To the Editor:
I am writing to express my strong support for the re-election of Laura Kostin to the Greenwich Board of Education. Laura has been an invaluable member of the BOE since 2021. Throughout her tenure, Laura has consistently demonstrated knowledge, dedication, and steady leadership. Of note is her commitment to Special Education. Special Education has long been one of the most complex and, at times, divisive issues in our district and Greenwich has come a long way since 2021.
Laura has experience with every level of learning in the Greenwich Public Schools since her children entered the schools 15 years ago in the preschool program and kindergarten. At the time, the GPS Preschool program had a very manageable ratio of children with needs to typical peers. Due to budget constraints, the ratio of children with needs in the classroom has steadily risen over time while the number of teachers and paraprofessionals has not, meaning the ones helping our youngest students learn are stretched further and further. This is an issue Ms. Kostin has consistently used her voice to advocate against, even before joining the Board of Education.
Laura has also been committed to the implementation of the recommendations of Public Consulting Group (PCG), thereby ensuring that our Special Education programs are strengthened with both accountability and compassion. Her approach to this work is informed by essential input from community members, such as myself, who can (and often do!) share first-hand the challenges faced by families raising children with special needs and their specific needs. She is accessible to parents, provides her phone number and takes time to meet anyone and everyone who asks to speak with her. This kind of dedication makes her truly unique. Her ability to see every perspective gives her the invaluable ability to balance technical solutions with empathy and practical insight.
Special Education budgets can be volatile and change at any point in the school year, leading to the need for interim appropriations. Laura has consistently voted to fund these vital requests so that ALL students can access an appropriate education. Laura has also been an advocate for new programs including co-taught classrooms (she wants more of them!) and the Unique Learner program so students with different learning needs in our community are able to access an appropriate education without leaving the district or being outplaced.
Her service on the Board has helped to ensure that our most vulnerable students are not overlooked, but instead supported, advocated for, and given the opportunity to thrive. Re-electing Laura will allow her to continue this essential work and advocacy for this vulnerable student population to ensure continued growth and stability of Special Education in Greenwich.
For these reasons, I urge my fellow residents to join me in supporting Laura Kostin for re-election to the Greenwich Board of Education. Her continued leadership is vital to sustaining the progress we have made and to ensuring that every student in Greenwich has access to the education they deserve.
Respectfully,
Mabél Arteaga Balestra
