To the Editor:
My name is Susan Fogliano, and I am a candidate for the Regional School District #18 Board of Education in the November 7 municipal election. As a resident of Old Lyme for nearly 32 years, I was proud to serve as a member of our Board of Education for 16 years between 1995 and 2011, and as Chair of the Board during my tenure. As Board Chairperson, I oversaw completion of a long-term renovation project of all five school buildings, culminating in the passage of the Lyme-Old Lyme High School project.
I have been a lifelong advocate for public education in all its forms. I served for ten years on the Regional Board of Education, as well as on private boards and foundations, and have engaged in Board member professional development.
I have been a full time classroom teacher and substitute teacher as well, and have worked in Madison, Lyme-Old Lyme, East Lyme, and Old Saybrook.
Why am I running again? Since retiring, I find that I miss public service. I am troubled by the introduction of national culture wars and partisan politics into our local governance. I believe I can elevate the Board discourse to keep the focus on students, staff, parents, and taxpayers in our community.
Why does it matter now? Experience has taught me that political and personal agendas have no place at the Board of Education table. There are suggestions by some opposing candidates that our school libraries should be “surveyed”, and that the District’s curriculum should be “edited”. Our school district is and has been among the most highly ranked systems in both the State and the nation. We do not need to direct resources to unnecessary fixes.
What do I hope to accomplish? Using my energy and experience, I will work in a non-partisan fashion to maintain our excellent school district, using a common sense approach to make the best use of taxpayer dollars.
The Old Lyme Democrats have assembled an amazing slate of qualified candidates dedicated to our community, and I am proud to be among them. I respectfully ask for your vote.
With gratitude.
Sincerely,
Susan Fogliano,
Old Lyme.
I hope you win Susan, You are needed on the BOE, especially after that ignorant display on book banning the other night. We need to curtail and stop the spread of such partisan dangerous nonsense. Good luck to you.