It’s that time again where we start winding down the summer and begin back-to-school preparations. I want to share news and events that will ease the transition for the upcoming school year, provide a simple safety tip when posting that back-to-school photo, and detail the mental health support coming to our students in Wilton.
Click on any of these links to jump to that section of the email:
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Connecticut's 2023 Sales Tax Free Week begins on Sunday, August 20 and runs through Saturday, August 26. This is a great opportunity to take the kids back-to-school shopping or to treat yourself or your loved ones while saving money.
Many retailers in Connecticut offer additional discounts on clothing and footwear during Sales Tax Free Week, providing consumers with even more savings. |
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| During this sales tax holiday, most clothing and footwear items priced under $100 are exempt from the Connecticut sales tax. The exemption during Sales Tax Free Week applies to each eligible item costing under $100, regardless of how many of those items are sold to a customer in the same transaction. The tax holiday applies to purchases made in-store, online, mail-order, and over the phone.
More information about Connecticut's Sales Tax Holiday, including a list of exempt and taxable items, is available on the Department of Revenue Services website. |
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| The first day of school will be here before you know it! Parents should be aware of one simple social media safety tip before posting that back-to-school photo. |
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| While I know this photo trend is fun to take and look back on, keeping your child's personal information at a minimum is important. By sharing your child's school, grade, teacher, and interests, you are giving predators unique information about your child and where they can find them.
Here are some reminders of what not to post:
Teacher's Name
School Name
Interests
Age
Weight
Height
I'm wishing you and your families a happy, healthy, and safe school year! |
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| Mental Health Support For Students |
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| The state is answering the call to help children following the unprecedented learning challenges from the pandemic. Wilton Public Schools will receive $313,101.94 to hire and retain school mental health specialists over the next three school years. These funds will support our students so they can excel in and outside of the classroom. |
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Here is the breakdown:
| Lead applicant |
2024 Funding |
2025 Funding |
2026 Funding |
Total grant award |
| Wilton Public School District |
$115,963 |
$115,963 |
$81,174 |
$313,101 |
CLICK HERE to learn more about school mental health specialist grants.
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| We made historic investments in education with millions of additional dollars allocated in the budget and a number of legislative measures that enhance Connecticut’s educational system. Click below for more information. |
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| Delivering For Higher Education |
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| We have made significant strides in supporting higher education and ensuring a brighter future with opportunities, support, and financial relief for our students.
During the 2023 legislative session, we allocated over $135 million more for higher education in our biennial state budget than initially proposed. We did this in order to support initiatives that reflect our commitment to addressing the challenges faced by students and graduates.
Some of this year's priorities include Public Act 23-204, which expanded our debt-free community college program to incorporate subsidies for returning students and established a student loan forgiveness program that offers up to $20,000 in debt forgiveness for individuals who meet certain criteria and volunteer at a local nonprofit. |
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| We also streamlined the eligibility requirements for the Roberta Willis Scholarship and enabled the program to notify students of their scholarship awards earlier in the year, so they’ll have full knowledge of their financial aid before choosing which school to attend in the fall.
Additionally, we passed several other measures to support higher education, such as:
- Lower state-backed loan refinancing rates for nurses (Public Act 23-60)
- Prohibiting colleges and universities from withholding transcripts due to outstanding debt (Public Act 23-14)
- Providing student loan subsidies for paraeducators, school counselors, police officers, and EMS personnel (Public Act 23-70)
I will continue working with my colleagues to find opportunities that will provide those interested in obtaining a college degree with the necessary tools to help them achieve their goals. |
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