Investing in Our Youth and Our Schools

February 10, 2023
INVESTING IN OUR SCHOOLS

 

Public school students will be getting free school lunches for the rest of the academic year. Our state will be utilizing $60 million of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to ensure every child in Connecticut can access free school lunches. Equitable access to proper nutrition in school is necessary to supporting a child's ability to learn and thrive.

Additionally, I am proud to have voted to secure more than $27 million in special education funding that has been allocated to schools across the state, including $215,724 for Groton and $160,693 for Stonington. These investments ensure that all committed funding increases are being provided to our communities.

 

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
As we continue to progress steadily through the current session, it is important that we continue to build upon past legislative successes that have allowed Connecticut to keep moving forward.

We voted yesterday to continue one of these successes by securing the fiscal guardrails that have allowed the state to cut taxes, invest in families and the economy, pay down debt, and save for the future

Thanks to our work, we have:

  • Cut over $650 million in taxes
  • Paid off billions in pension debt
  • Invested in preschool education and children's mental health programs

We accomplished this while maintaining record savings for our rainy-day fund to continue our efforts for a fiscally responsible future.

This fiscal year, we will continue to cut taxes for working families, reduce debt levels, save for the future, and most importantly continue our commitment to invest in our communities.

MEET YOUR REP IN PERSON

The Town of Stonington will be honoring our Vietnam Veterans. Please join Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, myself, Rep. Greg Howard, and Sen. Heather Somers for the ceremony.

 

You have an opportunity to meet three state representatives serving Southeastern Connecticut. Representative Anthony Nolan, Representative Christine Conley, and myself will take your questions at an in-person gathering. 

The event will take place on Thursday, February 16 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the New London Public Library. CLICK HERE to let me know if you plan on attending!

 

 

FREE & FAIR EDUCATION FUNDING
One of our major goals this legislative session is to lift up our students by investing $275 million to adequately provide full and fair funding to all our state's schools. I am a proud co-sponsor of H.B. 5003 along with dozens of my colleagues in the State Legislature. This proposal underscores our mission to ensure each child has equal access to high-quality education regardless of their zip code.

The bill would:

  • Provide districts extra funds to provide children with the services they deserve
  • Include provisions for educators to provide the best learning environment
  • Hire and retain high-quality teachers
  • Address the state’s severe workforce shortage in K-12 public education
  • Fully fund the state’s Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grant to municipalities
  • Expand need-based funding to charter, magnet, and other public schools of choice.

If passed, the bill would take effect in the 2024-2025 school year.
 
STATE FUNDING FOR STONINGTON SCHOOLS
Stonington Public Schools are getting a major boost. The district will receive nearly $200,000 in state funding to hire and maintain mental health workers during the 2023, 2024, and 2025 school years. Stonington is only one of 20 school districts in the entire state to be selected in this competitive grant program.
 
The School Mental Health Workers Grant is funded by money the state received from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which comes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the first of three rounds of grants being administered by the state using ARPA funding. The funds are aimed at addressing mental health in schools.
Our children have struggled with mental health since the start of the pandemic. This funding will give them access to more help while they are at school. It's wonderful to see state dollars at work supporting our youth.
 
Stonington Public Schools will receive $73,408 dollars for fiscal year 2023 and 2024. The district will then collect another $51,384.60 in 2025. The total grant award comes out to $198,201.60.
Click Here For More Information

WHAT'S YOUR REP BEEN UP TO?
It was a great atmosphere in the House Chambers as the governor unveiled his budget proposal on Wednesday. I also caught up with Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin.
Session is in full swing, and we're getting our hands on Governor Ned Lamont's budget proposal. The atmosphere at the Capitol was phenomenal, and we are optimistic for our state's bright future. 

He proposed several good ideas and investments in child care, tax relief, and our infrastructure.  It's only the beginning of the legislative session, and I'm looking forward to looking at the proposal more closely with my committees.
More on the Budget

 
FREE SWIMMING LESSONS
Some children in Mystic are eligible to get free swimming lessons thanks to a new program.

The Ocean Community YMCA is part of an exciting and new program offering free swimming lessons to children. The goal is to share the importance of swimming safety ahead of the warmer months.

These free lessons will increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in outdoor recreational activities in state parks and forests. I'm excited to see an opportunity in Mystic for our underserved youth.

As Groton Town Counselor, I was so proud to vote to appropriate funding to make this program a reality. I want to thank the CT Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection for launching this initiative in collaboration with the YMCA.

Children 17 or under, living in Qualified Census Tracts and/or receiving SNAP benefits are eligible to register for the free swimming lessons. The program is expected to serve 3,000 children over the next three years.

FREE TAX FILING SERVICES
Trained volunteers at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites offer free tax filing assistance from through mid-April. As long as your annual income is below $60,000, the service is free of charge. You can meet a volunteer at St. Mark's Episcopal Church on Pearl Street in Mystic.
CLICK HERE FOR TO REGISTER AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT YOU NEED AT YOUR APPOINTMENT

 

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
The United Way of Southeastern Connecticut served 127 families at its Mobile Pantry in Stonington last week. Thanks to all of the volunteers including Stonington Public Schools. Volunteers also distributed Covid-19 test kits courtesy of the Ledge Light Health District.
 
COMMUNITY EVENTS