My Life as a BOE member in Windsor

The town of Windsor is about to be tested again. Will they finally show some concern about education? I was on the Board and left for personal reasons, lack of leadership and support.

I spent my years on the board working toward improving education for the students whose parent would not or could not be more involved in their child’s education. I believe that if you take an interest in your child’s education they will excel in schools. At the time I was on the Board the Leadership and the Administration blamed the parents for the failure of students. I believe that there are some simple things the Board could have done to improve the success rate of our students. I met with opposition from the Board Chair, the Superintendent, the Dems (except for 1) and one member of my party. I expected resistance from the Chair and Superintendent; I did not expect it from a fellow republican. Here are a few things that the now Chair and new Democrat did or did not do to help students.

1. Three teachers at the Ellsworth school (when it was grades1-5) started a program, on their own, to identify “at risk” minority students. They talked to me about the program. Several republicans (all but the current chair) went to the school to see what it is they do. They only asked for funding for transportation after school. The Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent turned it down because these three minority teachers could not provide government level support data for their program, even though almost every parent said it was working. The Assistant Superintendent, who has since left, told them to shut it down. The one Republican that would not support us – C. Santos.

2. One of the first issues to come before the Board my first term was a desire for Uniform Dress. Our party (including C. Santos) said we would support the majority opinion of parents in town. The majority wanted uniform dress code or a uniform. C. Santos voted against both.

3. When searching for a new Superintendent the Republican Party and some on the Democrat side supported an applicant from West Hartford. Ms. Santos said that she would not vote for someone because of the color of their skin and thought they should be qualified. Neither would I for that matter. The applicant’s color was never brought up by anyone at that meeting. Instead Ms. Santos supported the recently resigned Superintendent and the current Superintendent who has no experience as a Principal or Superintendent.

4. One of the Democrats, who is no longer with the party, sided with the Republicans to vote in a new Chairman of the Board. It would have been Mr. Panos who has more tenure on the Board than anyone. Ms. Santos did NOT support him. The best person should hold that position.

5. I publicly requested a copy of the School’s Curriculum. I was told at a meeting that it was a written document and was over 3500 pages long and I was welcome to come to the Super’s office to view it. When I got home there was a message for me from a teacher that said it was online and I was given a way to access it. Ms. Santos knew this because she worked as a teacher for the town and yet she did not give me the information, ask for this information herself, or even support my request. What I did find was that it was mostly blank. This is a direct reflection on the Assistant Superintendent that Ms. Santos did support who has since retired.

6. And lastly, before the last election in which I ran we (Republican Party) caucused at my home. It was at that time that Ms. Santos revealed to all in attendance that she only ran the first time, to get back at a principle at the high school because he would not renew her contract. I wonder why.

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