The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. We welcome supporting or opposing views on any published item. Received October 29, 2021.
To the residents of Haddam,
As the election is now only a few days away, I also wanted to share some final thoughts about my candidacy for the Region 17 Board of Education.  It has been great to hear the enthusiasm and great ideas for the school district and its future from a wide range of residents.  I have learned a lot listening to everyone’s views and suggestions about the current state and future of education in the school district.  I am strong believer in lifelong learning and I have learned a lot about the school district the last few months.
As others have stated, I believe the Region 17 school district is at a vital point in its history.  The 21st economy is rapidly changing and coming out of a pandemic, education had changed and new challenges have arisen.  It is very apparent that there is a focus on technology literacy, dynamic thinking, basic life skills and empathy are critical for a successful post K-12 experience.  A strategic plan is being worked on, I recently participated in a great focus group, and it will be interesting to see what the strategic plan produces as a blueprint moving forward.
A few of my ideas for education in Region 17 include making sure the school district is developing basic life skills, critical thinking to solve complex problems, strong financial literacy, how to react when you do not get your way, so well-rounded graduates are ready for whatever career they decide to pursue after graduation.  I also want to make sure there is a focus on wellness for students, teachers and staff because a community of happy and well people is a strong and productive community.  I have experience in balancing budgets and love analyzing numbers and I want to make sure every tax dollar is spent wisely and in support of making Region 17 the best school district in Connecticut.  Finally, I want to ensure ALL students are welcome in Region 17 and there are programs that teach students to accept and respect fellow student’s differences.  No student should be afraid to attend school because of the fear of being bullied.  I hope to be a positive example for students and show them we can disagree on things but we need to respect each other and treat everyone with kindness.
I humbly ask for your vote this Tuesday, November 2nd, row A.
Thank you.
Steve Bayley
Haddam
