Snip Snip Snip: And so the Governor Goes.

I was just on my way to put some veggies up on the grill. Husband returning home soon after a long day at the office and I, long since retired from the "9 to 5" routine, must at least put a meal or two in place. Before I took out the cooking utensils, I just had to sneak a peak on my Face Book wall and there it was, GLARING, DEMANDING my immediate attention. The Governor is at it again -- snip, snip, snip, snip snip.

Former head of the state Office of Policy and Management, William Cibes, wrote an editorial in The Hartford Courant yesterday wherein the Governor proposed to eliminate Internet links for schools and libraries, despite the fact that the programs she seeks to cut are funded 50% by the federal government. Yesterday, I was appalled because the Governor is slashing the charter school budget so much so, charter schools are at risk -- period.

Cibes stated, "Cutting $3 million in "Other Expense" funding for the network, would — in the very words of her proposal — eliminate "software licenses, Internet services and local/long distance telecommunications." Defunding would:

• Eliminate all Internet circuits in kindergarten through 12th-grade schools and all libraries in the state.

• Eliminate all filtering of "adult" content for schools and libraries.

• Eliminate service lines to schools and libraries in rural areas of the state." (See full article.)

Further, and in the Governor's own words, her cuts would deprive "Connecticut citizens and students with access to a wide selection of databases and electronic resources to support their educational, cultural, economic and personal interests."

As if eliminating funding for the Internet and other programs associated with it were not enough, the Governor proposes to cut "all funding in the state Department of Education "to purchase replacement textbooks for the technical high schools" is cut for the next two fiscal years."

For certain these are difficult economic times wherein difficult choices must be made. Those choices, however, should not include throwing our education system, our technical and charter schools and our libraries under the bus. Furthermore, cutting those programs that afford us matching (to a degree) federal dollars seems counter-productive.

Tomorrow is another day and once again, we must call Governor Rell at 860-566-4840 or toll-free 800-406-1527 or TDD 860-524-7397 and tell her we cannot destroy our libraries and schools and other vital agencies by eliminating their funding.

Val McCall
State Chair
Organizing for Connecticut

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