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,

I am writing in regard to the NCPS BOE meeting on January 24, 2022.  I understand that many in our community are frustrated with the continued mask requirements in our schools – I have three children in NCPS – I sympathize and empathize with the feelings on this issue.  None of us has been untouched by the last two years.  While it’s been stated time and again, we have lived through unprecedented times. These times are hard and have required sacrifice and inconvenience. For some the pandemic brought with it job loss, illness, and loss of loved ones to Covid.  My twin sister remains very much on the once respected and revered “front lines” as a primary care doctor in New Jersey.  She is a mom of four young kids and from March through May 2020 she served as the attending physician for the Covid hospice unit connected to her hospital.  The trauma she has endured is something she will carry the rest of her life. And yet she keeps going and caring for her patients much like our teachers and administrators and nurses keep going and caring for our kids despite being challenged at every turn about every decision that has been made in real time, in the midst of a global pandemic.

I have participated in the public comment a handful of times at past BOE meetings.  I’ve never insulted anyone, called anyone “evil or stupid”, or verbally attacked a board member or our superintendent.  I’ve also never had the BOE address my comments in real time and completely divert from the approved and distributed agenda to motion on an action item related to my concerns—this was an interesting occurrence at the 1/24/22 BOE meeting.

I have an autistic child who is severely delayed in her age appropriate social skills, but I can say without a doubt the most detrimental time for her during the last two years was when our schools were closed from March through June 2020 and she did not have the ability to learn in person.

I’d love to see masks become optional in due course and with the approval of our incredible nursing staff and town’s HHS as well as the relevant data/metrics addressing caseload and community spread. I think we are all somewhere on the same side of the line here, but we lack the ability to work together in a respectful way – that’s not the New Canaan I know and love. I want to keep believing that we are better than this and certainly better when we work together.

To Dr. Luizzi, I too have been called a “yes” man many times in the past. While I certainly understand the negative connotation, this apparent “insult” was always a compliment (and a bit of a joke) meaning I’d never say no to stepping up to a volunteer opportunity.  The joke has often been: “Ask Lauren Nussbaum! She’ll do it!”  And I will.  I’ll always step into the void to support ALL of our kids, our teachers, and our town, or anyone who could use a lift or a hand.  As my parents instilled in me from a young age “to whom much is given, much is expected.”  I’m grateful to live in such a highly resourced town with a world class public school system.  Thank you, Dr. Luizzi, for stepping into the void and as another old saying goes, “building the plane while flying.”  You’ve said “yes” to keeping our schools open and “yes” to prioritizing our kids.

And I believe that the time to say “yes” to mask options is coming, but let’s do it with some thought rather than insults and anger and pounding on the table and attempts at playing “gotcha!”

I’m currently filling out my application to be a substitute teacher – to whom much is given, much is expected.

Sincerely,

Lauren Connolly Nussbaum