Kiner's Korner: Meet the Democratic BOE Candidates

Election Day is three weeks away and the candidates for Town Council and Board of Education are meeting the voters. Today's column is an interview with the five Democratic candidates for the Enfield Board of Education. Of the five Democrats and five Republicans running for the Board, nine will be elected. These nine people will shape the Enfield school system and will ultimately touch the lives of our children.

I sat down with the five Democratic candidates for an interview. All of these candidates have spent most of their adult lives in Enfield, paying taxes in Enfield, and sending their children through the Enfield school system. They have raised their families here and they understand the burdens that working families face. They all care about our community and, as prospective Board of Education members, they care deeply about our children and our children's' future.

All of these candidates stressed from the onset of this interview that they are committed to a quality education and at a cost that will not burden the Enfield taxpayer.

The five candidates who sat down for the interview were Joyce Hall, Vincent Grady, Tina LeBlanc, Timothy Neville, and Jennifer Rancourt.

Vincent Grady

Q: Vinny Grady, let me start the questioning with you. You are a lifelong resident of Enfield. You have been a Thompsonville firefighter for 24 years. You have served on the Board of Education for four years and also serve as grade 3 fire prevention teacher. You have three children, one of whom is a student at Enfield High School. You have also been a proponent of early childhood education.  What would you list as the two main areas that you want to stress to the voters of Enfield?

A: Bill, the two main things I would like to get across to the voters are (1),that we need to find out what is needed for the school district to provide a solid education for our students. And (2) we  must start thinking "out of the box" and find ways to get the funds needed to support a solid educational system to our students. We owe this to our present students and for future generations. Our students must have the same  opportunities that Enfield has provided in the past.

Thank you Vinny.

Tina LeBlanc

Q: Tina LeBlanc, you have resided in Enfield for 37 years. You are married and have three children in the Enfield school system. I know that there are a few items that you want to stress to the voters. Let me ask you the first question: The budget is always a major issue. What are you feelings on how money should be spent to improve Enfield's educational system?

A: Over the last four years the current leadership on the Board of Education asks for a zero increase in the education budget. However, the shortfalls seem to come from the contractual obligations and unfunded mandates. Should the Board of Education have a shift in the majority, there will be a fight for an increase. However, when an increase is asked for, the Board should be able to say exactly what the increase is for and why. Doing so will give security and  transparency to the budget process. The Board also has to be aware of the state level of funding and in general the condition of the state. The goal of the Board of Education should be to look at ways to conserve financial resources while improving education for students. As a board we have to stop saying what we can't do for education but what we can do.

Q: What are your thoughts concerning consolidating Enfield and Fermi High School?

A: Consolidating the high schools should be done in a thoughtful and educated manor. There are many factors to consider with location being only one of them. I have been researching different school systems that have consolidated from 2 high schools to one. Many have implemented a transition team comprised of parents, staff and students as well as board members rather than just members of the Board of Education and Town Council. The team was selected by an application process and had one year prior to the consolidation to delve into all phases of the transition process. By doing this, the students and parents were an integral part of this process and that would only make sense. Feedback from the parents regarding the current elementary reorganization was that their voices were not heard. Many parents are concerned about the status of athletic teams, band, clubs, school colors and mascots and those concerns are significant. The board should seek input from the community, staff, and students. One question we have to ask on consolidation is: Are we doing this to just save money or are we doing this to enhance education in Enfield?

Joyce Hall

Q: Hi Joyce. Joyce Hall, you've lived in Enfield for fifty years, and have served on the Board of Education for ten years. You have three children and five grandchildren, if I am correct, so children are very important to you. Joyce, I would also like to ask you two questions. First, what are your two top priorities and how would you address them?

A: 1) Creating a detailed plan to assure the successful consolidation of our high schools. While the plan cannot be completed within the two years of the term, it must provide the best preparation for our graduates as they go forward into the 21st century to college or to the workplace. The jobs available in their future may not currently exist so this preparation is essential.

2) Supporting the re-organization of K-8 which was implemented this fall. My goal is to continue what has been successful so far and implement full-day kindergarten

Q: Joyce, one more question if I may? You have said that you are a strong supporter of "STEAM". What do those letters stand for?

A: I am a strong supporter of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) as it provides a solid foundation for future college and career opportunities for our students. I believe that technology must hold a stronger position in our academic offerings. This idea usually results in the concern that it would cost too much. There are ways to achieve the increase in the use of computers (or some of the more portable devices) by using open source software and some of the multitude of software programs that are available at no cost.  There is much available which can be adapted to supplement our curriculum rather than the reverse. We are adding an engineering course to the High School curriculum next fall and will then be covering all aspects of STEAM.

Thank you Joyce.

Jennifer Rancourt

Q: Jennifer Rancourt, you are married and have three children in the Enfield School System. You have lived in Enfield all of your life. You have voiced concerns about parental discouragement. What do you mean by that?

A: One of the major issues that the next BOE will have to contend with is Enfield’s discouraged parent community. The parents of children in Enfield are so frustrated they have put their houses on the market and moved. They have pulled their kids from the public schools to enroll them in parochial and magnet schools. Parents who have decided to keep their children in the Enfield Public School System no longer voice  their concerns at BOE meetings or even attend. There was not a single parent voice heard during the reorganization process. Parents' questions have not been answered and their concerns have not been acknowledged. As a mother of three students in the Enfield Public School system, I want all parents to feel that they have a voice, that their voice makes a difference, and that their voice is being heard by town officials.  I would like to see committees formed with parent representation – like the DAC Committee I served on in 2008-2009 prior to this board. I also would like to see community conversations before decisions are made- that not only listens to the parents but also informs them on issues like school reforms, and how state funding works.

Q: Jennifer, technology plays a major role in educations. What are your thoughts on that issue?

A: We must bring our educational system up to the 21^st century. Technology is an important part of the reform package for both students with the way they learn and for the teachers the way they teach.  Also, in the not too distant future, the Connecticut Mastery Test will be done on computers. We therefore need to work on the availability of computers in our schools for all students. We also need to bring our interface with  parents up to the 21st century. I plan to challenge our town shared IT department to look at new technologies that are education based to help our students. I also would like the BOE, administration and facility to realize that computers and technology are the new future – therefore everyone will need to become more computer savvy for our children’s sake.

Thank you Jennifer.

Tim Neville

Q: Good afternoon Tim. Tim Neville, you are married and have four adult children that have gone through the Enfield Public School System. You have lived in Enfield for thirty-eight years and have recently retired as Principal of JFK Middle School. Congratulations, Tim, on that mile stone. Tim, I know that you responded to the Enfield Youth Vote profile. Can you share some of those thoughts with me this afternoon? First can I ask you the most basic of all questions-why are you running for a  position on the Board of Education?

A: For several years I’ve been concerned with the direction education is going in Enfield.  I don’t see a vision for what we want education to look like in Enfield.  I don’t see a plan for how to get there.  Granted we are experiencing a bad economy, but decisions to cut core programs are being made without a clear understanding of the long-term effects of such cuts. It’s easy to cut to reach a yearly budget.  It’s difficult to ensure a quality education for Enfield’s children over time.  I want to ensure that today’s students get the quality education my children got while they were Enfield students. I think I have something to offer the process. With my extensive experience and understanding of curriculum, organization, instruction and budgeting, I think I can help get us through a difficult economic time and maintain a quality education for Enfield’s children.

Q: What do you see as the most pressing issue Enfield will be facing over the next two years?  

A: Maintaining a quality education for Enfield students in a bad economy and with declining enrollment.  This means determining the core educational needs of the district, the cost to meet these needs and then exploring possible solutions with the community to meet these needs.

Thank You Tim.

I want to thank the five Democratic Board of Education candidates for sitting down for this interview. I hope that readers of this column will get a better understanding of what these candidates wish to accomplish.

The author is a member of the Enfield Democratic Town Committee.