10/17/2025
Tolland Board of Education Chair Report - Wednesday 15 October
Yesterday I participated in what will most likely be my last agenda planning meeting for a while. As we discussed the business of the district and decided what was ready to go before the board, I found myself returning to a quote that I’ve held internal for the last sic years. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education." Let that sit for a moment. Think intensively…as in to think in a very focused, concentrated, and thorough manner. To think critically…as in to deliberately analyze information to make a judgment. Finally, that is the goal of true education. True education. We are in the business of growing minds, of empowering souls to reach beyond the surface and seek enlightenment. Nowhere is this articulated better than in our mission statement to “inspire and empower all learners to responsibly contribute to a dynamic global community.” I don’t mean to exaggerate when I say that this is truly where you change the world.
Two years ago, I was nominated for the Chair of this Board of Education. At that time, I committed to lead with honesty and promote an open dialogue on all matters. I believe that I have done that. It is my sincere hope that I have done so in a visible way that demonstrates my firm belief in the unquestionable power of an educated populace. I hope that this board has demonstrated to both the observant and the casual observer that we gladly offer our time and energy to the betterment of the district. We are willing to sacrifice bridges for the benefit of the goal. Most importantly that we are willing…ever eager…to disagree in order to find compromise. We are not Republicans, Democrats, and Unaffiliates. We are a Board of Education.
I have often asked the Superintendent and Vice Chair if we were succeeding, Were we moving the needle. I asked not to guide a conversation, but because I do not know. Did we make the schools mentally and physically safe? Did we help create an environment where everyone feels comfortable with being themselves? Did we enhance the working conditions for our staff such that they could use their passions as energy? Have we stood as a protective barrier between our goals and entropy?
While I certainly have my thoughts, in the end the answers belong to the people of Tolland. They belong to the staff that we employ. They belong to the children that trust that we toil in their best interests. It is my hope that those answers are used to describe our term. I also hope those answers are used to set the minimum levels of community expectations. Hold your public officials to the highest standards. To our student representatives. Your voices are critically important to this body. Never fear to speak honestly here. You are the only true source of critical information that this group needs to hear. Dr. Willett, Jenn, thank you for being willing o go the extra mile with a myriad of phone calls as I strove to educate myself on the subjects and concepts that we would face. I can promise that will not stop. There is still so much to do.
With that, I am reminded that there is still work to do this term. So, I’ll end with another quote by Claus Moser….
”Education costs money, but then so does ignorance.”
