Norwalk Election 2021: Colin Hosten For Board of Education

NORWALK, CT — Election Day is approaching fast, and a number of key positions in town will be on the ballot.

To help readers make an informed decision on Nov. 2, Patch has reached out to local candidates to share their views on a few topics.

Democrat Colin Hosten, 39, is running for the Board of Education in Norwalk.

Occupation: Lecturer

Family: Joe Andrasko, husband

Experience: Incumbent

Family in government: NA

The single biggest issue in town is ______, and I plan to do this about it:

Norwalk, as a microcosm of Fairfield County, and Connecticut, and the U.S., suffers from a tremendous income and opportunity gap. That's part of the reason I value my service on the Board of Education.

A strong public education system is often the only path we have to a better life. I want to make sure that EVERY child has an opportunity to succeed, regardless of circumstance or background. This involves curriculum development that prioritizes the individual needs of all students, but also financial planning to help provide the technological and physical spaces that inspire ideal learning.

As current Board Chair, I have been a tireless advocate for our public schools in Norwalk, and will continue to do so if re-elected.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

Being on the BOE often requires a certain thoughtfulness and calmness in the face of sometimes unpredictable challenges, that hopefully I've been able to offer in my tenure these last two years. It's often easy to criticize from the sidelines, but now is not the time to play politics with our children's future.

Accomplishments:

I am grateful that in my two years on the Board, NPS funding has increased by almost $20million, thanks in part to the support and collaboration of our colleagues on the Common Council, where I used to serve, and in the Mayor's office. I was also part of the search for a new Superintendent, and Dr. Estrella has prioritized philanthropic and nonprofit grants as a way to supplement budgetary needs, including millions of dollars in grants this past year alone.

It's important to work together with our partners on the local, state, and federal levels to do right by our children. Our Connecticut ECS funding, for example, will increase by almost $2million in the next two years, thanks in large part to the collective advocacy of our legislative delegation -- not even counting millions in state school construction grants.

Other issues:

Especially as we continue to navigate education during the pandemic (the worst of which is hopefully over), we need to be committed to public education that embraces the social, emotional, and psychological wellbeing of our youth. Children simply cannot learn if they do not feel safe or supported.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I believe that high quality public education is important not only for the wellbeing of students and families, but for the economic growth and stability of our city and state. As BOE Chair, I have supported initiatives that seek to expand much-needed classroom space, and in a new term will continue to prioritize legacy discrepancies in access to education based on identity and socio-economic class.