Reps. Klarides, Klarides-Ditria Attend Education Meeting to Discuss Legislative Session

DERBY – State Representatives Themis Klarides and Nicole Klarides-Ditria met with local Board of Education members, Superintendents, Principals, teachers on Wednesday morning to hear their top issues impacting schools K-12. The annual legislative breakfast is hosted by the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education.

In attendance were superintendents, principals, teachers, and BOE Members, from Ansonia, Derby, Orange, Milford, Seymour, Woodbridge, and West Haven.

Many in attendance expressed their concerns about school safety for both teachers and students. In addition, funding teachers’ pensions, providing more opportunities for advanced manufacturing training, and ECS funding were discussed.

Rep. Klarides said, “Today’s classrooms are much different than they were ten years or even five years ago. I give teachers a lot of respect for the work they do day in and day out to teach our children. It’s important that we work this session to protect ECS funding for our communities and continue to prevent teachers’ pensions from being placed on the backs of our towns and cities.”

Rep. Klarides-Ditria added, “Teachers or students not feeling safe in a classroom is something that we need to fix. Having a safe classroom for all makes the learning experience more productive, which will lead to better performance by students. I will be talking to my colleagues this session to see if we can repass legislation to address school safety.”

Last year, Governor Dan Malloy vetoed S.B. 453, a school safety bill that made several changes to school safety laws – the bill was co-sponsored by both Reps. Klarides and Klarides-Ditria. Also, Governor Malloy vetoed a bill that would have prevented future governors from being able to cut ECS funding midyear.

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