Tolland Patch Letter: A 'Real' Look At The School Board

To the Editor:

It is our sincere desire that this message finds you and those you care for in good physical and mental health.

The true gift to public service is the opportunity and responsibility to communicate. In order to really connect and serve the interests of all of Tolland, we must be willing to open up and really listen to the thoughts and concerns of even the quietest voice. The vocal minority and silent majority must all be given the opportunity to be heard with a spirit of compassion and truthfulness. Unfortunately, there is the tendency during campaign season for some to fire opinions into the world. Simply speaking is not communicating.

I recently received a mailer from a municipal candidate. The disappointing thing is that it spends significant paper time trying to collect the Board of Education Republicans into one mind and then attach that mind to a "boogie man."

Instead, let us remember a few items:

• The Board of Education is composed of nine individuals with nine different opinions. It is that diversity of thought that makes the whole truly greater than the sum of its parts. I am proud to say that this board has respectfully debated divisive topics and found common ground. If you would like to know their personal opinion, reach out to the individual. If you want to know the position of the Board, look at the results.
• The members of the Board of Education are agents of Tolland and Connecticut. Regardless of the individual personal opinions, the Board of Education is required to ensure that the Tolland Public School system operates according to district policies and state statutes. One has only to look at meeting minutes, committee agendas, and district updates to see the absolute commitment to keeping our children in school and safe. Reading the "TPS Safe Return to In- Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan" will show that the Board of Education is and will adhere to the mandates of the state as given in the appropriate Executive Orders and Public Health recommendations.
• Throughout this pandemic, the Board of Education has worked tirelessly to maximize the effectiveness of Covid responses while minimizing the long term effects on our children. In partnership with our legal team, the Policy committee has reviewed an unprecedented number of policies to ensure that they district is correctly positioned to respond to situations as needed. The Finance and Facilities committee has worked with the town to efficiently budget such that necessary resources were in place to support Covid practices. Working with the facilities department, the committee provides opportunities for better cleaning and filtering of our schools. The Curriculum committee interviewed internal and external resources collating data on Learning Loss into packets that the Board as a whole could absorb. The Communications Committee adjusted the communication strategy such that the district could get the mountain of information to the hands of parents without overloading them. I respect the intent of the writer of this mailer. As a former party member and neighbor, I am certain that her concern for the children of Tolland is genuine.

Rather than succumb to simplified phrases on emotional topics, let us instead focus on the reality of the situation. Let us recognize that the mask debate is a complicated one. The safety and security of our children is both a public responsibility and a personal one. Advocating choice is not abandoning security. Maintaining a focus on the rights and concerns of all of our citizens is the only way to continue navigating through these difficult times while moving forward toward our overall goal.

Anthony “Tony” Holt

Tolland