Copyright Hartford Courant
Presidential and gubernatorial elections tend to grab headlines in the even-numbered years; however, I believe Connecticut’s volunteer board of education members have an even greater impact on the well-being of our communities. After all, we only have one president and one governor at a time, but at 1,400 strong, Connecticut’s local and regional board of education members are the largest group of elected officials in the state. Connecticut’s boards of education are critical partners—along with parents, teachers, administrators, superintendents, and others—in fulfilling our state’s constitutional promise to provide a free and appropriate education for all of Connecticut’s children, who are at the center of all we do. Their success, their safety, and their sense of belonging are the true measures of our work. Consequently, should you have a child in your local schools, please vote as if their name is on the ballot, because in a great sense, that’s true. Public schools are where children learn to read, write, and calculate, as well as to think critically, solve problems, and engage with one another in ways that prepare them for the world beyond the classroom. They also learn the importance of civic engagement. This is especially true for this year’s high school seniors, many of whom will be eligible to vote this year for the first time. Your board of education members are the ones who decide the funding priorities for your schools; they set the framework of what students learn through the curriculum, and they set school governance and safety policies. And in so doing, they have an important responsibility to model civil discourse. As they debate policies and budget priorities, they listen to the views of their community and their colleagues on the board. Often, board members have to engage in compromise to achieve a resolution in the best interests of their students. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, but with the opening of early voting on October 20, votes are being cast right now for the people who will become members of your local and regional boards of education. I urge you to find out who is running for your board of education and get to know who they are. A strong local public education system is critical to our future workforce, as well as to maintaining property values. We all have a civic responsibility to be educated voters. The Connecticut Secretary of the State’s office has a website where you can access sample ballots for all Connecticut cities and towns. Go to myvote.ct.gov and you’ll see a full slate of resources, especially the “General Election Town Sample Ballots” section. The Connecticut Association of Boards of Education salutes the people who are volunteering to run for board of education this year. And when you cast your vote, we ask you to remember: a strong public education system is critical to our future. Patrice McCarthy is the Executive Director and General Counsel of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education.
