Representative Town Meeting Annual Budget Meeting Materials - Day 4 (linked)

Dear Waterford RTM,
{ would first like to thank you for the time and consideration that you have given to the budget. it is a
taxing job and a decision that | do not envy.
| am writing this letter in response to your recent decision to cut $470,000 from the education budget.
it is my hope that you seriously reconsider this decision. A cut of this amount will tremendously impact
the students in our town. A number this large can only be obtained by cutting staff and services. This
will impact our students greatly.
Waterford has always taken pride in our education system, often referred to as a premier district. This
is due to the services and programs that our system is able to provide. Our students score in the top
third percentile in Connecticut. Our students get accepted into excellent programs and colleges beyond
our system, because of the strong foundation that we have built in grades k-12.
l understand that these are times of uncertainty. | know firsthand how this has already impacted our
students. They have shared with me that they are sad. They miss their friends, family members and
their teachers. They miss sports and play dates. They are scared of getting sick. Their whole little
worlds have literally been turned upside down and they don’t know why. They are following new rules
they've never known. Let’s keep this in mind, this impact that these children are already feeling. [am
hopeful that you will not take any more from them,
| ask you to please continue to invest in the most important members of our community, our children.
Asa parent and taxpayer, | strongly believe they are our best investments! | know they deserve it!
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Sue Tonucci