Submittd by Hector Arzeno is a parent volunteer at Greenwich High School, Member of the RTM in District 8, and Democratic Candidate for State Representative in the 151st district
I am an avid believer in the value of public education, I sent all four of my children to our Greenwich Public Schools. Half of our public schools are within the 151st District. Currently, our state including Greenwich is facing unprecedented health, strategic, and fiscal decisions in education. I am a public school parent and RTM member, thus providing the opportunity to truly listen to, and engage other parents, educators, and staff. With this unique perspective I am confident we can provide a safe and dynamic quality education to our kids, but only if we’re willing to get past partisan politics and adequately fund our schools. We can’t afford not to.
Parents want their children back in the classroom, but they also want to ensure their children remain safe and healthy. Likewise, teachers are eager to return, but are incredibly wary of the health risks. Our Superintendent, Toni Jones, the experts on our “Return to School” planning team, and other dedicated professionals are working around the clock. They should be heartily applauded.
Simultaneously, educational models were evolving before the COVID19 pandemic. Several back-to-school scenarios have been outlined for municipalities across the State. However, there is no “one size fits all” plan for learning. We must be prepared to meet the needs of our diverse student body. Balancing safety and learning will inevitably vary. We must utilize every available resource. This could even include partnerships with universities to rethink learning spaces or strategies. In the past months, parents and teachers have discovered so much about how our children learn best. Our District is a model for great education and we have the best experts available. Let’s be aspirational. Our children deserve it.
This year I stood with you and I vocally objected to the budget cuts to the Board of Education. I proudly stand by this today. We always strive to provide the finest and most dynamic public education. Now, we must do that safely. To achieve both, our goal should be to exercise fiscal responsibility to our benefit. Research shows investment in education yields long-term economic growth. With weak schools, we all fail. As your next State Representative I look forward to collaborating with the community. The key to our success in education lies in what any good leader should value most – listening to the informed voices in our community, relying on competent research from experts, and having a vested interest in the prosperity of our schools.
Hector Arzeno is a parent volunteer at Greenwich High School, Member of the RTM in District 8, and Democratic Candidate for State Representative in the 151st