BOE Candidates Agree To Agree On Many Issues

The seven candidates for four seats on the nine member Board of Education (BOE) agreed on so many issues at Monday’s forum that one incumbent joked that a couple more seats should be added so everyone could win.

The BOE candidates fielded a variety of questions, including renovations at Walsh Intermediate School, standardized testing, fiscal responsibility and changing demographics. Some questions were submitted by students at Branford High School, and other questions came from the audience.

About 40 people attended the forum at the Fire Department Headquarters which was co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the East Shore; and the Branford Early Childhood Collaborative. 

The forum was videotaped by BCTV and can be viewed on the local cable channel.

Meet the Candidates

Five candidates are vying for three six-year seats; and two are vying for one two-year term. One vacancy was created when board member Susan Wharfe decided not to seek re-election.

The two candidates for three six-year seats on the Democratic ticket are:

—Incumbent Mario Sabatini, the vice-chairman of the Board of Education, who has served six years, is a retired business executive who began his career as a teacher. He is currently the vice chair of the school board.

—Betsy Regan is a stay-at-home mother with three children. She previously worked in public relations, and describes herself as a ​“professional volunteer” for many local organizations, including the schools.

The two candidates for three six-year seats on the Republican ticket are:

—Incumbent Joanne Borrus‑O’Neill, who has served six years on the school board, has been a nurse for 27 years. She has also taught first-aid and CPR classes for 25 years.

—Maria Ehrhardt has been a teacher for 17 years in the New Haven public schools, and is currently teaching high school business classes.

—The Independent candidate for a six-year seat is Jacey Wyatt, who is also running for first selectman and for the Representative Town Meeting (RTM). A businesswoman and former model, Wyatt is a local volunteer and a member of the Parks and Open Space Authority.

The two candidates for the two-year seat are:

—Incumbent Ellen Michaels, who was appointed last year to fill a vacancy when David Squires retired. She is a retired educator who worked as a speech and language clinician, an assistant principal and a supervisor of special education, mostly in the Stratford school district. She is running on the Democratic ticket.

—Shannen Sharkey, who is running on the Republican ticket, has 22 years of experience in education. She was a teacher in the Ansonia and New Haven districts; and was an assistant principal in the Oxford schools, where she currently serves as a curriculum developer.

The Walsh Question

One of the main issues facing the school board is the long-discussed renovations of Walsh Intermediate School. First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove recently commissioned a new feasibility study which offers four options, ranging in cost from an estimated $77.6 million to $92.6 million — before state reimbursement. When potential state funds are included in the estimates, the town’s portion would range from an estimated $52.5 million to $70.8 million.

The BOE is currently evaluating the four options and will make a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen.

The feasibility study was conducted by DTC of Hamden; and Perkins Eastman Architects of Stamford. This is the third modernization proposal for Walsh in the past 17 years. The previous two did not progress past the talking stage.

Walsh was built in 1972 as an open-concept school with few interior walls. Some walls and half-partitions were erected over the years, but the school does not meet current state codes.

In response to a question Monday about which school project has the highest priority, the candidates all selected Walsh.

“I think everybody’s priority in the town is Walsh,” said Regan, whose daughter attends the school. She said the school was built when open concept was the popular style for middle schools. ​“It’s really not meeting the needs of the 21st century,” she said.

Michaels said Walsh needs to be modernized, but there are other concerns. ​“We also have to look at a 10 to15 year plan to see where the population is going and what we’ll need.”

Borrus‑O’Neill said Walsh is the priority, but the board needs to determine how to renovate it with the least amount of disruption for the students and teachers. She also favors a long-range plan for the district. ​“We need to have a big-picture plan of what we would need for the other schools,” she said.

“I’m very happy with the amount of transparency that’s going on with the building projects so far,” Sharkey said, adding that plans were shown to the BOE and the Board of Finance. ​“I think it’s very important that parents know from the very beginning what’s going on.”

Wyatt said it would be easier to build a new school at another location. ​“Walsh should be the community center of Branford, and we should be using the property up on Brushy Plains for a new intermediate school,” she said. Wyatt also said parents, teachers and students need to be involved in the planning process. 

Ehrhardt said Walsh is a priority, but decisions need to be based on the goals and the visions of the school board, and what the town envisions for education. She said it’s important to look ahead to what’s needed for the next 15 or 20 years. ​“It’s very important we have a lot of collaboration,” she said.

Sabatini said Walsh is the number-one priority. He said the proposed hybrid plan, which includes both renovation and new construction, would keep three critical components of the current school — the arts center, gym and pool. He said it is also important to look at all the schools in the district. ​“We can’t just let our buildings deteriorate. We have to have a long-term plan,” he said.

Why Run?

The candidates were asked what prompted them to run for office.

“Education has changed so much since I started teaching, Sharkey said, adding that education used to be fun for teachers and students. She said standardized testing and state mandates have changed the schools. Sharkey said every child needs to be championed, and that students are not just a test score.

Wyatt said she has attended school board meetings for more than two years, and is concerned about where the schools are heading. She would also like to have input into the building and renovations projects.

“As a teacher, I see the mandates that come down and how the love of learning is being lost,” Ehrhardt said. She said it is time to ​“stop and question” what is best for the children.

Sabatini said he’s had a life-long interest in education and many years of experience as a high-level manager in large corporations. He said he brings ​“a unique blend of both practical and educational experience.” Sabatini said he’s seen progress in the past six years, including increased collaboration with town officials.

Regan said ​“Public education makes a community. It determines home values, it determines whether or not people want to live here and whether or not people are happy here.” She said she wants to become involved because changes are occurring rapidly in education.

“I believe that all children deserve great schools,” Michaels said. ​“All students should be able to increase their academic skills, no matter where they are.” She said during her career in special education, she saw severely disabled children make progress.

Borrus‑O’Neill said her main goal in the past six year has been to increase communications between schools, parents and the community. ​“I think we’ve done a good job of that so far,” she said, adding she would like to continue that goal.

Fiscal Responsibility and Changing Needs

Another question dealt with how board member can help ensure high quality education while balancing fiscal responsibilities and changing demographics.

Sabatini said this key question that will challenge the board and the town in the next few years. ​“I think there’s going to be a continuum of changing demographics.” He said the district is continually monitoring those changes and looking at the needs of the school system. ​“We’re trying to budget as prudently and reasonably as we can,” he said.

Regan said many aspects of the budget are fixed, but that variable funds could be used to address changing needs. ​“You have to look at what the changing demographics are and what the needs are.” She said there have been increases in the number of children living at the poverty level, and an increase in students who speak English as a second language.

Michaels said all communities are seeing changing demographics and achievement gaps. ​“We need to really look at all of our students’ achievement levels and see where we can improve, and we have to be fiscally responsible.”

Borrus‑O’Neill said one example of fiscal responsibility occurred when the district worked together with the teachers on the recent contract. ​“It was a collaborative effort … to think ahead on how it’s going to impact the big picture,” she said. ​“It was a win-win situation with that contract.”

“Branford is definitely changing as a town. We’re growing and becoming more diverse,” Sharkey said. ​“I think it’s one of the board’s responsibilities to continue to provide professional development for the teachers so they can learn different styles and different tactics for teaching children.”

Wyatt said Branford is decreasing in population, and enrollment is going down. She said there is a need for more people to settle in Branford ​“to make our schools ever bigger and better places.” Wyatt said that new businesses would help expand the population.

Ehrhardt said enrollment is declining across the state. ​“It’s important that we think outside the box — what are some different ways we can do things.” She said resources should be used more effectively to benefit students and to encourage achievement.

How Much Testing is Too Much Testing?

The candidates had similar reactions to a question about the need for standardized testing.

Wyatt said testing is not necessarily a good measure of ability. ​“You can be an incredible person and not test well,” she said.

“We all have to be accountable somehow,” Ehrhardt said. ​“Standardized testing is not necessarily the best way.” She said tests can be used as a tool to guide instruction, but ​“tests can’t be the finite answer.”

Sabatini said standardized tests can measure progress but they are not the only measure. He said the district is re-assessing the number of tests ​“and trying to get away from overloading students with too much testing.”

“I really don’t like testing. I realize it’s a necessary evil,” Regan said, adding that more weight should be given to teachers’ perceptions of students. ​“I think we ought to listen to what the teachers are saying,” she said. 

Michaels says testing is a mandate ​“but we have to look at other district evaluations and determine student growth through progress monitoring.”

Borrus‑O’Neill said the district is looking closely at testing. ​“I think we’re going to see a shift, and we’re re-evaluating how much testing children now have and what is best for children.”

Sharkey said standardized testing is only a snapshot. ​“It’s just a small picture of who a child is,” she said, adding that assessments give limited information. ​“You can’t judge a teacher by a test. You can’t judge a student by a test.”

Cream of the Crop

Throughout the evening, the candidates often agreed with previous speakers, and complimented each other for their opinions.

“We’ve really got a group of candidates who are the cream of the crop,” Wyatt commented.

“We’re an agreeable bunch,” Regan said.

Sabatini said it would be nice if everyone could continue working together. ​“We ought to increase the number of seats on the board,” he said.

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