As the school year comes to an end, parents and students across Connecticut are following the looming expiration of our state’s federal pandemic funds with deep concern.
As a mother of two public school students, I know how critically important it is to my family to have access to high-quality schools. The nearly half-million other public-school families across Connecticut undoubtedly feel the same way. Our schools are the foundation of our families’ futures, and it is frightening to consider losing funds that pay our teachers, provide mental health support, and provide initiatives that serve our high-need students.
I have had the honor of serving on the Town of Windsor’s Board of Education since 2018. I embrace the opportunity to serve on the board as my chance to give back to my community’s schools and students, and I take the role very seriously.
So when families like mine read about the impending deep cuts to our education system, we deserve answers from our elected representatives. In The Connecticut Mirror’s June 2 article “End of pandemic funding could spell disaster for some CT schools”, I was shocked to see that State Sen. Doug McCrory ducked this critical issue and “did not respond to requests for comment about [his district’s] funding struggles or initiatives for the upcoming legislative session.”
Sen. McCrory is supposed to represent the 100,000 residents of his district. As Senate chair of the Education Committee, he should be working day and night to provide clarity around how our schools can prepare for these deeply concerning cuts and how our state leaders will address the shortcomings. His silence on an issue that defines our families’ futures is appalling. It adds insult to injury in this precarious and confusing moment, where urban areas and communities of color that have historically been underfunded are facing even greater cuts when these federal funds expire. It’s shameful that our students, teachers, and families are ending the school year with so many questions about how the next one will be impacted.
Elected officials work for us. We’re owed answers, transparency, and leadership. Our communities deserve better, and I sincerely hope that our families will soon start to receive the information and assurances that we so desperately need.
Ayana Taylor is Vice Chair of the Town of Windsor’s Board of Education and a candidate for the Democratic nomination for State Senate in the 2nd District.
