School Board Candidate Debate at GHS Features Student Questions: Budget and Start Times, Absenteeism/ICE, Cell Phone Policy, Cardinal Café Food

Thursday morning’s Board of Education candidate debate at Greenwich High School was organized by Aaron Hull’s We The People team of students, who came up with the list of questions that included budget cuts and school start times, class size, student absenteeism and ICE, cell phone policy, and the quality and cost of Cardinal Café food

Mr. Hull noted the debates were part of a longstanding tradition going back more than two decades at GHS.

 

While many of the questions were answered by candidates in Monday’s debates at town hall, (Board of Education Debate Heats up Over Public Schools Budget Oct. 7, 2025), the students’ questions emphasized topics that most directly impact their lives.

There are three Democratic candidates for just two openings – Bob Chaney and Veronica Chiavaroli who were endorsed by the Democratic party, and Laura Kostin, an incumbent who was not endorsed to run for a second 4-year term – making that a competitive race.

There are two Republican candidates – Paul Cappiali and Karen Krause – running for two openings. Both of them will be seated on the BOE.

A separate open seat for the remaining two years of a term resulting from a resignation is being sought by incumbent Republican Dr. Michael-Joseph Mercanti-Anthony who was unable to attend.

Budget Cuts and School Start Times

Students Kaitlin Qin, Gustav Craw, Benjamin Varghese took turns asking the questions starting with budget cuts and school start times.

Today GHS starts at 7:45 with the first bell at 8:00am, undoing the later start time that went into effect in 2017 after years of debates and public hearings where parents, students and medical doctors testified.

The start time changes came last spring after the BOE struggled to find ways to cut/reduce their operating budget by over $4 million following the Board of Estimate and Taxation’s budget vote.

That vote was split along party lines with Democrats opposing and Republicans favoring the lower budget.

The budget passed when Harry Fisher used his tie-breaking  as the Republican chair of the board to pass the motion on the budget.

The BOE struggled to find ways to eliminate $4m from their budget. They voted to change start times because it reduced the number of required school buses by 23, saving $1.9 million in the process.

Also, they made job cuts including several media assistants, though some of them were moved to other schools or assigned to more than one school.

Mr. Chaney said he hoped there would be no further cuts in the next budget cycle.

“More cuts will be detrimental to all schools and have already effected start times, Chaney said. “I can’t see us making more cuts.”

Mr. Cappiali said, “The reality is as years go on, we are the stewards of taxpayers’ money and it’s our responsibility to spend that money wisely and look for efficiencies…Right now Greenwich has the highest per pupil spend in the state of Connecticut.”

Ms Chiavaroli described the budget cuts as unbelievably detrimental to all the public schools in Greenwich and that if elected she would advocate to restore funds to the budget and avoid changing start times.

Ms Krause talked about finding efficiencies and using differentiated instruction to help teach students in special education, struggling learners, on-track students and those exceeding expectations.

Ms Kostin said, simply, “I will not vote for any more cuts to the budget.”

As for the earlier start time, she noted there were many sleepy faces in the PAC for the 8:00am debates and some students asleep.

Class Sizes

Asked about class sizes, Mr. Cappiali said it was most important to have classes be small in grades K through 3.

Ms Chiavaroli said small classes were most important in the early years, and that early identification of students needing extra support or advancing should ideally be done and as early as pre-K, and that identifying them in middle school should be avoided.

Ms Krause agreed with Mr. Cappiali and Ms Chiavaroli and added that ALP which currently starts in grade 2 should be reconsidered to start earlier.

Ms Kostin talked about investing in teachers.

“There is no way to keep class sizes capped when enrollment goes up unless you hire more teachers,” she said.

Mr. Chaney lamented that media center staff were let go.

“We need the teachers, media assistants, administrative assistants. We need everybody there to make sure you guys get everything you need.”

Cell Phone Policy

Candidates were asked about the new cell phone policy that requires all students to store their phones in classroom pockets, out of reach, given concerns many people have about access during real emergencies.

Ms Krause said, “I am a volunteer EMT with GEMS and have trained for mass casualty events including, God forbid,  a school shooting. If there ever is such an event, you want to be absolutely silent, and you want to listen to your teachers and first responders trying to keep you safe.  Reaching out makes noise and potentially attracts someone dangerous to you and distracts your attention.”

Ms Kostin said she was conscious of students’ need to be in touch with their families. She said it was ironic to consider a phone ban given that hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent on improving cell phone service at the high school.

Absenteeism and ICE

Candidates were asked a question about chronic student absenteeism, given the rate peaked at 20.2% in February in Connecticut, meaning 98,000 students missed more than 10% of their classes, a rise of 7,200 students from the previous month.

Kaitlin Qin referred to the landmark 1982 Supreme Court case, Plyler v. Doe, that ruled states cannot deny free public K-12 education to undocumented children because of their immigration status. The Court ruled that denying free public education to undocumented children violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“As 40.3% of students have parents born outside, how do you address ICE-related safety concerns in the schools and improve attendance,” Kaitlin asked.

Ms Krause said it was critical for students to feel safe in school.

“What I’m hearing school superintendents say in Stamford, where this is also an issue, is that they have not invited ICE in, and that they are not disclosing status and that they have a mandate to educate students in that catchment.”

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Ms Kostin Greenwich does not allow ICE agents into Greenwich Public Schools buildings.

Mr. Chaney said while ICE is not allowed into buildings, “PTA and PTAC have set up guidelines of having parents show up at the buildings – if this should happen – to show up at the buildings to videotape or livestream to bring a spotlight on this.”

Mr. Cappiali said whether there is a policy of not inviting ICE into schools, “They are the federal government. They supersede the state and municipal government. I hope and pray we don’t have that concern.”

Ms Chiavaroli said despite a policy that does not invite ICE into public school buildings, absenteeism likely correlated to students not feeling safe coming to school.

“We need to make sure we have enough trained staff who can support students and families so that they feel safe coming to school,” Chiavaroli said.

An email to Greenwich Public School families back in January from Greenwich Schools superintendent Dr. Toni Jones explained the district’s policy about ICE visits.

“We are very much aware of the nation-wide concerns about ICE and its response to arriving at public schools. Previously, schools were off-limits, but that language was rescinded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security last week. I have shared with your school’s administration team a protocol if this occurs at GPS that includes calling the Office of the Superintendent immediately and asking them to have the individuals wait outside the building. We would immediately contact the district’s attorney before taking any action in response to a request or visit from an ICE agent based on the law.”

Jones said the district does not collect student immigration status information, and that by federal law public schools must educate any child who resides in the district and provides proof of residency in Greenwich.

 

Food in Cardinal Café

Candidates were asked given how they would prioritize access to healthy and affordable food at GHS given concerns about the cost and quality of offerings in Cardinal Café where a salad costs $4.55.

Ms Chiavaroli said it was important everyone who qualifies for free and reduced lunch receives it and is able to access their food without the stigma of paying differently.

Ms Kostin meals should be priced affordably.

“Probably every newly elected board member should eat one meal in the schools to see if the quality is what we hope it would be.”

Ms Krause said it was unfortunate but food prices had significantly increased in general.

She noted that one reason high school meals cost more is because portion sizes are larger than at middle school.

She disagreed with Mr. Cappiali who suggested food service was a profit center.

“It’s actually losing a little bit of money. That’s what makes it difficult,” she said.

There were no closing statements.

See also:

Board of Education Debate Heats up Over Public Schools Budget

Oct 7, 2025

Greenwich BOE Approves 7:45am Start Time at GHS; Declines to Eliminate Cantor House

May 16, 2025

BOE Approves $2 Million Cuts to FY 26 Schools Budget, Including Job Reductions

May 9, 2025

BET Cuts $4.1 Million from Greenwich Schools: Audience Chants “Shame on you”

April 4, 2025