State Rep. Terrie Wood, announced in an email to constituents on Monday that the Legislature’s joint Education Committee will hold a public hearing in Hartford on forced school regionalization.
Wood, a Republican representing the 141st District, covering most of Darien and all of Rowayton, gave advice for anyone wanting to submit written testimony or to speak at the hearing.
SIDEBAR: Gov Lamont on School Regionalization
The Connecticut Municipal Resource and Service Center of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities recently issued a report describing Gov. Ned Lamont’s proposed state budget. It includes this description of the governor’s proposed policy for school regionalization:
- The Governor would establish COSSS to develop a plan, in consultation with ACIR, for the redistricting or consolidation of school services and school districts. It would begin work 30 days after passage of the legislation and conclude on June 30, 2027. It would receive funding of $800,000.
- Reporting on Shared Services: By Sept. 15, 2019, each municipality and its respective school districts would be required to report to OPM, SDE, and Administrative Services (DAS) on the services that have been shared or consolidated. By January 1, 2020, each municipality and its respective school districts, in consultation with ACIR and COSSS, would report to OPM, SDE, and DAS on the services that will be shared or consolidated.
Here’s the full text of her announcement:
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Photo from Terrie Wood
State Rep. Terrie Wood on the floor of the House of Representatives
This coming Friday, March 1st is the Public Hearing in the Education Committee for the forced school regionalization proposals.
Our state legislature provides the opportunity for all members of the public to speak their minds and present their thoughts on pending legislation.
Our First Amendment rights are respected and taken seriously. The public is invited to come to Hartford to testify in person or submit testimony online.
State Capitol Building in Harttford (picture by jglazer75 on Fickr, via Wikimedia Commons)
Your commitment and time to testify is critically important and very much appreciated. I’ll be in Hartford and would be happy to meet and help you. Below are some details relevant to the day.
The Education Committee public hearing starts at 1 p.m. in room 2E.
The sign up to speak (testify) starts at 10 a.m. and runs to 12 noon in the lobby of the Legislative Office Building (LOB).
Constitutional officers, commissioners, first selectmen, mayors and legislators are allowed the first hour to testify and then on an alternating basis with the public after that.
You will also need to submit testimony online at EDTestimony@cga.ct.gov by 3:30 p.m. Thursday March, 28. Spoken testimony must be three minutes or less. The committee clerk sets a timer.
Tips for Submitting Testimony
- Format your statement in a Word document or a pdf.
- Include the bill numbers at the top. They are SB 457, SB 738, and SB 874. All deal with forced regionalization.
- Include your name(s) and town.
- Attach the document to an email
- Put the bill numbers in the Subject Line of the email.
- Address the email to EDtestimony@cga.ct.gov.
- Send it before 3:30 PM on Thursday, February 28.
Suggrested Protocol/Format for Written Testimony
- Start your written comments with this introduction: “Chairmen McCrory and Sanchez, Ranking Members Berthel and McCarty, and esteemed members of the Education Committee, thank you for allowing me to submit testimony on SB 457, SB 738 and SB 874.”
- Adjust bill #’s as needed to the bills on which you are testifying.
- End with: “Thank you again for hearing my testimony. I’m happy to answer any questions you may have.“
- Civility and respect during a public hearing are the standard of behavior expected.
Directions
Set your GPS to 300 Capitol Avenue, Hartford. That is the address of the Legislative Office Building (LOB). As you come to the intersection of 300 Capitol Avenue and Hungerford St, make a right onto Hungerford St and wrap around the building until you see the entrance to the parking garage. Park wherever you find a spot. If no spots are available, which happens periodically, you’ll be directed to a couple of nearby pay lots.
Come into the building through the front doors on Hungerford St and come through security. Restrooms and the cafeteria are on the first floor if you’d like something to eat or drink. There is also a smaller satellite cafeteria in the third floor atrium.
Please call/email me with any questions: terrie.wood@cga.ct.gov or 860.240.8737. I look forward to seeing you on Friday March 1st!