[Lalalally]

Originally Posted by JayCT

You think? Since these two bills are being proposed by legislators from large cities, I believe this is a first step to eliminating local school districts so that the failing districts they represent will look better when merged with better performing suburbs. It’s a numbers game. Jay

Or for these reasons. (Let's face it, it's easier for most of our representatives in favor of this to present it as a "cost savings" measure when in fact it has absolutely nothing to do with that):


Rep. Susan Johnson, a Democrat from Windham and a member of the Education Committee, said she favors regionalization efforts for her district, where there is a high concentration of Hispanic children. “We want to make sure the whole system is integrated,” Johnson said. “I mean Brown vs. Board of Education still exists and we still have inequities in our educational system here in Connecticut.”

-or this (because we need progressive dem politicians' to "force" and "help" us ):


Rep. Michelle Cook, D-Torrington, countered, saying that if “regionalism is what we have to do to make education in the state of Connecticut work, then we need to figure out how to make that work.
“I know that forcing things is not always the right way to go,” Cook continued, “but sometimes we have to help people get there because they are not going to get there on their own.”






https://ctmirror.org/2019/01/28/prop...bate-distress/

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Lalalally

Or for these reasons. (Let's face it, it's easier for most of our representatives in favor of this to present it as a "cost savings" measure when in fact it has absolutely nothing to do with that):


Rep. Susan Johnson, a Democrat from Windham and a member of the Education Committee, said she favors regionalization efforts for her district, where there is a high concentration of Hispanic children. “We want to make sure the whole system is integrated,” Johnson said. “I mean Brown vs. Board of Education still exists and we still have inequities in our educational system here in Connecticut.”

-or this (because we need progressive dem politicians' to "force" and "help" us ):


Rep. Michelle Cook, D-Torrington, countered, saying that if “regionalism is what we have to do to make education in the state of Connecticut work, then we need to figure out how to make that work.
“I know that forcing things is not always the right way to go,” Cook continued, “but sometimes we have to help people get there because they are not going to get there on their own.”






https://ctmirror.org/2019/01/28/prop...bate-distress/

You could be right. The only reason Connecticut did not see the mass busing that you see in other states is that they could not force busing between school districts legally here. Those smaller school districts prevented that. Given the issues larger districts face with poor performance and budgets that would just be another way to force regional school districts on our state. Jay

[Lalalally]

Originally Posted by JayCT

You could be right. The only reason Connecticut did not see the mass busing that you see in other states is that they could not force busing between school districts legally here. Those smaller school districts prevented that. Given the issues larger districts face with poor performance and budgets that would just be another way to force regional school districts on our state. Jay

I just pray this all fizzles and goes no where. I’ve reached out to both my state house and senate representatives, as there are multiple presented bills before both. It would forever ruin the probably singular most appealing part of living in CT - the hyper local accountability / town hall form of governance that the overwhelming majority of our municipalities enjoy, with no interference from far removed and anonymous county/regional “authorities.”

[CTartist]

Originally Posted by Lalalally

I just pray this all fizzles and goes no where. I’ve reached out to both my state house and senate representatives, as there are multiple presented bills before both. It would forever ruin the probably singular most appealing part of living in CT - the hyper local accountability / town hall form of governance that the overwhelming majority of our municipalities enjoy, with no interference from far removed and anonymous county/regional “authorities.”

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Lalalally

I just pray this all fizzles and goes no where. I’ve reached out to both my state house and senate representatives, as there are multiple presented bills before both. It would forever ruin the probably singular most appealing part of living in CT - the hyper local accountability / town hall form of governance that the overwhelming majority of our municipalities enjoy, with no interference from far removed and anonymous county/regional “authorities.”

I did too. Plus the leaders of my political party. I may even reach out to the bill sponsors. Jay

[Lalalally]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I did too. Plus the leaders of my political party. I may even reach out to the bill sponsors. Jay

Good idea. I haven’t done that because none are my reps

Sen Loony (no pun intended) is the the sponsor of the 40,000 minimum size district - I believe New Haven area; Reps Duff/Osten are co sponsors of the house bill re: 2,000 minimum district size. Off top of my head I don’t know areas they represent, but I will look into it now.

Post Script: Duff appears to be a representative from Norwalk; and Osten a state senator from Norwich area. I’m not familiar with either, but think I too will reach out directly to both. Thanks for the good idea.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Lalalally

Good idea. I haven’t done that because none are my reps

Sen Loony (no pun intended) is the the sponsor of the 40,000 minimum size district - I believe New Haven area; Reps Duff/Osten are co sponsors of the house bill re: 2,000 minimum district size. Off top of my head I don’t know areas they represent, but I will look into it now.

Post Script: Duff appears to be a representative from Norwalk; and Osten a state senator from Norwich area. I’m not familiar with either, but think I too will reach out directly to both. Thanks for the good idea.

I think you can reach out to Looney directly since he leadership. He has to take emails from all state residents, not just his own constituents. I encourage everyone to reach out to them. Jay

[dazzleman]

I'm not really in favor of forcing school districts to consolidate, but I think it makes sense for smaller districts to consider it. Still, in rural areas with small populations, consolidation could mean much longer traveling distances to school that could negate the subjective value of cost savings. I would guess that some of the really small districts are already regional.

The bill proposed by the aptly named State Senator Looney is an abomination. And it has nothing to do with saving money. It's all about the agenda of every urban politician -- finding ways to dump their problems onto other people. His bill should be fiercely opposed.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by dazzleman

I'm not really in favor of forcing school districts to consolidate, but I think it makes sense for smaller districts to consider it. Still, in rural areas with small populations, consolidation could mean much longer traveling distances to school that could negate the subjective value of cost savings. I would guess that some of the really small districts are already regional.

The bill proposed by the aptly named State Senator Looney is an abomination. And it has nothing to do with saving money. It's all about the agenda of every urban politician -- finding ways to dump their problems onto other people. His bill should be fiercely opposed.

I emailed Looney and said that exact thing but maybe a little less bluntly. The same for my legislators and my party leadership. You and others should as well. It is pretty easy to do. Go to the legislature web site and look up who your State Senator and Representative is. There are links to their emails so you can send them a message. Then go to your party's website and send their leadership a message as well. I sent the same message to all by copying and pasting it. Did not take a lot of time. Jay

[Wilton2ParkAve]

I rarely post these days but both bills have me very worked up. Not to be a conspiracy theorist but we need to be careful that Looney’s bill is not a smokescreen for the bill presented by Duff (SB 457). We need to strongly oppose any regionalization - and not tamper with our bedroom communities and their high caliber schools. The state really does not have vibrant cities and an economy that will attract professionals if we harm our performing school districts. Duff’s bill targets 2000 student districts now but could easily be changed / enlarged before a vote.


There are limited (if any) cost savings to regionalization given increased transportation costs and comparable headcount/school buildings. This is nothing but a power grab and will be the death knell of the state. I will dump my house for a loss and move to Westchester or NJ if either bill passes. I don’t want hear the claims of unequal education claims either - we already spend more per student in the cities than the suburbs. The quality of schools is predicated on the value placed on education at home. Not dollars spent or forced regionalization. These bills are evil. Period. Full stop.