I live in a small town in CT.
In fact, just a couple years ago, it was selected as one of the best small towns in America to live in according to CNN’s Money magazine.
But over the past couple years, we have been involved in a political shitstorm.
I have spent the last five years being an uninvolved and ignorant dumbass.
And this ignorance has contributed to the political corruption taking place here where I live.
But now that I have educated myself and become privy to the seriously shady goings on taking place here in Brookfield, I feel I owe it to my former top small town in America to make things right.
Because people in this town have helped me out and really supported my family through some very, very difficult times over the past couple years.
And it’s time for me to help my community out.
So over the course of the next few months until the election in November, I am going to do my best to educate people here in my town. And I will be using the blog to do it.
I know politics can be boring. I know these posts won’t specifically apply to those of you living in other towns, states, and countries.
But perhaps they will motivate some of you who are completely uninvolved and clueless about how the political process in your town works to inform yourself about the people who are making the decisions that affect you and your children.
That being said, our Board of Ed, who works really f*cking hard and who is comprised of (almost 100%) well intentioned people who want the best for our children and our schools just recently appointed a new Superintendent.
And the very questionable leaders of this town made some remarks that are, well, for lack of a better word,
bullshit.
I could try to respond to them. But someone already did that much better than I can. And he gave me permission to post his comments here.
Please inform yourselves of the current shenanigans taking place here in town and read the following comment from the former Board of Ed chair:
The comments by Tinsley and Grimes are disgraceful and out-of-line. It is the BOE’s job to hire the Superintendent and that is one of the roles that they are elected by the people to do.
This harping about bringing the candidates before the public is one word – stupid. This is NOT how it is done in “most districts” as Grimes points out. That is a lie. The way it was done here is EXACTLY the way it is done in “most districts” and it is the way the expert search firm said it needed to be done.
This candidate was a super at another district and likely would not have put his name forward if he would have been brought to the public before being hired. That is true for any reputable candidate that had a current position that they would not want to jeopardize.
As to Harry Shaker’s comments, why will there be 7 new Board members? Does he and Steve Harding intend to resign their final two years on the BOE? If that is the case, shouldn’t they say so sooner than later so that the people of Brookfield can elect their replacements in November?
Also, doesn’t it make more sense to have the current and experienced board pick the new Super vs. a new and inexperienced board having that be one of their first tasks???
Finally, why all the interest in delaying this hire and keeping an interim super (who has done a good job but who clearly will not and can not be here long term)? It is very plain. They want and expect to win the BOE in November and THEY wanted control over who was picked and what that person gets paid, etc.
I commend and thank the current BOE for doing the job that they were elected to do and for finding us a seemingly strong next Superintendent of schools. This BOE has never had an easy go of it and I’m glad that they were not deterred from doing this last major piece of business prior to the upcoming elections.
I hope everyone is very aware of just how critical the BOE elections will be this fall.
Okay.
Now, there are four things left for you to do:
1) Share this post with people who care about this town, 2) make sure you are registered to vote — click here to find out if you are not sure — 3) if you aren’t registered, click here and do it online (it takes one minute), and 4) GET YOUR ASS TO THE POLLS IN NOVEMBER.
Remember, when you are not involved, you are part of the problem. Don’t be a dumbass!
Hello,
My name is Linda Mitten. I am thrilled to see formerly uninformed (dumbass) parents waking up. This is the only way we can get these crazies out of office. Almost thirty years ago, a group of young parents came together to build a community built playground KIDS KINGDOM on the town hall property where the new playground is located. I too was a dumbass parent then and very niave to the political process.
Along with my co ordinator, Nancy Power and about twenty committee members we navigated the political process to get the town to finally grant us use of the town hall property for this GIFT TO THE TOWN! It was a six month battle that educated us about the good old boy network that sometimes exists in these small towns. This project activated parents to continue to fight for other things for children especially school facilities and programs. Once the common dumbass realizes they have a voice and CAN make a difference it will empower them to make the changes that are desperately needed in Brookfield. I would like nothing more than to leave Brookfield next summer (I am retiring to Delaware) knowing that this horrendous situation with local government has been put to an end!
Please feel free to contact me. I would be happy to fill you in on some of our strategies that might be helpful for your cause too.