GRECO, HOZEMPA AND JOHNSON WERE RIGHT

Recently the Enfield Board of Education approved a long term contract with Smyth Bus Company to transport our children to and from school. Smyth Bus Company has proven to be an excellent source for our transportation needs and I don't think anyone would dispute that. But there is a problem with the process that needs to be corrected.

The Board of Education set up a three person Transportation Sub-Committee to research and evaluate the coming contract with the bus company. The purpose is to make sure that the taxpayers of Enfield are getting the best price, for the best service. The sub-committee was made up BOE Members Gill, Greco, and Johnson. All three of these men are highly intelligent people who take their stewardship of the schools very seriously.

But, before they could conclude their investigation the majority on school board trump their process with a fast vote to award the contract to Smyth Bus Company. Now, once again Smyth does a great job and most likely would have gained the contract renewal.

Now, the problem is a lack of respect for the process and the failure to protect the hard earned money of the Enfield taxpayers. With the contract costing the school system 18 millions dollars over five years it was vital to examine this to see if savings were available.

The fact is that there may not have been any savings and there is the possibility that no other company would have entered the bidding field. But that's not the issue. The issue is being accountable to the residents and caring for the wise spending of tax dollars.

I have been a proponent for increased school spending to benefit our children's education. I am in favor of spending more for text books, science labs, foreign language studies, upgrading our band equipment, computers in the classrooms and many more direct educational expenditures.

But the only way we will get the basics of education is to create a system of checks and balances that include committees that are empowered to complete their mandate. Committees are usually established to do the research needed for the entire elected body to make a wise decision. Their mandate is to gain enough information to give the elected official the details needed to make choices that effect our kids education.

A few weeks ago Mayor Tallarita, in a joint meeting of the Town Council and Board of Education, questioned the mandate of the Budget Advisory Committee on not going through the entire fixed cost of the school budget to see where savings could be found. The Advisory committee did an excellent job doing what was asked of them, but the Mayor thought that they should have been charged with a more detailed mandate.

I applaud the Mayors thoughts on this and was pleased to hear him use basic logic to conquer a tough budget year.

With that said it seems like the majority on the BOE failed to see the benefit again in detailed research. Just as they did not give the Budget Advisory committee the direction to seek all knowledge, they also voided out a process that could have resulted in some small savings, if not a possible great savings.

I want to commend Board of Education Members Greco, Johnson, and Hozempa for standing up for the taxpayers of Enfield. These three pleaded for the process of the sub-committee to complete it's task before a vote was taken. Their advise fell on deaf ears.

These three Board members are not against the Smyth Bus Company. They would have in the long run supported giving a contract to the this company. All they wanted was accountability and the knowledge that they have made the best, informed decision possible. They also were simply looking out for you, the Enfield Taxpayer...and that's kind of refreshing.


Greg Stokes