Submitted by Sophie Koven, member Greenwich Board of Education
Tomorrow, April 1st, the town finance board is expected to vote on our public schools’ proposed budget, one that was passed by the Greenwich Board of Education on a bipartisan 7-1 vote. Unfortunately there is significant uncertainty about whether finance board members will fully fund our budget. The possibility of significant cuts should concern all Town residents. To explain why, I want to talk about my street in Greenwich.
My street has 27 homes. Since 2011 fourteen homes have sold. Twelve of the fourteen families who bought homes had children enrolled in Greenwich Public Schools, or moved to the street with the intention of enrolling their babies or toddlers in the Greenwich Public Schools. The other two families included older children who had attended GPS schools in the past. In other words, all the homes that have sold on my street in the past 14 years have sold to GPS families. Astonishingly, of the 27 houses on my street, 25 are home to a GPS student or alumnus.
Greenwich Public Schools are an integral part of our community.
Every day our schools educate more than 8500 students, employ 477 Greenwich residents, as well as people from neighboring communities, and engage with over six thousand parents. GPS spends over $44M each year on goods, services and salaries paid to Greenwich residents and businesses. Our buildings, sports fields and facilities are used by the whole town every day.
Our beloved local businesses, like Garden Catering, Greenwich Dance Studio, Sam Bridge Nurseries, Le Penguin, Rinaldi’s Deli, The Delmar, Upper Crust Bagels, Ceci Brothers, just to name a few, are run by Greenwich Public School parents and alumni. Whether you know it or not, anyone who lives in Greenwich is engaging with current GPS families or GPS alumni every day.
If my street is any indication, and I think it is, investments into Greenwich Public Schools impact the lives of all Greenwich residents. When Greenwich Public Schools thrive, the whole town benefits. If the BET cuts GPS funding, the whole town will feel the negative impact, starting with a chilling effect on the real estate market and continuing with the impacts on our families, staff and local businesses.
Investing in schools is investing in the financial security and stability of our town today and in the future generations who will live here. In seven years my youngest child will graduate from high school, but we will be a GPS family forever.
Sincerely
Sophie Koven