By Icy Frantz
On Monday June 9th, a clear majority of the RTM voted to approve the town budget. While one would think that a budget vote would consume most of the RTM’s time in that meeting, it did not. As a new member to the RTM, I had spent the weeks prior to the meeting learning about the budget, attending extra zoom discussions, engaging in conversations about the budget and I listened to and read emails from town residents about the SOMR (Sense of The Meeting Resolution). I am thankful to and appreciative of all of the parents, teachers and residents who took the time to call and email. I returned all calls and emails that were personal. I also want to thank the RTM members and members of the BET and the BOE who took the time to talk with me about the SOMR and educate me; all of these discussions were incredibly helpful. We have a lot of amazing people in this town, volunteering a lot of their time for the betterment of our community.
I had originally signed up to speak in favor of the SOMR, but at 12:30 am, after listening to many speakers in favor and against the SOMR, I had a change of heart. I realized that many of my discussions with concerned citizens focused on the budget freeze made by the BET. They focused on previous versions of the SOMR. Amended, the SOMR suggested that the BET act quickly in response to any appropriations requested by the superintendent. Historically this has happened 10 times out of 11; the 11th appropriation request was withdrawn. So, we spent the good portion of our meeting discussing something that already happens and will likely happen again this year!
I do not think there is a single member of the RTM who does not care about education. The RTM is not allowed to increase a budget, by the way; that would have been a very different discussion. If it had been up to me, all sides of the debate on the BET would have compromised. If it had been up to me, there would have been more listening and comity in the whole process. If it had been up to me, we would be discussing how we can improve remote learning. And if it had been up to me, we would be discussing how we can elevate the amazing teachers in our system and train the ones less effective. The SOMR did none of these things.
As a former teacher, a parent, and resident of Greenwich, I care deeply about education. But at 12:30 am, on Tuesday morning, I found that the SOMR did not address my concerns about our education system in our town. I know that the BET will act swiftly to grant specific necessary appropriations. Sadly, the SOMR divided us. In my short time on the RTM, I have been engaged with work that actually connects us and helps all residents in our community, and in the future, I would be honored to get behind similar educational initiatives that are productive and promote positive change.
