New schools, top rankings and important investments in our students
There’s something special about the start of a new school year — new teachers, new classrooms, new friends and so much possibility ahead. This year, there’s even more to celebrate across the 36th District.
On Monday, Greenwich cut the ribbon on the new Central Middle School, a project years in the making and an important investment in generations of students to come. In Stamford, construction is underway on a new Westhill High School, with the state providing an 80% reimbursement toward that transformative project.
We’re fortunate that our district is also home to some of the best public schools in Connecticut. In the newly released U.S. News & World Report rankings, Greenwich High School ranked #2 in the state and New Canaan High School #6. Great schools don’t just prepare our children for the future. They strengthen our communities, attract families and businesses, build our future workforce and support our economy.
I’m proud that Connecticut is investing in our students. The state recently increased Education Cost Sharing (ECS) funding — its primary source of aid to local public schools — and its support for special education to help districts meet growing costs. Notably, in the past two years, Governor Lamont spearheaded the investment of more than $700 million in budget surplus funds into a new Early Childhood Education Endowment to expand access and improve affordability for families.
But investing more isn’t enough. We also need to make sure those dollars are being spent effectively and improving outcomes for students. That’s why Connecticut has launched a Blue-Ribbon Commission to take a fresh look at how we fund our schools with a focus on results.
As students head back to school, I want to thank all the teachers, administrators and school staff who work every day to help our kids thrive — and wish all of our students a year filled with new discoveries and opportunities to learn and grow. As your state senator, I’ll be a strong advocate for our schools, our educators and, most importantly, our students.
Have a great school year!