The Stokes Report: Enfield Schools Reorganization - Bipartisanship At Work

Enfield needed change, and change has taken place. The reorganization plan for grades K-8 has been implemented and is moving us forward in education. Students are experiencing more focused attention brought on by the K-2 and 3-5 school design, teachers are collaborating better with this new environment in the schools, and curriculum and technology have been enhanced and increased. At John F. Kennedy Middle School, sixth graders have new technology that will assist them with learning, while at the same time giving teachers the tools to better track student performance.

Now the Board of Education and Town Council turn their attention to the consolidation of our two high schools and improving that area of our educational system. As we move toward completing the task, I think it’s important to review how all this is accomplished and what is needed through the next couple of years.

First, we all know it’s a political season and both parties will be attempting to gain majority on the Town Council and Board of Education. Usually what we see is the minority party downplaying the majority party’s accomplishments. But this season of politics is a little different in that all of the changes in our school system were strongly supported by both parties.

When we began the process over a year ago, we decided that the only way to make the needed changes and get our community on board was to keep politics out of it. We had a great team of Board of Education members to work with, a knowledgeable group of administrators and educators to guide us, and leadership on the Board who dedicated themselves to recreating our school system without political posturing.

It was difficult to close two schools. We all knew that emotions were going to be expressed and that many feel a strong attachment to elementary schools. So we worked as a united Board of Education and made the decision with both political parties endorsing the direction. When it came time to take our Administrators’ advice and create the K-2 and 3-5 designs, we came together once again in a bipartisan way to approve this new direction.

Even after we made these decisions, we knew the community needed to see a Board working together. Soon after we voted and set the direction, Minority Leader Judy Apruzzese-Desroches and I met with elementary PTOs and community members. In a thirty-day period of time, we communicated the changes, answered questions and solicited ideas from the public, all for the purpose of showing that this Board of Education is working closely together to serve our students, staff, and public at large.

As we move forward with the rest of the school reorganization and combining the two high schools, I hope the next Board of Education continues the positive approach we instituted this past year. Something as big as creating one high school will need community input and support. The complexity of this change goes far beyond what we just accomplished in the elementary and middle schools. That’s not to say what we just did was easy, but the high school change has many more dynamics.

As we move forward with the one high school design, we will have to use this opportunity to improve and enhance course offerings and academics. We will have to maintain the highest level of accreditation. Science and technology will have to be upgraded to meet the standards of the State of Connecticut. Athletic conferences will have to be negotiated. Library offerings will need to be increased. We will need to incorporate pathways for students who want to pursue technical careers, as well as for those who are college-bound. We even will have to decide on the name of the new school, which will be a major topic for the entire town. But it can be done.

We can have a high school that competes with magnet schools and retains students desiring an excellent education. We can have a highly competitive sports program that will continue the pride we have in our town.

In the final analysis, the thing that made the changes successful in our K-8 setting was that we worked in unison. This also included the involvement and dedication of our Town Council and their staff. So here is what we learned.

One, you can bring about positive change if everyone works together.

Two, bipartisanship is the key to keeping politics out of the process and implementation.

Three, we have a great group of administrators and educators that know how to design an educational system for the future.

Now, as the election season progresses, you may hear some running for office trying to distance themselves from all the changes we have made. They may even try and cast blame on the majority party and its leadership. But, for the record, the reorganization was accomplished by a united Board of Education and under the advice of the elementary principals and principal of our middle school.

So, if you really want the facts, here are two questions to ask incumbent candidates and school administrators. One, did you vote for the reorganization plan? Two, if you were an administrator, did you create a plan, get board approval, and implement that plan?

I personally look forward to continuing the work to create change in our town and school system. I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead for our students. But it will take unity of purpose from our town and school leaders and involvement from the community.

The author is a Republican seeking an at-large seat on the Town Council, and is currently Chairman of the Enfield Board of Education.