The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper
(Oct. 23, 2019) — I am writing this letter in support of Katie Packtor, Haddam candidate for the RSD 17 Board of Education.
Katie is one of the most dedicated members of our Haddam community. For almost two years, she has consistently presented her very logical viewpoints to our current Board of Education regarding the restructuring of our school system. Her thoughtful processes and common sense thinking are something our BoE certainly needs. I have witnessed this board entrench itself in a deep disconnect to the community in which it serves, and I am excited to say that Katie represents exactly the opposite of that.
Katie is very well connected to our town, she is enthusiastic about the future possibilities of our school district, and she is listening to the concerned members of the Haddam community. I’m sure anyone who has noticed her on her early morning runs in rain, snow, sleet, and hail would agree; she is tough, she is consistent, and she has the energy to implement logical ideas for improvement. I have witnessed her listen to the people around her and express their concerns to the board for them, even when those people were hesitant to do so themselves. During this time of change in our district the BoE needs to be especially in tune to the members of the communities they serve, we are relying on them to make decisions that affect our children and the value of our community. Katie is a natural fit because every decision she has made during her many years of volunteering have been made through those lenses.
Our school district ratings have a direct correlation to our property values and the best way to lower mill rates is to increase those values. When folks are interested in moving to our town, the school system is often the very first aspect they research. A good school district increases demand for properties, which in turn increases home values and lowers our mill rate. We cannot let our school system be compromised any longer with the decisions being made in regards to the restructuring. There is a huge discrepancy in the number of students per elementary school this year and honestly, Haddam children got the short end of the stick. This discrepancy needs to be addressed or it will very soon affect the rating of RSD 17. It needs to be addressed most importantly for our children, but also to uphold the value of our properties and Katie understands this. She often optimistically points out that there are many big decisions still to come which will impact our children, decisions which can also increase or decrease the rating of our district. We will be trusting her and all of our new board members to make the right choices. Whether you have children in our school district or you do not, a vote for confidence, consistency, and communication is a vote for Katie Packtor.
Thank you,
Joe Rizzo
Haddam Selectman Candidate
