Letter: Sherr Is 'Voice of Concerned Parents to Preserve Neighborhood Schools'

On November 5th, I will be voting to re-elect Peter Sherr to the Board of Education, and would like to respectfully encourage Greenwich residents to also turn out to vote in support of Peter. 

Peter has earned my vote through his dedicated service on the Board over the past four years where he has demonstrated his thoughtful manner, thorough approach and practical leadership for the benefit of all children and parents across the many educational issues facing Greenwich.  As the parent of three children, each students currently attending Greenwich elementary, middle and high school, Peter is uniquely well aware of the importance of broadly strengthening the resources and opportunities for academic achievement for all students throughout the entire Greenwich public school system, not merely redistributing resources to narrow the achievement gap for some.

Peter is guided by principle and commitment to our community.  He is not afraid to ask the difficult questions.  If you know Peter or have children in the Greenwich schools, as I do, you know that Peter provides guidance and oversight holding the administration accountable to improve academic performance in a cost effective manner. Peter does not accept the excuse that Greenwich schools are falling behind nearby towns because of diversity, racial or socio-economic imbalance. 

When proposals for redistricting threatened to dislocate thousands of Greenwich students from their neighborhood schools, through patient persistence and calm reasoning, it was Peter who stood up as the voice of concerned parents to convince the Board to support his “Community Schools” plan to preserve and protect the neighborhood elementary schools and to provide additional classroom capacity at the school locations where currently needed without the need for forced busing.

Peter listens to Greenwich residents, and has earned the respect and support of hundreds of parents and thousands of registered voters throughout our community.  Unfortunately, some observers seem to dwell on “dysfunction” at the Board, and while that critique may at times seem reasonable, I want to assure you, having attended numerous Board meetings and spoken with dozens of engaged parents and residents, that Peter is part of the future solution, not any past cause of that circumstance. 

Hundreds of parents will be voting for Peter this year because he asks the right questions and truly represents them! Peter is caring, collaborative, competent and dedicated.  He is the steady hand we need for our children.  Our Town should return Peter to the Board.  He’s earned my enthusiastic support!  Greenwich neighbors, please join me in voting for Peter Sherr next Tuesday.

Tim Busler
Greenwich

(Editor’s note: More letters to the editor regarding Greenwich elections may be found in our elections and government categories.

Greenwich Patch will publish election-related letters to the editor through Oct. 31.  The submission deadline was 5 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013.)