The Valley Indy sent a questionnaire to the candidates for Ansonia Board of Education last month.
We distributed the questions on Oct. 16 with an Oct. 31 deadline.
Education is one of the most prominent issues facing any municipality.
But in Ansonia the debate over school funding became the focal point of the city’s budget process in May, when the Board of Apportionment and Taxation voted to provide the school system with a $1 million budget increase — its largest year-over-year funding bump since 2008 — after an outcry from parents.
So we asked the school board candidates, among other questions, whether they would have supported the $1 million increase, and why.
There are four candidates vying for spots on the school board this year. According to the charter, residents may vote for any two, though the top three vote-getters will win spots.
Name: Noreen DeCiucis
Running on the Democratic line
Age: 47
Occupation: Domestic Engineer
Number of Children: 4
Community Activity: Solely organize food drives for the needy in our community (Annual Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, last Christmas we fed 35 complete families in our town an entire Christmas dinner which consisted of a Turkey and Ham in each basket along with every trimming you could imagine). Toys for tots, Fundraisers for cancer patients, Fundraising for Breast Cancer Awareness, Volunteered for Breast Cancer functions/events, Volunteered on the Executive Board for Ansonia Youth Football, solely organized fundraisers for two friends who have suffered or are suffering now from different cancers. Volunteer at my children’s schools reading to classes and volunteer for field trips as needed, PTO President at Ansonia Middle School.
Why are you running for the Ansonia Board of Education?
“I am running for the Board of Education because I have been fighting City Hall for years for our schools’ rights. I was so pleased with the decision that the BOAT made at last year’s meeting for the increase that I thought this town is right on the money. I was so proud of them for doing what they did for the need of our schools. And to ensure Ansonia Public Schools mission to provide a learning environment that challenges and motivates all students to attain high standards of achievement and reach maximum individual potential.”
What’s the single greatest challenge facing Ansonia Public Schools?
“Ansonia’s greatest challenge with our school system is definitely the funding. When it comes to every single faculty member they are right on the money.I find that in my experience with every single school, that they have perfect matches as far as administration to oversee and accomplish the job at hand with phenomenal ability. I applaud Carol Merlone for her judgment in making the decisions that she made as far as who sits in what seat.”
Do you have school-aged children and do they attend Ansonia Public Schools? If your kids are older, did they attend Ansonia schools when they were younger?
“I have four children. My oldest is Krista. She is 20. She works in the school system as a kindergarten assistant. She also goes to college part-time and works a part-time job at Big Y at nights and weekends and also sells Amway products. She always has a smile. My second child is Kianna who is 18 and is now a sophomore at BayPath college in Massachusetts. She is an honor student from kindergarten and has maintained that honor status until today. She has taken the A.P. courses offered at the high school and we saved thousands of dollars in college fees thanks to the courses offered! She is an extremely disciplined hardworking young lady and is very focused on her life plan.
My third child is Joseph DeCiucis who is 15 and a freshman at the high school, a fantastic kid who works hard at his schooling, plays freshman and varsity football and works towards his goal every single day of being the best person he could be. Everyone knows him as Big Joe DeSoos. My fourth child is Gianni, he is 11 and in sixth grade at Prendergast. Smart doesn’t even describe him well enough. He is an exception to the rule with his wealth of knowledge at such a young age.
Anything that I choose to do for volunteer you can always find my children tagging behind me with smiles. They follow in my footsteps with their enthusiasm to make our community a most excellent place to live.”
Would you have supported the $1 million increase to school funding the Board of Apportionment and Taxation voted to give the schools in May 2013? Why or why not?
“Most definitely I would have supported the 1 million dollar increase. We had approximately 40 teachers with pink slips … not to mention tutors and aides (and) no supplies. Keeping in mind, 1 million dollars is approximately 20 salaries. When you put things into perspective, 1 million dollars is not a lot of money.
Our schools are functioning academically at an incredible level. A few years back we received state/federal funding due to our CMT scores being low, but now that we are on key, we no longer get that funding putting our school system in real jeopardy.
I would also like to add, I would never in a million years take my children out of the public school system here in Ansonia. I absolutely love our schools. I adore every single principal and vice principal. I could walk into any school at any given time and be greeted with a smile, warmth and love. Every single teacher goes above and beyond for our kids. The schools are kept spotless by our cleaning staff.
Every single faculty member works their butts off in order to be sure that our kids are academically challenged and safe. I started my oldest two for pre‑k and kindergarten at Assumption, the decision to take them out of the private school and put them into the public school system was the best decision I ever made. I find that every single one of my children are honest, hardworking citizens who go above and beyond not only in life but also in our community. I am very passionate about our school system.”
Name: Fran DiGiorgi (incumbent)
Running on the Democratic line
Occupation: Retired
Number of Children: No answer
Community Activity: Catechist at Holy Rosary Church, Mentored Mead school, Reading program Mead & Prendergast Schools, ACES Governing, Chairman Policy Committee, BOE, Chairman Athletic Committee
Why are you running for the Ansonia Board of Education?
“I have been a Board member for the past eight years. I am running again to insure an equitable education for every child In our school district.”
What’s the single greatest challenge facing Ansonia Public Schools?
“The greatest challenges facing the Ansonia Public Schools is the transient population and funding. The school district needs continued funding to insure that we can provide the best and necessary tools for our children to prepare them to become productive citizens in the 21st century.”
Do you have school-aged children and do they attend Ansonia Public Schools? If your kids are older, did they attend Ansonia schools when they were younger?
“No.”
Would you have supported the $1 million increase to school funding the Board of Apportionment and Taxation voted to give the schools in May 2013? Why or why not?
“Absolutely YES. This funding was necessary to keep all current programs running and most importantly to be able to provide an all-day kindergarten program.”
Name: Aretta Kotalis
Running on the Republican line
Age: 70
Occupation: “I am a retired educator. My career includes service as a teacher and administrator in both public and private school systems. I hold a BS Ed degree from Boston State College and MA in History from the University of New Hampshire.”
Number of Children: 2 adult children
Community Activity: Member of the Ansonia Republican Town Committee
Why are you running for the Ansonia Board of Education?
“I am a retired educator of several decades. My experience includes not only work as a teacher and administrator, but also the creation and implementation of school curriculum. I would like put my years of experience to work for the Ansonia Board of Education and the community it serves.
I have taught History, Social Studies and English in both public and private schools systems. I also served as a principal and department head in two private schools. My experience also includes the training and observation of practicing student teachers as adjunct faculty at Bridgewater State College.
I personally developed and instituted a course in Advanced Placement European History in Plymouth and Carver Massachusetts public schools. I taught the course from 1998 until my retirement in 2008. I am proud to say that my curriculum for the course was hailed as the “most successful” course in the school system, with over 95 percent of its students achieving a grade of “3” or higher on the National European History Exam, which I also graded as an Essay Reader for Educational Testing Services for several years.”
What’s the single greatest challenge facing Ansonia Public Schools?
“Improving the quality of education by better utilizing the resources already allocated by the City of Ansonia and the State of Connecticut.
The truth is that education can never be funded enough. However, school administrators must work to make the most of what they already have. Lack of funding must never be an excuse for failing our students and teachers.”
Do you have school-aged children and do they attend Ansonia Public Schools? If your kids are older, did they attend Ansonia schools when they were younger?
“My children are now adults.”
Would you have supported the $1 million increase to school funding the Board of Apportionment and Taxation voted to give the schools in May 2013? Why or why not?
“Yes. As I indicated above, I believe that education can never be funded enough.
However, it is my understanding that the elected officials of the city – both Republicans and Democrats – recommended a $500,000 funding increase for the Board of Education; a decision which was made in light of the pending tax increase: aldermen had legitimate concerns about what residents can afford. The Board of Aldermen’s allocation was subsequently increased by another $460,000 by Ansonia’s unelected tax board.
Officials and education administrators must realize that education can only be funded to the extent that residents have the ability to pay. For that reason I would have also supported the Board of Aldermen’s smaller funding increase.
A better question, though, might be whether I would have supported the $1.8 million budget originally requested by the Board of Education. I would not have. I honestly cannot believe that the Board of Education would have suggested such an exorbitant increase in the face of an already increasing mill rate. Their proposed budget was simply irresponsible.
The Board of Education and City of Ansonia must work together for the common good of students and taxpayers. The funding process for education should not resemble the trading of high and low bids on a used car.
We can do better for Ansonia’s children and teachers. We can fund education responsibly.”
Name: Vinnie Scarlata
Running on the Republican line
Age: 57
Occupation: Business Owner/Cabinet maker
Number of Children: 2
Community Activity: Chairman of Ansonia’s Economic Development Commission, Ansonia Rotary, Prendergast Dad’s Club, Steering Member Naugatuck River Greenway Project, School Governance Counsel AHS
Why are you running for the Ansonia Board of Education?
“As a layman and not from an educators’ background I hope to bring an objective perspective to the BOE both in support of our school system as well as the structure of our education process. I’m also hoping to help bridge the chasm of communications and awareness between our school systems and our city with the same enthusiasm as I have with our EDC (Economic Development Commission).”
What’s the single greatest challenge facing Ansonia Public Schools?
“In my opinion, there is no “single greatest challenge.” If there was one thing to target, it would be addressed and corrected then everything would be good in the world of education. I’ve been working with our High School and Tech School for the past two years both as guest speaker for specific classes as well as enlisting student participation for EDC projects, gaining them Community Service hours, and I do know we have some great kids enrolled that can and have excelled socially as well as scholastically. Visibility and awareness of these small achievements bodes well to shift perceptions and gain new support for our schools.
I’ve had the opportunity to teach Religious Ed for six years in an after school program in Shelton. Grades 4 – 8. If teaching math and English isn’t tough enough try Religious Ed to teenagers. So I have great respect for teachers!”
Do you have school-aged children and do they attend Ansonia Public Schools? If your kids are older, did they attend Ansonia schools when they were younger?
“I have two children in Prendergast School, first and third grades.”
Would you have supported the $1 million increase to school funding the Board of Apportionment and Taxation voted to give the schools in May 2013? Why or why not?
“I was not part of the budget review process either within BOAT or BOE so I can’t completely answer that question. However, I am fully in support of funding our Education system but not without a full understanding of both City and Education budgets.
While I have to trust that the latest financial requests of our BOE are valid, if the purse is empty, the current challenge then becomes re-appropriation of City funds or tax increases. As current Chairman of our Economic Development Commission (EDC) I continue to insist that the lion’s share of resources needed to accommodate additional funding for education has to come from aggressive economic development.
This is something I have been advocating and our new EDC has been working on for the past two years. Our EDC is the only engine in the city’s governance that is directly charged with the ability to generate new commercial tax revenue via its efforts to attract new business and industry. If you support school funding you have to support economic development, ultimately, they dovetail to each other.
Understand, our revived EDC has only been effective for the past two years and now with a new full-time Director on board there is a lot of catching up to do. The last 2 years has seen a good foundation established and now, today, we finally have the opportunity to shift into high gear. Trust, that it’s at a fever’s pitch and only a matter of short order before our commercial and retail grand list begin to grow thereby injecting new tax revenue into the City’s coffers with the new resources available for responsible increases to education funding.”
