By Gretchen Webster
WESTPORT — Despite representing the two major political parties, the four officially uncontested candidates most likely bound for the Board of Education presented a seemingly united front Thursday night during a virtual forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Westport.
Unaffiliated write-in candidate Alma Sarelli did not take part in the forum.
Along with sharing mutual concerns relating to an anonymous parent group that has been in the news recently, all four candidates spoke to the long-term impacts of the pandemic.
Impacts of Pandemic
“We should be addressing any learning gaps that happened as a result of the pandemic,” said Democrat Christina Torres, a current school superintendent in Westchester County, N.Y.
“I also think we should address any social-emotional learning components.”
Republican Robert Harrington, a professional financier and active PTA parent, agreed.
The Westport schools should, he said, “focus on loss of learning during the pandemic.”
They and the other candidates — Republican Dorie Hordon, a former teacher and active PTA representative, and Democrat Kevin Christie, a professional financier, PTA parent and coach —all agreed that the elimination of in-person classes during the pandemic had resulted in academic losses and a loss of social and emotional connections between teachers and students in school.
“We can’t underestimate what COVID has brought to our community,” Hordon said, noting they needed to be supportive of the students.
Candidates agreed that the necessity to move to remote learning underscored the valuable role teachers play.
“Kids Need Teachers”
“We definitely learned that kids need teachers,” Harrington said.
Asked for a reaction to the Critical Race Theory controversy being fueled by an anonymous parent group, all said they were concerned about its website on the topic.
“The website is divisive and filled with misinformation,” said Christie. “Equity study is important and will benefit everyone.”
Hordon said racism has been a big factor in her life because she is a different race than her parents, and her children are biracial.
“I’ve been grappling with race for 47 years,” she said, noting no clear answer.
“No one has the right answer to this,” she said. “How do we move forward with this? How do we get buy-in in the community?”
Sustainability, Mental Health & More
Other issues discussed in the forum included how to make schools greener, which elicited proposals for the future use of solar energy in school buildings, as well as electric buses.
The continuing need for good mental health services for students in the schools, and the need for clear maintenance plans for the school district’s infrastructure, were also topics of agreement among the candidates.
In a show-of-hands vote at the end of the forum, the candidates also unanimously agreed on two points — that they would not support a vaccination mandate for children in the town’s schools, nor a reduction in a physical education requirement.
Mr. Scarice, Westport Town Public Officials and Westport Board of Education Members:
Vaccines are mandated for visitors to be permitted to enter Westport Public School Buildings?
Please provide your comment and website link regarding the visitor policy for Westport Public Schools offering the OPTION of showing proof of a negative COVID-19 test to be permitted to enter Westport Public School Buildings.
Clarification is needed regarding the policy during active school hours, during after-school hours for school events such as sports, concerts and thespian audiences, and during after-school hours for groups who use the indoor space for non-school related events.
Proof of vaccination OR proof of negative COVID test?
Also, what is the policy for entering Westport Public School Buildings on Election Day this coming November?
Proof of vaccination OR proof of negative COVID test?
Hospitals are offering the OPTION for visitors to either show proof of vaccination OR proof of negative COVID test within 72 hours.
Mr. Harrington made an important statement at the end of the debate – well worth reporting. I hope the Westport Journal won’t let pass his remarks – and more importantly – the shocking and sad behavior of the local Republican Town committee and candidates – they describe.
Wendy, What was so important about Mr. Harrington’s statement? God knows I’ve done my fair share of “grand standing.” So what if Mr. Harrington voiced his opinions as did Mr. Stern the other night?
Both are entitled to their First Amendment right of free speech. It’s funny in this community why is free speech recognized and applauded when it only aligns with one side of our community?
Wendy, you are a great RTM member, and even better human being. Opinions should never be misconstrued as fact or a reason to judge. I am always available to discuss!
I believe Mr. Harrington, and there is no reason not to believe him. He made statements of fact, not of opinion. Its funny how the Westport Republicans want us all to respect the points of views of racists, liars, and fearmongers, but if one of their own candidates speaks up, he gets silenced and maligned by his own party. I guess they only respect viewpoints they have agreement over. Mr. Harrington showed true leadership qualities and courage last night, not grandstanding as another commentator noted. Everyone should know that Westport Republicans have forever stated the same old narrative that this is Westport not Washington; party affiliation doesn’t matter. Well, it appears to matter to them now, since they refuse to condemn this cowardly group of anonymous parents. The Republican candidate for first selectmen claims to have leadership and temperament qualities. I think she has proven herself wrong by not adamantly speaking out against this group. As far as I am concerned she has disqualified herself from becoming first selectman. It should also be noted that this group is using national Republican talking points, and might even be using the exact template for their anti-CRT webpage that is being circulated all over this country. The Republican candidates obviously agree with the substance of these racist fear peddlers. They have brought the Republican culture wars to Westport. Please remember the Democrats did not bring this ugliness here. At least one Republican candidate along with the Democrat candidates from the top of the ticket all the way down, have shown leadership by condemning these cowards. The Republican candidates for selectmen have no ideas on how to move us forward, so they are relying upon divisive, negative, and toxic form of politics. It is time for all Westporters to stand up for our values, and vote for Steinberg/Savin and the rest of the Democrat candidates this Tuesday.
The Westport Republican Town Committee donated $286.15 to the Trump Make American Great Again Committee on August 27, 2020. That was just over a year ago. (For Trump Part II—you know, the sequel to Trump Part I.) They can send money to whoever they want, and they can endorse whoever they want, but they can’t expect anything but perpetual contempt from those of us who live in a world that insists on equal treatment for women and people of color, that values honesty and facts over propaganda and misdirection. Though I think the Tooker/Moore campaign has values different from those of the MAGAs, it refuses to make a simple declarative statement to that end because, I’m guessing, it doesn’t want to offend anyone. I’ll vote accordingly.
Tom Prince, you make a great point. I should also point out that both Tooker and Moore refuse to answer whether or not they voted for Trump in 2020. In fact, just a week or so ago, I heard they were campaigning at Winslow Park, and someone directly asked them ( a friends neighbor), and they ran away without answering. I have heard people saying that Moore has admitted supporting and voting for Trump in 2020. They keep stressing their values as an attribute, but what kind of values do they really have if they voted and supported a wannabe despot who continues to jeopardize our democracy? Yes, vote accordingly, as I hope most of Westporters will do.
Vaccines are mandated for visitors to be permitted to enter Westport Public School Buildings?
What is the policy for entering Westport Public School Buildings on Election Day this coming Tuesday?
Proof of vaccination OR proof of negative COVID test?
Mr. Scarice, Westport Town Public Officials and Westport Board of Education Members:
Please provide your comment and website link regarding the visitor policy for Westport Public Schools offering the OPTION of showing proof of a negative COVID-19 test to be permitted to enter Westport Public School Buildings.
Clarification is needed regarding the policy during active school hours, during after-school hours for school events such as sports, concerts and thespian audiences, and during after-school hours for groups who use the indoor space for non-school related events.
Proof of vaccination OR proof of negative COVID test?
Where is the policy located?
PLEASE clear up the confusion and any misinformation.
Mr. Kaplan- I know for a fact Mrs. Moore did NOT Vote for Donald Trump. Perhaps you can verify your sources? Who is the friend and their neighbor? Name? You mentioned ” I have heard people saying Moore admitted voting for Trump.” Can you again provide your sources?
Michael before making such a bold statement like that about Mrs. Moore’s voting record, don’t you think it’s fair to give our Journal readership the names so we can fact check with them?
I’ve been on my horse about Jonathan Steinberg and his state voting record. His voting record is there and factual. His vote on legalization of recreational Marijuana was “irresponsible” and party line based. No communication with our police chief, or others about the flaws in the laws when it comes to testing “drugged driving.” Yes, it’s going to be an issue and a huge public health hazard. Please feel free to email our police chief fkoskinas@westportct.gov. or States Attorney Paul Ferenek Paul.ferencek@ct.gov They will explain all the flaws and poor legislative party line votes of Mr. Steinberg when it comes to police accountability, marijuana, without ever doing his homework with his own police chief.
Again, I ask that you provide us all with the names of friends, neighbors, ghosts, who have all empowered you to outwardly accuse Andrea Moore of voting for Trump…It’s funny you guys are bashing and acting so much like the man we all despise! Oh and for the record, not that you care, I did not vote for Trump in either election. Wrote myself in the first time, last time voted for Biden…I’m kicking myself again for not writing myself in again…Let’s get those sources out so we can either bash Andrea some more or move on…