NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letters from readers. Please submit letters to editor@newcanaanite.com.
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Since emerging out of lockdown I have tried my hardest to shop at as many local shops as I can, and to prop up our local businesses.
I have also tried to dine in as many local restaurants as I can, as I know what a struggle the last 15 months must have been for them.
After losing two family members to COVID-19, we appreciated our strong town leadership through this crisis and our governor as well, who worked to keep us safe and well.
I am so proud to say that there are many aspects of our wonderful town that have made things easier during a very tough year.
For my family, one location really stands out.
As avid travelers for both business and pleasure we were at a loss without the ability to travel. As soon as they opened for outside dining, we booked a standing reservation on the patio at the Roger Sherman Inn every Saturday. From the start; safety protocols were perfect and we felt safe there.
Although we have been long time supporters of the Inn, during Covid, it was different. Everyone was looking for a connection outside of their homes, and we found it with the RSI. We soon built up a wonderful relationship with what we are now calling our Roger Sherman family. Crystal, our waitress, has served us every week. George, our server, so helpful and attentive and Jean Pierre – the best maître d’ I can think of in any restaurant I’ve visited. Of course, we also love Nes and Joseph Jaffre, the owners.
2020 was a difficult and trying time for all, but especially in the hotel and dining industry. They handled it with warmth and grace.
We were welcomed every week as if we were family and it became such a highlight of our whole week – the one event we really looked forward to.
We have now kept this up and haven’t missed any weeks to date – it is our weekly ritual.
We have invited friends, family and people who helped us through the pandemic to join us and to give them a treat as well.
Bravo to the Roger Sherman Inn.
Thank you for being our “safe haven” and our sanctuary and the one place where we had a little slice of normalcy during an awful year.
I wanted to shine a light on them thank them for the amazing job they do for New Canaan. We are incredibly lucky to have the Roger Sherman Inn in our town, and indeed, in our lives.
Cathy Kangas
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Our society holds together because we have clear ways to resolve disputes. To choose public officials, we vote. To adjudicate criminal liability, we use juries. To settle disputes over education policy, we give sole authority to elected boards of education. The more emotional the dispute, the more important these norms of governance become.
Another norm–dictated by law, logic and tradition–is that a referendum can’t be held to second-guess school boards on education policies like start times.
So how is it that we’re holding the June 2nd referendum? Because of a loophole. Referenda to reduce school budgets are appropriate, so that’s the horse proponents have chosen to ride. The ballot will say nothing about start times but, as proponents have stated publicly, “People will know it’s about start times.”
There’s another indication that “budget reduction” is a pretext: Proponents are actively promoting a start time solution that would significantly increase school spending, not reduce it.
Notwithstanding these concerns, the referendum is likely to occur. So, we should ask what it will be possible to learn should it prevail. The only thing all “yes” votes will have in common is authorizing a $463,337 cut to the school budget.
The ballot won’t ask which start time proposal a voter favors or disfavors, whether a given voter even has a preference, or whether the voter simply wants to reduce school funding.
On the other hand, a “yes” vote most likely would be seen as an expression of “no confidence” in the Superintendent and Board of Education, without a way to know why. In this of all years.
A conspicuous irony is that the Board of Education has read and listened to hundreds of communications and, as a result, is reconsidering start time scenarios. The BOE won’t settle on one until after the June 2nd referendum.
The debate over school start times has been highly emotional, so adhering to long-standing norms of governance is especially important now. Who can say whether following these norms has contributed to the astounding success of New Canaan’s Public Schools, or may explain why they are heralded nationwide for keeping students healthy and in the classroom during the pandemic.
Let the Board of Education do the work it was elected to do. Read the ballot and vote “no” in the June 2nd referendum.
—Tom Butterworth
Tom Butterworth is a member of the Town Council but writes here on his own behalf.
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A lot has been said by people think they know who we are, so I thought it was time the community heard directly from us. We are a group of parents in New Canaan who believe there is a better solution that can get all children to school between 8-9am.
We have been displeased and frustrated with current start-time scenario and decision-making process the Board of Education has taken to get to this point. Our concerns have not been reasonably addressed therefor we exist. If they had, we would happily continue on being parents, spouses, executives (of home or office), volunteers, hobbyists and maybe in our spare time self-care givers. Instead, we have tirelessly tried to engage our BOE, filled in research where missing, analyzed scenarios benefitting all children and fiscal impact, become letter writers, speech makers, listeners, and defenders of our children.
A few points then:
- We support our Board of Education and Dr. Luizzi – We are just in disagreement on this subject.
- We do not dismiss the incredible work done and financial support our administration and elected officials have provided to keep schools open. – We don’t believe it means there is a free pass on all things especially something as critical as the ongoing health issue of sleep.
- We believe aligning elementary is nice but not necessary as a priority goal if it creates a suboptimal solution on sleep across all age groups.
- We believe the that has been done by the BOE is reflective of a focus on teens and not balanced with elementary needs. This is also demonstrated by the complete lack of flexibility in when to start high school – it is 8:30 am or bust.
- We facknowledge some solutions can be challenging but doable – with traffic mitigation (which is needed anyway) or additional bus parking spots at Saxe – there are other solutions within grasp – some with better fiscal rewards. Reaching across the aisle may be a sign of weakness for some but we believe it is good for the children and appropriate. Logistics of this nature should not stand in the way of a great (not perfect) solution.
- We worry that by completely flipping High School with elementary we are creating many more issues such as childcare availability from older sibling/staff for the Y, pushing extra help for the HS to the morning as well as clubs, or worse – students having to choose between clubs and sports (and still no gain of sleep), pushing sports later so no time really is gained.
- We worry about the impact to the community – lack of family time due to earlier bedtimes for elementary critical for development, increased childcare costs, disruption of a midyear implementation, religious programming, businesses who cater to children and ability to have continuity especially after this past year with COVID disruption.
What we are not:
Disgruntled – We are not discontented or peevish – we just feel that this proposal may be detrimental to the health of elementary school children and cause an undue burden on many families optimistic for a great solution.
Disingenuous – In fact, we are incredibly candid and coming from the heart.
Underhanded –We are respectful and have stuck to the rules.
Law Breakers – The referendum is in accordance with State and Town statute. It is our last hope to send a clear message to the BOE to be agile and reassess the objective from 8:30 for high school to 8-9 for all children in any order.
I hope this clears up any questions for everyone. You can also learn more about our research, analysis, community feedback at www.ncstarttimeequity.org.
I hope you vote YES on June 2nd to support ALL the children of New Canaan and send a clear message to our town bodies to work together for a solution and that our expectation from elected officials is a dialogue and agility to handle our current constantly changing world.
- No 7:45 start for elementary
- Better times for all to maintain continuity for families and community
- Fiscal prudence – if we spend, spend smartly and consider impacts beyond busses
Best, Jennifer Dalipi
Chairman, Committee for Healthy Starts for All Children
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To the Editor-
On June 2 New Canaanites will be voting on a referendum to cut the school budget — the same school budget that was recently passed unanimously by the Board of Finance and Town Council during the annual budget process. Some folks think the referendum is about school start times. It is not. Rather, it is an attempt to circumvent and undermine the decision-making process of our Board of Education and Superintendent, by a group of people who don’t agree with a decision that was made. I don’t question a person’s right to respectfully challenge a decision. What I question is the tactic and precedent, and the suggestion that members of this one group care more or are better judges of what is best for the community as a whole.
A “yes” vote (to cut the school budget) is a huge vote of no-confidence in our Superintendent, the BOE, and the way our local school system works. A “yes” vote is essentially a back-door attempt to affect line-item control over the Board of Ed budget. A “yes” vote seeks to send the school budget back to the Board of Finance for yet another review. The BOF could then choose to leave the budget whole, or could vote to cut the budget by up to $463,000 (the cost of Dr. Luizzi’s Healthier Start Time Initiative, which includes a 3-tier bus plan).
A “no” vote supports Dr. Luizzi and an efficient plan that meets virtually all of his goals that he set out to accomplish with the healthy start initiative. The benefits of Dr. Luizzi’s plan are, it 1) costs half of what the 2-tier bus system that is being promoted by supporters of this referendum would cost 2) aligns all three elementary start times which will benefit the entire elementary community, 3) creates new after-school programming to better accommodate working families 4) ensures that no student is picked up or dropped off in the dark (which some students currently are), and 5) brings our schools into compliance with CDC, AMA & AAP medical guidance on school start times.
Dr. Luizzi and the Board of Ed’s extraordinary efforts over the past year have clearly shown they know how to balance the needs of the students, parents and community. They have spent over 4 years researching the healthier start times initiative. Included in that process has been 1) consideration of various bus schedule scenarios and traffic patterns 2) community feedback from all stakeholders, and 3) reviewing the science regarding optimal learning times for each age group of NCPS. While there are multiple — and equally compelling — perspectives, it is the job of the Superintendent that we hired and the BOE that we elected to look at the bigger picture, consider all variables and opinions, utilize experts and in the end make a decision to do what is optimal for the children and community as a whole. And we strongly believe they did.
Support our children and our schools, and vote “no” on the referendum.
Sincerely,
Rita Bettino
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I encourage all eligible voters to vote absentee, or in person, in the Public-School referendum. It appears like this is the first time in 30 years that members of the public have been able to express their views so directly.
I personally am going to vote ‘yes’, as I believe the plan that the BOE has proposed disproportionately benefits the oldest kids and their families, at the primary expense of the youngest and their families.
In proposing this change, I believe that the BOE is making New Canaan more challenging for families with young kids to move to and remain, primarily due to the unsynchronized start times of PreK (9:15am), K-4 (7:45am) and 5-6th (9:15am) grades. The BOE has also not demonstrated that the education and development of our K-4 graders will benefit from having what will be one of the earliest start times in the Northeast. Even if you don’t have kids in the public-school system, this issue may ultimately impact your home values, and the overall demographic development of the town. We know for certain the proposal will impact your taxes.
I understand why many believe that voting ‘no’ is the best route. To those who will be voting ‘no’ I ask you to really think about why you believe that having 1,500 K-4-graders in class at 7:45am is such a great solution.
Can we not all put our collective good minds and civic approach together to find a solution that works for everybody?
Wouldn’t that be the real New Canaan way?
Giacomo Landi
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Today I want to address the importance of the out of town shopper and visitor’s opinion of our Town. Presently it is being expressed in the numerous out of town signatures in support for the saving of 1913 Library Building. Out of Town signatories demonstrates the enthusiasm of non residents and former residents, many of whom still have family and friends in town, for our downtown village and preserved landscape like our historic library and landscaped green Center school lot that brings them back to walk, shop, eat, etc in our beautiful town”
How people perceive us, our quality of Merchant services, dinning selections, visual and historic experience, unique downtown layout are the primary drivers to bring both locals and out of towner’s to do commerce in New Canaan. As a Merchant in Town for over 35 years and past President of the Village Association,that began among other things our beloved Holiday Stroll, I want to attest to the importance of and reasons for the out of Town shopper and what brings masses amounts of them to New Canaan. As a merchant I could attest to the common statement among Merchants that our rent was paid by our important New Canaan clientele but our profits were made from the spending of visitors from outside of Town. Credit card research can attest to this. I felt my business ‘draw’ was from the beginning of Westchester County to New Haven County and then north. It is a huge area that comes here to truly enjoy and embrace on a regular bases the New Canaan experience. It is no wonder that there is the feeling of outside ‘ownership’ that makes and has made New Canaan what it is. What we decide in Town planning has a huge Mercantile effect. One important benefit to the people within Town is the strength of our draw allows for better services and merchandise to be offered to them. A town of 20,000 with a good part always away would never be what it is without this long developed support of visitor trade. The fact that they are signing this petition should be noted and celebrated as a vote in favor of past work done preserving our Village atmosphere that is so loved.
Again it is important to save the 1913 Library!
Sincerely,
Jack Trifero
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As we approach the referendum, I look back on the past 15 months at what has brought us here, it is nowhere any of us wanted to be. Most of us have young children and much of our day is spent just trying to keep our heads above water. However, we feel that this extremely early start for elementary school can harm our children and so many others in town. After hundreds of letters from parents with these concerns the administration and BOE continues forward with the same exact plan, when there is an alternative that could take away all this harm from young children and their families. Is the health of 1,500 of our youngest learners not worth as little as 10 minutes from High School students? Is it unacceptable to put a price tag on High School student’s health, but perfectly acceptable to say that our youngest learners are not worth spending on? Here are just 2 glaring facts that the administration and BOE have been ignoring or downplaying for over a year.
- This is an exceedingly early start for our elementary school students. This is seldom even acknowledged by proponents of this plan, almost pretending it is not just as much a part of the plan as later High School start times. It is the very earliest on a peer and state basis, and even very early compared to successful school systems on a national and global basis. Pointing out a school in Colorado or a school in Massachusetts does not negate the fact that it is a very early elementary school start time compared to the thousands and thousands of successful schools nationwide.
- There is real research from dozens of reputable doctors’ psychologists and sleep specialists that indicate that early start times can be harmful academically, behaviorally, and developmentally to young children when deprived of sleep. Some of these studies have demonstrated cognitive deficiencies in children when deprived of sleep at a young age (5-10). Some of these studies also indicate that shifts in sleep patterns begin to occur well before adolescence and at the ages of 5-7 shifts can already be seen. Add to that the 2-3 hours of extra sleep that the CDC recommends for these children and they will simply face what the research has indicated will be a disadvantaged start to their school careers. We have been providing this research to the administration and BOE for the past year without any acknowledgement or, it appears, any consideration.
However, there is a 2 tier solution that would be a Win for High School students without threatening the health of our elementary school children. High schoolers and 7/8 graders would start as late as 8:20 with the other tier starting at 9:10. But the administration and BOE have claimed that they prefer the current proposal which could have elementary school bus pickups near 7:00AM, potentially harming the health of our young children for these reasons. However, if I am missing a reason that trumps the health of our kids as young as 5 and 6, please let me know.
- There are recommendations that High School students should start school at 8:30AM or later and they do not want to budge from that even though there are similar recommendations that NO school should start before 8:00AM. Somehow proponents claim that its only 15 minutes when it comes to the health of our youngest, yet 10 minutes is too much to give up for High Schoolers. Then why don’t we push everything back 15 minutes? Nope, they do not want to infringe upon after school activities of middle schoolers.
- Alignment of elementary schools has been stated as another reason, but our schools have not been aligned for many years and there does not appear to be an issue, as all our elementary schools remain top ranked under the current schedule. Is it worth it to threaten the health of all our elementary school students for something that may be a nice to have, but has been working well the way it is?
- The concept of “Optimal Learning Time” is perhaps the weakest reason presented as it appears completely fabricated by the administration (please google it yourselves). The claim is that the administration spoke to some elementary school staff and they indicated that the children were more alert and focused in the morning than late afternoon. Therefore, early start times must be better “Optimal” for these young children. This conclusion is not even logical, as most people know that after hours of focus and concentration everybody gets tired, and they are not as sharp as they were in their initial hours. This is not cured by starting earlier, otherwise I guess we would all start our jobs at 4:00AM and always be at 100% all day. In addition, South school currently starts 50 minutes earlier than East and West but is currently ranked lower than East and West (East 3, West 4, South ranked 6). Although they are ranked relatively closely there certainly does not appear to be any indication of an advantage to an earlier “Optimal Learning Time”. As a further point of reference Wilton’s Cider Mill school (Grades 3-5) changed their starting times to 7:40AM a number of years ago to accommodate High School start times and they are currently ranked 53rd, a full 50 places behind our East school.
- The administration and BOE has been claiming from the onset that High School start times are a health issue, and any reasonable expense should be justified. So, are we to believe that this only applies to High School Students but not elementary school students? There are at least 3 different 2-Tier scenarios, however the BOE has chosen to only represent the most expensive one to parents. Yet even that scenario is much less expensive than the current proposal based on the additional sleep our children would actually be getting.
So, if we are being completely truthful and honest about what is holding us back from a plan that could work for all. It is not physics, it is not logistics, it is not really even budget. It is the absolute rigid adherence to their ideal 8:30AM High School start time. I am afraid this complete inflexibility and lack of compromise is the only REAL thing holding us back from an acceptable plan. Despite the administration and BOE indicating that they are not favoring High School students with this schedule, I think when you provide them their most desired start time and simply force all other schools to work around it, that is pretty much the definition of prioritizing one group over another.
Again, I want to reiterate that I feel this is not what the town or even the school community wants. The BOE and administrations unwillingness to even survey the stakeholders should be fair indication of that.
James Yao
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Thank you for suggesting that the NCL provide an independent estimate on the renovation of the 1913 Library. The NCL has consistently justified demolition of the 1913 by insisting that the building is in terrible shape and far too expensive to repurpose. Crosskey Architect’s Analysis refutes this. The NCL estimate is so far off, one has to wonder about the credibility of every element of their planning, and motivation.
We, the taxpayers, are required to partially finance this “private” NCL endeavor including a $10 million grant, Center School Parking spaces and the town’s guarantee of a $15 million note. Using taxpayer dollars to demolish the 1913 because it is “in the way” of an unnecessary green community center is wrong.
Given P&Z’s Plan of Conservation and Development, and Village District Design Guidelines, it should never have been considered, as the 1913 sits within the Village District and is protected, regardless of who owns it. Ironically, the library was the chosen cover symbol for this vital plan.
We thank the Commission for doing such careful due diligence on this divisive issue, and hope for a resolution where ALL New Canaan stakeholders will come away with a win.
Thank you,
Warren Tuttle
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The 1913 Library is an important building a worth saving. Why are some members of the Town so eager to dispose of our historical buildings when there is opportunity to incorporate it permanently into our future?
When I moved here over 35 years ago I saw a classic New England town with many great assets. Excellent schools, a movie theater, a railroad station…and many cultural and artistic resources. The town had a range of architecture old and new that other towns wish they had. Here we are trashing part of our history again and building a so-called maybe slightly “green building” and labelling it “a building for our future.” I do not get it and I find this very disappointing, don’t you?
Ed Vollmer
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