Logo for: Rotary Old Saybrook

OS Rotary Meeting 4/17/19

Pledge: President Sam Fulginiti
Prayer: Pete Zucco
Song: No Bill - no song
Brents Card Game Winner: Pete Zucco

Sergeants Report: Joe Arcari
Raffle Winners: Bill O'Shaughnessy, Joe Arcari, Marty Drobiarz
Happy Bucks: CN for Tiger Woods victory at the Masters and a sad buck for the fire at ND Cathedral in Paris, JP: comraderie!, the beautiful day, CR: spending 7 days with his 7 year old grandson and another for driving him back home, BO: approval for our Int Service Grant (incubators to Techiman Ghana), MD: finishing a week of travel to St. Louis and Houston, Jan's program today

Program: Jan Perruccio, School Superintendent

As our school superintendent, Jan has an inside perspective on what’s going on in Hartford. Regionalization has been a much discussed topic on capitol hill and the implications will be significant if the measures pass. The Education Committee convened a public hearing on March 1. There were over 3600 pieces of testimony. There was a different approach from a committee to study and make recommendations. The Governor and the committee seem to "have an appetite" to make regionalization happen. If it does, the region's governing board would take control over finances from the municipalities. Rep. Looney offered a bill (which failed) that would have regions run by the probate system. The legislature is still in session and bills are pending. Last minute changes can still be made making for a fluid situation. There are mandates proposed such as requiring teaching certain curricular items and credit requirements. Jan stated that some of the "efficiencies" of regionalization have already been implemented. We already do some cost sharing with area schools. Legislation will have to deal with issues such as the re-purposing of school buildings in a consolidation that will leave some vacant buildings. Another goal besides saving money is to fix inequities in the system that causes schools from resource stressed  communities to lag behind schools of communities with more resources. Jan states that the legislature should, rather than focus on schools alone, focus on how jobs, communities, housing and more should be part of the plan as well. 

 

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