In the recent debate on October 23, Board of Education candidates articulated their visions for the future of the town’s educational landscape. The event, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of New Canaan, was held at 7:15 PM at Town Hall and drew a substantial turnout; reflecting the community’s keen interest in the school system’s coming years. With Laura Smits acting as moderator and election official alongside two New Canaan Public School student moderators, Drew Bench and Thomas Crehan, candidates answered questions catered to students and parents.
The October 23 debate featured six of the eight candidates for Board of Education, Brendan Hayes (D), Matt Wexler (R ), Lara Kelly (R ), Matt Campbell ( R), Giacomo Landi (U), and Lauren Connolly Nussbaum (D), while the other two candidates, Hugo Alves (R ), and Josh Kaye ( D) participated in a separate, pre-recorded debate due to scheduling conflicts. The candidates answered six questions, found below, and had time to provide their statements and opinions, as well as for rebuttal if desired.
1. School enrollment is expected to increase dramatically in the coming years. Please give specific examples of how you would prepare for this.
All six candidates agreed that budget plays a huge role in handling student population increase. Candidates Wexler and Kelly emphasized the importance of hiring additional qualified teachers to keep class sizes down and increase the impact each teacher has on each student. While Hayes, Campbell, and Landi agreed on the importance of using the budget to ensure that a substantial number of qualified staff and teachers are present in schools, they each chose to focus more on school operations down the line- asking questions regarding how housing is affecting enrollment, the complete capacity of New Canaan schools, and how that capacity will change in the coming years. Candidate Connolly Nussbaum’s focus is not only teacher hiring but also staff training and support. She stated, “This is a big challenge for our community but also an opportunity for New Canaan Public Schools to show how they embrace challenges, rise to the occasion, and solve problems creatively and collaboratively.”
In the recent debate on October 23, Board of Education candidates articulated their visions for the future of the town’s educational landscape.
2. When there are conflicting viewpoints between parents, professional educators, and administrators, would one carry a heavier weight in your decision-making process? And, if so, why?
Candidate Kelly took a strong stance on this issue, stating that “The role of the Board of Education is to be a liaison between the parents and the administration… Our administration benefits greatly from how invested parents are- in their children, our schools, and their journey. It’s our responsibility as board members to come up with a collaborative answer that everyone is happy with”. Hayes shared this point of view while emphasizing that any choice made should ultimately benefit students, to which candidate Connolly Nussbaum agreed. Candidates Campbell and Wexler referred to the fact that situations can call for different solutions on a case-by-case basis. They call for decision-making based on objective truths and data.
3. Taxpayers want top schools but expect our town government to manage costs well. Please describe a specific area in the Board of Education budget and discuss where you would increase or decrease spending and why.
Candidate Landi began this discussion by introducing the issues around bussing and encouraged a focus on efficiency. Hayes and Campbell reiterated this issue and pitched ideas regarding adjusting start times or routes to decrease transportation spending. Candidates Kelly and Connolly Nussbaum emphasized the fact that there are programs in New Canaan Public Schools that are making a difference on multiple levels. Both candidates pointed to the Literary Achievement Academy, which not only reduces spending to outside organizations but increases accessibility and productivity within schools.
4. What role should our schools play in teaching students about sex education, mental health, diversity, and inclusivity?
All candidates acknowledged the pressing need for robust mental health resources within the district, emphasizing the significance of nurturing a supportive and empathetic school environment. Candidate Connolly Nussbaum called to the audience, “If our mental health is not being looked after, how do we participate with one another as a community?” acknowledging that the relationship between mental health and cooperative community affects adults and also “goes all the way down into our school buildings.” Candidate Wexler stated his belief that “There is a role of the school in teaching those topics. However, I believe that they need to be 1. Taught in an age-appropriate way 2. Taught in a way that does not create a divisive environment within the school”. Candidates Kelly and Campbell reiterated that these subjects should only be taught if the content is age-appropriate and fact-based. Candidate Landi then questioned, “What is age-appropriate content?” He suggested consulting experts and outside sources to assist in determining the subject matter used in instruction.
5. Book bans in classrooms and libraries are making national news. Since individual parental preferences vary on this topic- should any single group of parents override choices made by professional educators in classrooms and school libraries in New Canaan? If so, why?
The candidates all agree that no single group should have priority over another. However, regarding books and subject matter, age-appropriateness again comes into play. Candidate Hayes believes that in questions such as this, “It’s a matter of working with the administration, working with librarians and teachers as to what is the most appropriate, what’s the best material that could be there for kids to read?” Candidates Landi and Connolly Nussbaum shared beliefs that New Canaan School’s staff members do an incredible job of selecting age-appropriate educational material. If an issue regarding questionable subject matter in a book should arise, candidate Wexler stated that he believes the book in question should be taken to the town for parental discussion. Candidate Kelly focused on the importance of communication with parents, “It’s an area where you can’t overcommunicate with parents. Transparency is the winning strategy.”
6. In addition to rigorous academics, what, if anything, should the school system do to provide students for life beyond New Canaan?
All of the candidates agreed that New Canaan students are incredibly fortunate to be receiving quality education. Candidate Landi remarked, “How do we make our students from New Canaan have a little special something? How are we open to receiving new ideas?” to which candidates had varied answers and solutions. Candidates Connolly Nussbaum and Kelly will urge schools to continue to invest in initiatives like the Literary Achievement Academy and K-3 Phonics programs. In the second debate, candidates Kaye and Alves shared the opinion that safety in and out of school is something to be maintained and prioritized going forward. Candidates Wexler, Campbell, and Hayes want to prepare students for the jobs of the future and tasks necessary to succeed in adulthood, such as government and economy learning and pre-college counseling.
As the debate concluded, the candidates reasserted their commitment to serving the best interests of the community and ensuring the continued advancement of the New Canaan school system. The full Board of Education debate, as well as more information on the upcoming November 7 election, is available on the League of Women Voter’s website, lwvnewcanaan.org. Full recordings of the Board of Education and first selectman debates are available on the League of Women Voters facebook as well as the Channel 79 Youtube Channel.
