Fund new charter school and relieve Danbury overcrowding
I have been following closely with concern the recent news of the 350 extra students that enrolled in the Danbury Public School system. The article “Students Numbers surge Again” by Rob Ryser paints a dire picture of the crisis in our city.
What is even more shocking is that the newly elected Democratic legislators could have created part of the problem.
In 2018 a public school called The Danbury Prospect was approved by the Connecticut Education Board. This school was slated to open on Sept. 4. At full capacity, it would eventually bring 780 new seats to our city.
These additional seats would serve grades 612. These legislators decided not to include this school in last year's fiscal budget for the state.
Recently we had a meeting of concerned parents, and since that night, this became a major issue.
The truth surfaced about a school that could have been operational this year and could have helped ease the influx of new students.
This is a school that would bring additional dollars to a city that desperately needs an option that would educate hundreds of our students for a fraction of the cost.
As part of the superintendent’s request for emergency funds from Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona, the city should also request a special legislative session to approve the funding for The Danbury Prospect.
This proposal will at least ensure that at the start of the 202021 academic school year, when another surge of new enrollment happens, the city would have more options to accommodate them adequately.
The city will continue to grow, and the enrollment will continue to rise. We can’t afford to reject what is essentially a gift to the school that will provide hundreds of seats to a school system proposed funding that is desperately in need.
The Democratic legislators must immediately propose funding for this school. We just cannot wait for a 2020 referendum to ask the voters, as hundreds of new enrollments will surely be added to the 202021 school year.
Let’s get this school open and then let’s work together toward a more lasting and permanent solution to the expanding student body of the city of Danbury. Maria Matos Danbury