Last night, the Fairfield PTA Council, held a forum at Roger Ludlowe Middle School for candidates for the Fairfield Board of Education. This year the Board of Education has four open seats to be decided this coming Election Day, November 3rd.
There is one 2 year post open, and that will be contested by Democrat Josh Albin and Republican Paul Fattibene. The remaining three vacancies are four-year terms. Running for these open posts are Republicans Tim Kery and incumbent Pam Iacono and Democrats Lenora Campbell, Perry Liu and Jennifer Kennelly. The forum was moderated by PTA Council President Charlotte Leslie and PTA Council President-Elect Mary Hogue. The general public was invited to attend this forum and encouraged to submit questions in advance. About 100 people attend the forum.
Six questions were asked of the candidates, ranging from curriculum to overcrowding. Each candidate was given one minute to respond to the questions. At the conclusion, the candidates were provided two minutes to make any final comments.
Following are selected responses to the questions:
What is the Role of the Board of Education and the Chairman of the Board?
Ms. Iacono: Role of the Board is to set policy and hire the Superintendent. The role of the Chairman is someone who can build a consensus.
Mr. Kery: Roll of the board is to be an advocate for our children. The chairperson’s role is to drive the vision and set the agenda for academic excellence in the district.
Mr. Liu: We look to the board for leadership and to set the tone.Our duty is to see how things are working and how well they are working. We’re not one town on a lot of these issues, and it’s up to the board to bring it together.
What needs to be done regarding school capacity and redistricting?
Mr. Fattibene: It’s one thing to say we need the space, it’s another to get it funded and built. I was originally against the Pods, but have recently see they can be used effectively as swing space to handle the ebb and flow of enrollment.
Ms. Kennelly: Redistricting as a sole means of balancing isn’t the solution. We need to look at the whole plan, communicate the plan to the whole community and get parents feedback.
Mr. Albin: Big difference between a class with 25 students versus 18. Few things can be done. Portables end up costing more money in the long run.
What needs to be done to keep the curriculum updated?
Ms. Campbell: Having worked in higher education for 20 years, I recognize curriculum issue is one we need to constantly look at. We need to be sure students are ready to go from elementary school to middle school and middle school to high school.
Ms. Kennelly: Fairfield’s school district is a system that is admired by many, but is behind in technology compared to neighboring school districts.
Ms. Iacono: Biggest issue to address is the Science curriculum. I was dismayed to learn our children are not required take a chemistry class to graduate from High School. I am also a proponent of extended day kindergarten.
How can the BOE best balance the needs of the district with the needs of the Town?
Mr. Liu: I would like to see an audit of the budget. We should have nothing to hide. Additionally, we spend too much time putting out fires and not enough time planning. This costs more in the long run.
Mr. Fattibene: The BOE budget is really the Town Budget because it is so large. I have seen this from the RTM side [Mr. Fattibene has been on the RTM for 12 years]. There is not going to be a large increase in the budget next year.
What is your experience hiring school superintendents?
Ms. Cambell: This person must have the highest acadmic standards themselves. Have to have been a teacher. Someone who can communicate and collaborate.
Mr. Kery: My experience is as a business owner. This is a $140m enterprise, we need someone who can be a CEO. We need a skilled communicator.
Ms. Iacono: My background is in HR. I want to seem someone who is focused on academic excellence for all the children, someone who has experience in a district similar to Fairfield, someone who can communicate and someone who is willing to audit a class.
How does the policies and operation of the board affect it’s impact?
Ms. Kennelly: Onus is on the Board of Education to have a well thought out long-range plan. That is the means of earning respect with the town.
Mr. Liu: It’s the charge of the BOE to stand alone and put forward a plan for what we think is best. Not what other town bodies are going to want to see.
Wrapping up:
Mr. Albin: The BOE needs someone who has actual, recent experience. [Mr. Albin graduated from Fairfield High School in 2005] And a bi-partisan voice, not getting bogged down to politics. I represent you, I don’t carry baggage.
Ms. Cambell: I am driven by passion, and dedicated to making an impact. We have many challenges ahead of us, this board is an opportunity to be really involved. I would like to show this community I have this energy and drive.
Thanks for posting this report! It underscores just how big a deal the BOE will be in this election. Fairfielders will have the opportunity to shape the BOE to their liking by whom they elect– but they can only properly do so by first getting to know what each candidate stands for on key issues that will face the Board.
-David Cullen
Fairfield RTM District 7
Too bad more people don’t realize that we are about to make a significant change to the personnel on the Board of Education and it’s impact on the selection of a new superintendent.
Ed,
Thank you so much for covering this important event.
Pam Iacono
BOE Member/Candidate