To the Editor
I find it interesting that certain members of the Board of Education, and the chairman of the Republican Party, Lou DeCilio, accuse me of being “political” for simply asking the question, “where did the $7 million revised option for the Stratford High School Theater/auditorium come from?” Everyone there was stunned to find out that it was NOT a request from the Board of Education and that no one from the school administration knew anything about it until it was presented.
Should raise a BIG red flag to everyone, no? During this entire process the school administration was consulted on all options, but not this one! So don’t I have the right, in fact an obligation, to question the timing of this $7 million add on, especially when no one can tell us where this idea came from? I think so. I want the best for every child in our school district, and I was elected to try and deliver that.
It is budget time, and I would think that our Board Chair Veileux would focus her energy on the budget for the upcoming school year, which affects more than 7,400 students, rather than try to push through a 900-seat theater. The original plan called for a state of the art 500-seat auditorium.We all have our priories. I might also add that the vote to table this was two Democrats AND two Republicans. There were concerns and questions other than mine.
Yes, in addition to being a member of the Board of Education, I am also the Chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, which gives the opportunity for certain individuals to attack and criticize when things don’t go their way. After all, the majority in charge has had a free ride for a number of years. As far as wearing a party hat goes, as stated by Lou DeCilio, he wears his into Town Hall every day.
Len Petruccelli
Board of Education member
Chairman,
Democratic Town Committee