Now that the dust has settled and everyone has walked away from the negotiating table, it is time to put your spare time and energy where it can best be used.  Our Ringwood teachers do an excellent job in the classrooms.  Student test scores have been increasing and incidents of violence and vandalism at Ringwood schools have been dropping consistently for the past 5 years.  Keep up the good work.

 

Our focus must be on the April 21st, 2009 referendum during the coming months.  An affirmative outcome for the referendum will allow us to do improvements throughout the district that will impact learning and improve the teaching environment for the next 30 to 40 years.

 

Assistance from the Teachers and the REA was instrumental in passing the 2007-2008 school budget and the School Facilities Committee is hoping for similar support for the April 21st, 2009 referendum.  The teachers, more than anyone, know how important this referendum is for the educational process in Ringwood schools.

 

Hewitt has served us well since it was constructed more than 70 years ago in 1937.  Many residents of Ringwood received their early education in this school, but now it is time to move on and provide our students with facilities that will be better equipped for air quality, thermal comfort, acoustics, building age, spatial configuration, and other important environmental factors that contribute to the learning environment.  This referendum is for our students and our teachers alike.

 

We can bring this plan to fruition as a team.

 

Opinion of Richard A. Schaefer, Board President, Facilities Committee Chairperson, and Webmaster.