing issue facing our town is: the Fiscal mismanagement at the state level. I plan to continue to fight for more money from the state for education and continue to spend the money wisely.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post: We embrace critical difference among our colleagues because it allows creative thinking and out of the box implementation of strategies.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

Achieving Excellence: The Republican-led BOE continues to make well-reasoned and responsible decisions for our students and taxpayers.

Education for All: Our children are excelling because we have provided "need-to-succeed" materials and technology in the hands of our teachers and students.

• STEAM Curriculum from Pre-K to 12, including Head Start.
• Outplaced special needs children will be educated in town at the new Eagle Academy, opening fall 2019.
• We have added more AP Classes and graduation rates are much higher at our high school.
• Our expanded music, arts and theater programs showcase our students talents.
• We have a multifaceted collaboration between Asnuntuck and Enfield High School.
• JFK Middle School renovation begins April, 2020.

Character Counts: Parents and students can rely on the Republican BOE team to listen, be engaged, and to serve with the utmost integrity.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job: Job? I have run a successful local machine shop and have negotiated many contracts and controlled costs responsibly and have been an integral part of the high school renovation and now the JFK renovation. Along with my team, we have:

1. Opened a New Enfield Eagle Academy Academic and Therapeutic Day School to bring home special needs students instead of transporting them out of town.
2. Moved Head Start to the Stowe Early Learning Center to expand and collaborate services to all students in those programs and expanding STEAM education to all students in the district.
3. Continue Negotiating New Contracts with all labor groups keeping salaries and benefits reasonable and our bus company which we are long standing partners that serves our kids and families.
4. Updated Enfield school curriculum by adding the 1:1 iPad initiative for all students in our high school while staying budget neutral.
5. Strong focus in or K-12 mathematics curriculum by reorganizing our Math Department and improving math scores district wide.
6. Continue to televise BOE meetings on E-TV to keep residents informed.
7. Continue to offer quality education, while keeping the annual budget low and working together with town council to spend taxpayer money wisely. Thus, considering the tax burden on Enfield residents - but supporting our students and teachers.
8. Improved Enfield's overall educational standingswith higher test scores and added AP courses.
9. Continue to update school district policies to reflect current needs and laws.
10. Renovate to new the JFK Middle School with ground breaking in April 2020 and completion by Fall of 2022 focusing on a 21st Century education.
11. Balanced classroom sizes in K-6. Consolidated and reorganized: Pre-K- 2, Grades 3-5 configuration.

The best advice ever shared with me was: Work together with others.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions: I will continue to work for the betterment of Enfield and do the very best job possible.