Submitted by Brian Raabe
BET Chair Harry Fisher laid out his case against fully funding schools here, (FISHER: Three True Things. June 20, 2025)
His “truths” include questioning the legitimacy of the Chair of the BOE, calling Karen Hirsh the “purported” Chair.
Snide. Unbecoming.
But he ups the ante of school yard bullying.
Fisher’s truths also include a name and shame by calling out three BET Republicans more interested in education than party with,
“So back to how this came about. Three Republican members of the BET, David Alfano, Nisha Arora, and Lucia Jansen, in a letter published in the Greenwich Free Press in mid-May (A Targeted Interim Fix to Preserve High School Start Times, May 16, 2025) basically invited the BOE to request a restoration of part of the reduction to the BOE budget that they voted for early in April.”
This is not a bad thing, King Fisher. This is called compromise. A restoration of the capricious cuts you unilaterally made as deciding vote on the BET.
Their act should be applauded. Maybe they should affiliate with the largest block in town – Independents, versus tolerating their own Chair throwing them under the school bus hoping to publicly cow them into submission.
Finally, King Fisher’s truths include a rambling dissertation of Article 2 , section 30b and section 29 and all sorts of sleep-inducing town charter Bolshevism that he cites as making change impossible.
Not true. You simply lack the will. Don’t hide behind the paperwork in triplicate. You do not want to fully fund schools.
Truth.
Fisher also bemoans the fact that the school system will be permitted to retain a surplus due to recent state legislation.
Again – a great thing, not a bad thing.
For anyone pro fully funding schools, the big animal pictures (aka truths) are:
- A number of Republican BET members acting on conscience, versus party.
- Recent state legislation that permits the retention of a budget surplus. (A surprise and a GOOD thing.)
- A First Selectman who stated he was against the cuts, nonetheless, BET Chair Fisher went rogue.
Between these truths – and a July special meeting called by the RTM (what are you waiting for?) – you have a path to claw back the money for EDUCATION the BET King cut and wants for his coffers of MISMANAGEMENT.
$8.0 million in overtime payments, $8.0 million in temp help, $6.0 million for software rental in this year’s budget. $24 million dollars…
Those ledger items are evidence of mismanagement, not the responsible, sober actor mantle Mr. Fisher wears like a purple, gold lettered sash.
The path to the school money is there.
Kids win.
Nope.
Mr. Fisher see this as a kerfuffle best swept out by the tide,
His truth being, “I hope that the BOE will reverse its request for additional funds and that the residents of Greenwich be allowed to settle down and enjoy the late breaking summer.”
Sorry Nero. You may prefer to fiddle but there is work to do. So set the Mint Julep down and let’s get after it.
Let’s have a special meeting in July. Town Hall enjoys fully funded AC.
Selectman Camillo, you came out against these cuts. Weigh in. Do not abdicate action to a closet potentate with the power of the purse.
What this all shows, is that we have outgrown the Representative Town Meeting of Government.
A Mayoral system of government should be considered for a forward-thinking Town of Greenwich. Its time to reassess.
Finally, I was at last week’s high school graduation.
Every name called was the product of our community’s investment in their future. All of us. It was a thing of beauty.
Our school system is a priceless treasure – a football field full of kids, energetic youth, ready to take on the world – and administrators that have given their all.
One can stand by and allow Greenwich Schools and administration to be denigrated, short changed, politicized, and the subject of town-on-town legal violence.
Or one can vote.
Hoping to see you in July for a special meeting.
Brian Raabe