The following statement was sent to us by Democratic Board of Education member Bob Opotzner
I issue a challenge to ALL Ridgefield residents to come together to
become part of the solution in helping resolve our school facilities crisis. Our schools are overcrowded and our student population is exploding. We must
build the new school as quickly as reasonably possible or risk diminishing
the
quality of our schools. Our children deserve our maximum effort.
Some people must stop pretending that problems don't exist with the Ippoliti property AND others must stop magnifying issues that are not insurmountable!! Finger pointing and second guessing must STOP!! Divisions in our community must be overcome!! Everyone who voted No in the August Referendum is not Anti-Education. Everyone who voted Yes is not a spendthrift. REASONABLE PEOPLE CAN DISAGREE - AND CAN OVERCOME THEIR DISAGREEMENTS!!
The Ippoliti property is not perfect - but what property is ? I initially disagreed with the site selection committee's recommendation to purchase this property. However, the March referendum passed and the property was purchased. Since we live in a democracy I respected the majority vote to purchase and supported the current project since then.
We must roll up our sleeves and work shoulder to shoulder to support building this school. Enrollment figures do not lie!! Our elementary schools are filled to capacity. We face additional problems in the fall of 1999 and thereafter with ever increasing class sizes.
We do not have time to revisit old wounds or to allow anyone to pursue their own agenda at the risk of endangering our children's education. We must put aside our differences and work together to find solutions. No one can sit back and wait for others to do the work. We must all do our fair share. As a member of the Ridgefield BOE I acknowledge my responsibility to help make our schools better - but we cannot do it alone!
Most people believe their stance on the Ippoliti property is best for our schools. However, the time is here for everyone to put aside their differences to come to a reasonable, practical and immediate resolution of this crisis. FACTS must be addressed and answers to unresolved issues about the Ippoliti property must be found. We must discuss issues and learn answers from our experts about how we will address the traffic, water and other issues! We must obtain cost estimates!! Open dialogue is essential.
We, the residents of Ridgefield must work together. We owe it to our children and each other to confront the hard issues and address the reasonable concerns that our friends and neighbors have. Only then can we achieve community consensus necessary to achieve a successful resolution of our school facilities crisis.
Please join me in supporting future efforts to build our new school and to solve the outstanding issues TOGETHER!!!
Robert M. Opotzner
44 East Farm Lane
Ridgefield, CT.
BOE member
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