Letters to the Editor

NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letter(s) to the editor. Please send letters to editor@newcanaanite.com for publication here.

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Dear Editor,

The 2021-22 Board of Education District Goals and Objectives were voted on by a bipartisan BOE to ensure students, teachers, and administrators feel safe, celebrated, continue to learn, and reach their highest potential. Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are not just standard across businesses and corporations, they are the norm within our peer schools.

Dismissing DEI would place New Canaan students behind our neighbors and potentially jeopardize their acceptance to top colleges who might view New Canaan applicants as unprepared and ill-equipped to compete in their diverse learning environment. New Canaan would be known as the town that is against creating a safe, inclusive environment for all; that does not place value in learning about different and diverse perspectives; that is not a champion of equity in education.

Darien’s 2021-26 Strategic Plan states in their action that they will “Establish a Diversity and Equity Team to address systemic inequities and make recommendations to inform District policies and practices.” And puts forth in their measure to “Establish a committee with recommended and implemented practices to address diversity, equity, and inclusion.” (Source)

Wilton’s 2022-23 Mission, Goals, and Philosophy defines the purpose of their DEI policy as follows: “The board of education views the diversity of our student body, our staff, and our community as a strength of the Wilton Public Schools and recognizes that differences are an essential part of our history and current and future reality. The board believes that educational equity benefits all students and our entire community. The board also believes that recognizing perspectives beyond one’s own is a critical thinking skill that can result in greater open-mindedness, increased empathy, reduced stereotyping,  and deeper learning and growth.” They are dedicated to form a committee of stakeholders, and develop a diverse workforce that expands their understanding of other people, places, and cultures. (Source)

Westport’s 2021-22 Strategic Plan states they will “Expand and increase diversity, equity, and inclusion,” including professional development and training delivered to parents and staff. They have also started an Equity Study informed by feedback from a 2018-19 Comprehensive School Climate Inventory where students were measured on 13 dimensions. Out of the 13 dimensions measured, a Sense of Social Emotional Security was identified as the area of greatest concern. (Source)

Ridgefield’s 2021-22 District Priorities puts forth DEI initiatives in two separate areas. In their Teaching and Learning priority, they aim “To ensure that we are providing equitable and welcome learning environments for all of our students where they feel valued, respected, and safe to learn and grow.” And a committee to study curriculum “with a lens of inclusion and belonging.” In their Human Resources priority, they aim to “Establish systems across the Ridgefield Public Schools to create and support a racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse workforce.” (Source)

The role of BOE members is to move our students forward so they can compete in a growingly diverse world. The Board of Education, and Dr. Luizzi as the Board’s executive officer, has a responsibility to the entire school population, and to taxpayers who are funding the schools, to continuously challenge students at the highest level and create the best learning environment for all – not put them at a disadvantage by knowingly restricting their education.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are integral to achieving academic excellence and vital to developing well-rounded, curious, empathic citizens. Please fund and prioritize DEI in the New Canaan Public Schools.

Barbara and David Rucci

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Dear Editor:

On behalf of the New Canaan Parent Support Group and our co-Host New Canaan Community Foundation, I’d like to thank all those involved with making our September 1 Community Addiction Awareness Vigil a success. We had about 450 people in attendance, on a beautiful evening at the corner of South Avenue and Elm Street.

Our goal was to increase awareness in our community about addiction and mental health, while reminding everyone through testimonials that recovery Is possible. 

First of all, thanks to our hard-working Team Orange, our Vigil event committee: Cyra Borsy, Jacqueline Calayag, Leo Karl, Trey Laird, Susannah Lewis, Lance Minor, Chris Otis, Lauren Patterson, Thea Ross, Cini Shaw, Denise Vestuti, Fiona Wilkes, Charlene Berardino, Suzanne Harrison, Mary Kowal-Foley, Robert Plunkett and Patrick Russo.

Secondly, we’d like to call out our speakers and performers: John Hamilton, Emcee; Noelle, Steve, Aleksa, and our two pastors co-leading the candlelight vigil: Carter Via and Gary Morello. We also thank Rev. Richard Williams & the Pivot Ministries Choir for their performance and Ben Capelo of Ram Council (NCHS ’23) for leading us in the Community Pledge.

There are many other partners and vendors required to make this event happen annually at the corner of South & Elm. We express our utmost gratitude to the following people: Meg Soffen of the New Canaan Community Foundation, Kevin Moynihan, Tucker Murphy, Mose Saccary and Bethany Zaro of the Town of New Canaan; Andrew Gerber and Susannah Lewis of Silver Hill Hospital; Steve Curtin of Northeast Tent Productions; Megan Ferrell of St. Mark’s Church, Doug Pippitt of New Canaan Florist, Danielle Sabilia–NCHS Ram Council parent, Steve Santiago–NCHS SLOBs parent, Mike Virgilio—Ultimate Inc T Shirts.

Finally, our support group is grateful for our Sponsors: Aware Recovery Care, Caron Treatment Centers, High Focus Centers, High Watch Recovery, Mountainside, Newport Healthcare, Silver Hill Hospital, The Lighthouse CT, Town of New Canaan, Turnbridge, Walter Stewart’s Market, and several anonymous donors with big hearts.

In case you want to mark your calendars, our 2023 Vigil will be on Wednesday, August 30.

With gratitude,   

Paul Reinhardt, Founder, New Canaan Parent Support Group

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In June of 2020, following the incredibly riveting, moving and informative appeals by alumni to the New Canaan School District, I wrote the following to Dr. Luizzi and the Board of Education:

“I urge all of us, as adults in this community, to listen to what students are telling us they need to feel prepared to live, work and prosper in a multi-racial 21st century society.  They kept me riveted, and, in my opinion, they deserve to have a seat at the table in fashioning a comprehensive, coherent strategy in how our town moves forward.”

Needless to say, I am deeply disturbed not only by the elimination of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as a stated intention, but the initiatives that have disappeared as a result. Eliminating “student input” from the planning sends a strong signal that we do not want to hear from, learn from and be guided by the experience of the students who sit in our classrooms.  Eliminating this statement robs students of an enriching learning experience, deprives them of a sense of agency over their school career, and as a result, any plan will risk falling woefully short of creating a cohesive, supportive academic community that is responsive to student needs.

Especially in light of statements such as those made by Mr. Bennett about the fear of “going down a rabbit hole of inclusion,” I am also deeply disturbed by attempts to eliminate ways to “expand culturally responsive literature across the curriculum.” I have to ask our Board of Ed members this: what stories do you not want told?  Whose children do you not want included?

I have lived in New Canaan for over thirty years, and sent three children through this district. Over the years, I have seen enormous strides in how the district supports and engages students who have diverse interests and learning styles. There are many things that have subsequently been done that would have benefitted my own family enormously. It is not easy to be different in New Canaan, and yet the district has found ways for students to begin to feel authentic, self-directed and skilled in navigating challenges.

Following the murder of Mr. George Floyd, our community came together to begin to hold ourselves accountable to that moment.  The metaphor of “I can’t breathe,” became something that not only captured what a human being was going through at the searing moment of his death, but an expression of how challenging it truly is for so many people, especially people of color, to feel truly comfortable, safe and whole in ways that many of us just take for granted.

Many alumni came back to share their own experiences of this. Even with all their gratitude for the excellence of an NCPS education, they demonstrated tremendous bravery in sharing their own stories of dissonance and experiences of bias.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are not buzzwords. They are statements of intention. They are words that express what we as a community value and what we will work towards. But most importantly: they embody a wide range of tools embedded in pedagogical practices that this district has already employed, and must continue to implement.

My own experience with DEI learning is so different from the rhetoric I hear to dismiss it.  I don’t feel guilty. I don’t feel ashamed. What do I feel? I feel empowered. I feel honest. I feel brave.  I feel thoughtful. I feel supportive. I hope that in the ways that I have learned, how I have grown and how I have been willing to stand up and speak out, I have created space where those who feel like their stories have been pushed to the side finally feel comfortable in sharing their experience, that the ways that they choose to make themselves known, seen and heard will be validated and supported.

This work is not divisive. The communities that are built around DEI work are invigorating. They are intellectually engaging and emotionally rewarding. To our Board of Education, I implore you: please don’t miss the chance to offer this kind of learning environment to our students, to our staff and to our families.

Jane Himmel

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I am writing this letter in support of Toni Boucher for Connecticut State Senate.  As a mom of 2 children in the Wilton Public Schools and especially as a member of the Wilton Board of Education; I understand firsthand how important it is to invest time and capital in our schools. Toni has a history of investing in education at both the primary and secondary levels for Connecticut.  It is imperative that towns like Wilton, New Canaan, Ridgefield and beyond are able to protect local control of education and prioritize parent involvement in our schools, Toni has a history of doing just that.  She has been named “Children’s Champion” by the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance on SEVEN different occasions.  Toni is a former Board of Education, State Board of Education and Legislative Education Committee Member.  She fought against HB7192 and any other bills or studies of mandated school regionalization.  Our towns need Toni, our state needs Toni and most important of all, our schools need Toni.  Please consider voting for Toni Boucher this election.

Mandi Schmauch

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To the Editor:

I am writing in strong support of Toni Boucher’s candidacy for the 26^th district state senate seat. Toni’s years of leadership and experience in the public and private sectors will be a tremendous benefit to the people of the 26^th district. Toni’s energy and passion for public service are unparalleled and make her the best candidate to represent the interests and needs of all of the municipalities within the 26^th district.  Toni, as a former board of education member in Wilton and a commissioner of the Connecticut State Board of Education, has a record of working to protect local control of education and parental involvement in our schools. Additionally, Toni is committed to working to achieve meaningful long term tax relief for the people of Connecticut through the elimination of taxes and regulations that have stifled small business growth and job creation. Toni understands that Connecticut cannot not rely upon budgetary gimmicks and sporadic federal stimulus dollars for long term growth. Please join me in voting for Toni Boucher on November 8^th.

Anthony L. Cenatiempo