The Citizen’s News asked candidates running for Board of Education in Naugatuck in the Nov. 7 municipal election four questions. There are eight candidates running for eight seats on the board — the mayor holds the ninth seat. The responses from the candidates are below:
Name: Jason Celozzi
Age: 41
Party: Democrat
Education: BS UConn/SCSU State of Connecticut Educational Certification
Political Experience: Naugatuck Board of Education (one term)
Occupation: District Manager Trinity Solar
Why are you running for Board of Education?
“I am rerunning for the board as I still feel that I have more to contribute to the community. My last two years has opened my eyes to the importance and the impact that decisions the board makes. We have the commitment and the ability to provide tremendous benefits to our children’s education as well as to the town.”
What can be done to improve education in Naugatuck?
“Providing the best educational and academic extra-curricular opportunities requires diligent research and reassessment by the board and its subsequent committees. We must continue to reevaluate all of our current offerings as well as consideration and critiques of all possible future modifications to our program. I want my three children’s future to be bright and full of options because of the strong and ever-improving education that they receive here in Naugatuck.”
How will you balance the needs of students with the needs of taxpayers come budget time?
“As a homeowner and a taxpayer, I always consider every option to provide only the best and necessary educational costs and programs with least impact possible on my fellow taxpayers. I don’t want to pay more taxes, we pay enough. It requires constant and frequent deliberations to provide as much educational benefits with the least tax impact.”
What is your message to voters?
“I hope I can continue to use my business and teaching experience to further serve this community to the benefit of our children and this town.”
Name: Glenn Patrick Anthony Connan
Age: 41
Party: Republican
Education: Bachelor of Science, Accounting & MBA Fairfield University
Political Experience: Naugatuck Board of Education (three terms, current vice chairman)
Occupation: Chief Financial Officer
Why are you running for Board of Education?
“I want to continue our vision of ‘educating all students today for tomorrow’s future.’”
What can be done to improve education in Naugatuck?
“As a board we have worked to improve the curriculum and provide the resources to accomplish our objective. We are seeing results and will continue on this path.”
How will you balance the needs of students with the needs of taxpayers come budget time?
“For the last two years, the Board of Education has proposed a 0 percent increase from taxpayers while at the same time reducing class sizes. We are the most fiscally responsible board in Naugatuck history and we will continue to work to make our schools better without adding more burden on our already overtaxed residents.”
What is your message to voters?
“Voting is a right often taken for granted, no matter who you are going to vote for, please just get out and vote.”
Name: Ethel S. Grant
Age:
Party: Democrat
Education: BS, Education; BS, Central Connecticut State University, MS, Education; Southern Connecticut State University in education.
Political Experience: Naugatuck Board of Education (two terms)
Occupation: Retired teacher, Dean of Students, Kaynor Tech, Waterbury.
Why are you running for school board?
“Having served two terms with the Board of Education, I have gained a better understanding of the workings of the board, and continue to share the optimism of our superintendent, her team, our parents and our teachers about the district’s continued educational gains in the coming years. I enjoy serving on the board and welcome the opportunity to continue to contribute to the creation of future Naugatuck graduates.”
What can be done to improve education in Naugatuck?
“Probably one of the biggest improvements would be to see more parents involved in parent/teacher groups, especially at the upper levels. Parents are the best advocates for their children. Parent visibility and involvement in school settings send the message to their children and the community that ‘school is important.’”
How will you balance the needs of students with the needs of taxpayers come budget time?
“A school budget is crafted with the idea of delivering an equitable, quality education. Parents and taxpayers expect that their tax dollars are providing quality teaching and learning with the materials provided. I will continue to do what we have done: encourage the sharing of ideas and concerns between those who have been entrusted to oversee our borough’s fiscal agenda and educational agenda, keeping in mind what students need to meet their educational goals and be successful. Our superintendent and assistant, with the support of the board, do a great job of remaining fiscally responsible, while also making advancements in student achievement.”
What is your message to voters?
“It is important that our children receive the best education we can give them. As parents, teachers and citizens our priority should be to encourage students to be responsible citizens, researchers, innovators, informed thinkers, communicators and problem solvers. This is the ‘Vision of the Graduate’ the Naugatuck Public Schools adopted initiative for 2017. I am proud to be able to contribute in small part to the process for empowering our students for future success in the world. Please exercise your right to vote and be a role model for our children.”
Name: Jeffrey S. Litke
Age: 36
Party: Republican
Education: Masters of Public Administration, University of New Haven. Bachelors in Political Science, University of Connecticut.
Political Experience: Naugatuck Inland Wetlands Commission (October 2016-present); Naugatuck Zoning Commission (March 2007-September 2009).
Occupation: Human Resources Generalist, Town of Stratford
Why are you running for Board of Education?
“I am running for the Board of Education because I believe in a quality education for all of our children and I want to lend my voice and opinions to make our school system even better. I am a product of Naugatuck Public Schools and I am proud of the education that I received there and am ready to give back to the school system where I was educated. Working together as a community we can ensure that our public school system is the best that it can be.”
What can be done to improve education in Naugatuck?
“I believe we need to increase community engagement and parent involvement. Having the support of those around us, creates an even better environment for students to learn. We also need to work with our other local, state and federal officials when it comes to mandates. Many of these mandates can be time consuming and redundant and take educators away from their core mission of educating our children.”
How will you balance the needs of students with the needs of taxpayers come budget time?
“Our schools are educating our future leaders and we need to provide them with the best education possible. I understand that we are all burdened with ever increasing taxes and we want that to end. As a Board of Education member I will do my duty to make sure that the budget reflects the needs of the students within a workable and responsible budget. Tough decisions will need to be made and when making those tough budget decisions I will take into consideration both the needs of the students and taxpayers. We also need to ensure that we are taking advantage of all grants and other funding streams where possible.”
What is your message to voters?
“My message to the voters is that I ask for your support. We need to work together as a community to build on and improve our school district. We all benefit from a flourishing and successful school system. The students in our schools are our future and we owe it to them to provide them with the best education possible. I am ready to take on the challenges of serving on the Board of Education and believe that I have the knowledge, skills and abilities to make tough decisions and lend thoughtful opinions.”
Name: Diana V. Malone
Age: 62
Party: Republican
Education: Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education
Political Experience: Naugatuck Board of Education (three terms)
Occupation: Retired
Why are you running for Board of Education?
“I am running for reelection to the Board of Education because I feel that I still have a lot to offer to the students and taxpayers of Naugatuck. I am incredibly proud of my work on the Board of Education. We have achieved so much for our students, but there is still so much more that we can do. I am passionate about providing the best possible education for each student in Naugatuck.”
What can be done to improve education in Naugatuck?
“The education system needs to improve opportunities for all children because our community’s well-being and prosperity depend on this. We need to work to get parents engaged in educational issues. It is important to close the achievement gap, and ensure that all students have access to a quality education that prepares them to become productive citizens. Every school needs to provide a safe and successful learning environment. We also need to continue to have an effective teacher in every classroom. ‘Educating All Students Today for Tomorrow’s Future.’”
How will you balance the needs of students with the needs of taxpayers come budget time?
“The members of the Board of Education are taxpayers too, and we should make sure that we are utilizing our resources efficiently in the most effective manner. We should create a focused and strategic budget that puts our money toward what works best for our students. Community partnerships are needed to ensure that our entire community is pushing in the same direction to benefit our students. We need to continue to aggressively seek out grants. It is important that we give the students the tools they need to be successful. When they graduate high school they need to be responsible and engaged community members.”
What is your message to voters?
“My husband and I, along with our two children, all graduated from Naugatuck High School. Our oldest granddaughter is currently a junior at Naugatuck High School, and our other grandchildren are also in the Naugatuck public school system. We have nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and neighbors in the Naugatuck Public Schools. I care deeply about all of these children and want the very best for them. Just as I want the best for all of Naugatuck’s children, including yours. I’ve always put the children first and will continue to do so.”
Name: Dorothy G. Neth-Kunin
Age: 57
Party: Republican
Education: Master’s in management and Bachelor’s degree in finance, Central Connecticut State University.
Political Experience: Naugatuck Board of Education (two years as chair, 4.5 years as vice chair).
Occupation: Senior Underwriting Consultant; United Health Group, Hartford
Why are you running for school board?
“As a member of the community I am running for Board of Education for many reasons a few stand-out: 1) to serve as an advocate for public education within our community. 2) To assist in offering a high quality education to all children in our community where we are educating all students today for tomorrow’s future while staying the course for the vision of the graduate. 3) Work towards financial accountability through a positive school-community partnership.”
What can be done to improve education in the district?
“1) Identify the needs of all children regardless of their abilities or backgrounds. 2) Respect diverse points of view. 3) Increase community involvement through increased parental partnering. 4) Increase our technology access for all students. 5) Provide parents with the tools to understand what children are learning and a guide to help them at home.”
How will you balance the needs of students with the needs of taxpayers come budget time?
“First and foremost the budget is school centered and encompasses student needs through fiscally responsible review and assessment. 2) It is the board’s responsibility to focus on student achievement and development along with providing a safe and secure environment. 3)The board is responsible for carrying through policy and procedures in accordance with state requirements. 4) The board is a volunteer, non-stipend position, as well as taxpayers, the board is very aware of the need to remain fiscally responsible. Within the past two years the board proposed a flat budget with no increase and has worked within that budget. Additionally, to lessen the burden on the borough, the Board of Education received a $1.7 million grant for building upgrades.
What is your message to the voters?
“I am a hard working individual who tries to instill integrity and honesty in everything I do. Nelson Mandela once said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.’ I choose to enlist my services as a community member to make that happen. Vote Neth-Kunin 11B Nov. 7, 2017.”
Name: James M. Scully
Age: 68
Party: Democratic
Education: Crosby High School, Waterbury, Class of 1968
Political Experience: 10 years, Board of Education; member, Democratic Town Committee; former member, Charter Revision Commission.
Occupation: Self-employed commercial construction contractor, Tara Development Co., Naugatuck
The information above was provided to the Republican-American. The candidate did not respond to the Citizen’s News candidate questionnaire.
Name: Scott H. Slauson
Age: 51
Party: Republican
Education: West Morris Central High School, Chester, N.J., 1984
Political Experience: Naugatuck Board of Education (6.5 years).
Occupation: Software engineer, Softronic in Naugatuck
The information above was provided to the Republican-American. The candidate did not respond to the Citizen’s News candidate questionnaire.
