Windham's government is responsible for services that we take for granted and, miraculously, they work very well.
When there is a glitch, it is promptly repaired.
If the glitch isn’t repaired, we howl — as witnessed by the lack of electricity episodes in 2011.
We have good water. The toilets flush. We leave for work not expecting to be caught in a crossfire. There is no need to dodge pot holes. If we have chest pains from that fried egg breakfast, first responders are quick to arrive.
Town functions hum along quite nicely.
Then there are our schools.
Town government caters to the whims and wishes of the school system — bailing them out and providing a continuous supply of fresh money whether the schools thrive or fail.
We have become accustomed to disappointing results over the years.
Our town council, like previous councils, ignores or refuses to acknowledge our school defects.
At best, a blue ribbon commission or a tri-board is empowered for "feel-good" effects.
The result? Continually failing schools.
Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. — Albert Einstein
Town government is responsible for providing the funds to run the schools on a day-to-day basis. Sixty five percent of all taxes collected are for the schools.
In return, the town, according to the town charter, has no say in the management of the schools nor do they have input into the school budget.
During the 2011-12 school budget session, the mayor was scolded by the school board chairman for not endorsing a particular education budget. "The mayor and council are not supportive of our students," asserted the then-board chairman.
It's not that the mayor and council don't support education. But, they can no longer support education that doesn't work.
For nearly two decades, various councils (formerly boards of selectman) have supported the schools scraping together every last penny to send "up the hill," (i.e., to be spent on schools) while test scores have fallen, graduation rates have dropped, and the achievement gap has grown finally resulting in Windham Public Schools’ failed status .
For years the town council’s good intentions to provide upgraded and needed services town-wide have met with the harsh reality there is no money left after having provided for the wants and needs of a failing educational system.
Town programs are constantly scuttled or scaled back in favor of sending more funds "up the hill."
Witness the state of our town library, which is ranked second to last by the Connecticut State Library.
We have lost whole neighborhoods to blight because there was no pocket change left to hire a housing officer after feeding the education monster.
Our senior citizens have pleaded for a new facility for 30 years, while watching neighboring towns provide up-to-date, state-of-the-art senior centers.
It has taken years to get a cemetery fence repaired, a year to secure space for a wrestling program, and two years to replace an ambulance or cruiser.
Thank you, Council, for attempting to provide the very best town services that we can afford.
Bless the Council for providing for our students.
But, damn the Council for standing back and allowing the BOE to throw good money after bad.Damn the Council for not having the will or courage to tell the BOE they are preparing our students for a life of failure.
Damn the Council for showing a complete lack of leadership.
Our children are the future of our town, and we are failing that future.
Yes, the council is stymied by the town charter, but that charter doesn't stymie our councilors from using their voices and leadership to guide the taxpayer to the voting booth to make a rational choice.
We are in need of leaders with a knack for governing to help define priorities and establish specific goals.
We must rid ourselves of the standing silent, whether they be citizens or politicians.
We are serving up a grave injustice to our children.
In the late spring of the 2010-11 budget season, Windham was on its ear due to the antics of the board of finance. The town council addressed the education budget crisis. They cut the council summer meeting schedule in half.
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