As a former Connecticut Superintendent of Schools for 20 years (Newtown, Region 10, Cooperative Educational Services) and a Past President of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS), I know how challenging it is to secure the resources necessary to run effective school systems. Budgets are always tight and unfunded mandates from the State only exacerbate the challenge.
Our State Representative, Aimee Berger-Girvalo is well aware of these financial concerns and has proven to be a fierce advocate for the Ridgefield Schools. She not only established the Education Mandate Review Advisory Council at the State level to review proposed and existing mandates on local Boards of Education to help thwart unfunded mandates, but also secured substantial State funding specifically for the Ridgefield Public Schools to address our needs. This included $200K in grants to upgrade and maintain air quality controls in our school buildings as well as $400K to ensure that our elementary school playgrounds are compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. In addition, her efforts now require the State Education Department to provide estimates of successive year funding to districts, so that districts like Ridgefield can more effectively prepare their annual school budgets.
Aimee is truly dedicated to Ridgefield education, having a professional background as an instructional para-educator and Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Therapist, working with children on the autism spectrum. She understands the need for financial responsibility and the need to provide a safe and high quality educational experience for all students.
We must continue to have strong, responsible, and caring leadership at the State level to keep our community great. That’s why I enthusiastically endorse the re-election of State Representative Aimee Berger-Girvalo. Join me in voting for Aimee and Row A on November 5th.
Dr. Evan Pitkoff
Holmes Road, Ridgefield
