Editor’s note: following is an opinion submitted by Westport resident and Selectwoman Candice Savin.
Abby Tolan, Democratic party endorsed candidate for the Westport Board of Education, stands out in this year’s crowded field due to her integrity, child-centered decision making, and impressive educational experience. As the former Chair of the Westport BOE, I strongly endorse her candidacy and encourage everyone to come out and vote for Abby – we need her on the Board of Education.
Abby has served for 2 years on a BOE that has delivered budgets unanimously supported by our funding bodies, furthered crucial infrastructure improvements including a new Long Lots Elementary and Stepping Stones pre-school, and kept academic success for every child at the center of its work. Importantly, Abby has an extensive professional background and unique expertise in special education, an invaluable asset to our BOE.
I have been dismayed at the platforms of several other BOE candidates this year who seem to be essentially running against the Superintendent. As a veteran of the BOE during a time of Superintendent churn, I saw up close the damage an administration in disarray can do to a school district and to a community. Hiring Superintendent Scarice was the first step in healing our district. Guiding our schools through COVID, keeping them open when many schools were closed, was Mr. Scarice’s first great success of many. I have observed him to have a strong moral compass and be willing to make tough calls and take the heat when he feels it is the right thing to do for our kids.
Board members should ask tough and thoughtful questions of every initiative put forward by the administration. But when that thorough vetting is used as a crusade to advance the special interests of specific families above the greater good, to engage in work-arounds to undermine the effective leadership of the district, something has gone awry.
As you go into the voting booth this November 4, I urge you to choose candidates who will advance the work of the district in the best interest of our children. Abby Tolan is without a doubt that candidate.
Candice Savin
Third Selectwoman
Given the reference to “several other BOE candidates” I’d just like to express my agreement with the sentiment that it is irresponsible to call for the firing of Superintendent Scarice, as well as our strong agreement with the need to provide oversight and direction to him and the administration generally. As Dorie Hordon, Michelle Hopson, Kaitlin Zucaro and I have noted previously, though we may not always agree with every decision or policy championed by Mr. Scarice over the years, he is a thoughtful superintendent and it would indeed inject unnecessary chaos into our schools to give in to calls by a vocal few for his firing. Let’s move on and get things done to make our very good schools even better.
I have great respect for Candice Savin and have voted for her on multiple occasions. However, I am confused by what she is recommending.
As a leading Democrat in Westport – is she recommending voting for only one Democrat? Surely that would increase the chances that the Republicans take control of the Board of Education for the first time in over 20 years?
In my 20 years living in Westport I have NEVER seen the Democrats not recommend voting for a full slate of candidates running for the BOE.
There are 3 Democrats running – and the Dems could win up to two seats. So should people also vote for the other Democrats running too?
If not – would she recommend people vote for me as an independent “Write-in”. Candidate?
If the answer to the above scenarios is NO – then I can only conclude that Candice is promoting a majority Republican BOE.
Where am I wrong?
Abby Tolan is campaigning on behalf of the DTC establishment, and nobody else. Which is why I am urging everyone to write-in Robert Harrington (for re-election) as well as voting for the petitioning candidates Steve Shackleford and Jodi Harris. We can do better. This is our opportunity.