Candidates Face Off at Education Debate

Incumbent State Senator Bob Duff (D) and Republican opponent Artie Kassimis squared off on education related issues during a debate at City Hall on Thursday night. Organized by the League of Women Voters of Norwalk and REd Apples of Norwalk, the two hour forum  was attended by all of Norwalk’s legislative candidates who focused on state funding of schools, the achievement gap, Race to the Top, charter schools and teacher merit pay.
Throughout the debate, Duff called education a “priority” that is linked with the long term success of the state. “Employers want an educated workforce,” he said. Kassimis focused on the state’s fiscal problems n repeatedly mentioning the state’s $3.4 billion deficit. “We have to tighten our belt. They [the Democrats] continue to sign bills that cost money. Who is going to pay for them?” he said.

Kassimis questioned why Norwalk was not receiving more money through the Educational Cost Sharing formula by which school districts in the state are allotted money per pupil. “Why is Norwalk not getting more money. We only get 8 cent on the dollar of what we send to Hartford,” he said. Kassimis faulted Duff for allowing Meriden, the town represented by Senator Thomas Gaffey, chair of the Senate’s appropriations committee to receives five times the funding that Norwalk receives despite being much smaller in size. Kassimis incorrectly referred to Duff as the vice chair of the appropriations committee. While not vice chair, Duff is a member of the committee.

“The formula is completely flawed,” said Kassimis. “Norwalk is being punished.”

“I have never been vice chairman of the committee, “ said Duff who focused of his bipartisan work to bring funds to Norwalk. While Kassimis said that funding has decreased in the last 10 years, Duff said that the amount of state funding to Norwalk increased 24% in the first four years of his term, before the recession. “We have to continue to fight for Norwalk on a bipartisan basis,” he said.

Early childhood education was cited by both candidates as the primary way to reduce the achievement gap. Both candidates support lifting the cap on charter school in the state. “Some children have different needs and learn better in different environments,” said Duff, explaining that while he supports charter schools they are are not a “silver bullet.”

Kassimis said he was not in favor of tying student test scores to merit pay for teachers, which is a central component of the Obama Administration’s education reform agenda. “This will pit teachers against each other,” said Kassimis. “Teachers are not doing this for the money, they are doing it for the kids. We lose the purpose of teaching if we base it on money.” Duff, however, said merit pay can be “done well”, based on a collaborative model, as is the case in New Haven.

Both candidates addressed the state’s rejected Race to the Top application. Kassimis said he supported the grant’s general goal to raise standards, but says that the stat is now burdened with $17 million of expenses to pay for increased high school graduation requirements. “Who is going to pay for the additional teachers?” he asked, also noting that the application did not address how to further early childhood education.

“I will not apologize for supporting Race to the Top,”  said Duff.  “The bill was about higher standards in math, science and world languages.  We must march forward.” 

After the first round of debate,  six of Norwalk’s legislative candidates shared the stage.  Chris Perone (D) & opponent Joanne Romano (R) of 137 District, Larry Cafero (R) & Anna Duleep (D) of the142rd District: Peggy Reeves (D) & Gail Lavielle (R) of the 143rd district discussed charter schools, the achievement gap, student achievement, and state funding to schools.


Regarding the achievement gap, Lavielle discussed the importance of early childhood learning and the necessity of making sure that children are reading by third grade. Reeves concurred suggesting that the state have universal preschool. Duleep, a Harvard graduate, talked about the importance of high expectations for minority students. “We need to challenge stereotypes and have high standards,” she said. Her opponent Larry Cafero said that parent involvement is the key to success. Romano cautioned about “constantly putting kids into categories.” Perone talked about the importance to making education a focus of the executive branch.

When asked about the first thing that they would do for education if elected, almost all of them said they try and bring more money to the city. “We have to reformulate the ECS formula,” said Romano referring to the formula by which districts receive state funding. Cafero went as far as to say that the decision about the ECS formula should be taken out of the legislature. “Let’s create a group outside of politics.” The Republican candidates, ?

On the topic of funding, the debate ended with Duleep questioning why Larry Cafero’s law firm, Brown, Rudnick, of Hartford, a top tier firm in Hartford continues to serve as expulsion officers for the Norwalk Board of Education. “We are spending $40,000 on expulsion hearings. We cannot afford that caliber of law firm. Isn’t there a less expensive alternative?” asked Duleep citing a study by the BOE finance committee.

“There are budgeted legal feels. I am doing a credible job and am entitled to be compensated,” said Cafero.