Trumbull Voters, did you know that your votes do not count for 6 of the 7 positions on the Board of Education?
Currently, each political party chooses 3 candidates to be put on the ballot. Running unopposed, they need only one vote, their own, to “win”. They each serve 4 year terms. They are not elected by the voters, they are appointed.
The proposed Charter Revision on the ballot this November seeks to change this. Under the revision of Chapter VII, Section 3, all BOE members will serve concurrent 2 year terms. When the current 4 year terms are up, the next member to be elected will serve a 2 year term. Each party will nominate 5 candidates. The voters will select 7 of the 10 candidates on the ballot. This will be a true election.
Something else to consider: The BOE submits a budget each year to the town which appears as a line item in the town budget. Once the Board of Finance, the Town Council and the First Selectman agree on the amount and the town budget is passed, that amount, (which this year is $96M+), is turned over to the BOE to spend as they see fit, with no town oversight.
Here are the facts: Currently, 6 out of 7 BOE members are not “truly” elected by the voters and these 7 people spend 2/3 of every tax dollar. It’s time to change the Trumbull Town Charter.
Pamela Discko
Trumbull
