JohnPeter Parente
I’ve lived here all my life, growing up in Whigville.
I’m not a parent, and I am not an educator. The closest title I hold similar to one of those is being an Assistant Coach for Burlington – Harwinton American Junior Legion Baseball Team, ages 14-16. However, what I am is a direct product of the Region 10 school system. I attended Lake Garda Elementary School and Har-Bur Middle School. I graduated from Lewis Mills in 2003 and went on to Wentworth Institute of Technology, graduating in 2008 with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering. I currently work at Pratt & Whitney Engines here in Connecticut. I have Region 10 among other things, like great family and friends, to thank for the education I received and the academic opportunities I’ve had. So, here is my chance to give back.
I’m running because I think our school system can do better. There is always room for improvement.
I believe that the administration does not need to receive raises in the current economy. I believe the spending should be controlled. I am not saying that budgets should be slashed, nor am I saying that they should be increased. I simply believe the budget should be more transparent.
It’s good to know money set aside for educational purposes is actually going to education. Our money should go to supplies, to software, after school programs, extra-curricular and athletic activities, and not to salaries and perks should that be the case.
Many towns are charging student athletes to play sports. I believe “Pay-For-Play” is wrong at the elementary, middle school, and high school level. It’s awful hard to promote health and wellness when you put a price tag on it, especially with everyone’s wallets so tight these days. Playing sports is a privilege yes, but it’s also a character and morale builder for students.
To introduce a cost to a student is to run the risk of potentially pricing some students out of such an experience and that is wrong.
