Debate Season Kicks off With VEA Event

The town's four mayoral candidates took center stage at the Rockville High School auditorium on Wednesday in the first debate of the season.

The event was sponsored by the Vernon Education Association and was attended by about 150.

The candidates are, in randomly selected order:

• James Krupienski, a petitioning candidate and current unaffiliated Town  Council member.

• Gordon Paterson, a registered Republican running as an petitioning candidate with no party affiliation. He has sat on numerous boards in town.

• George Apel, the endorsed Republican candidate who is currently the treasurer for the Board of Education.

• Pauline Schaefer, the endorsed Democratic candidate currently sitting on the Town Council.

Questions were thrown at the candidates over wide range of topics, but some emphasis, particularly early on, was placed on education. Here is a sampling.

On how they would support the school system:

Apel: "The Board of Education is extremely important to any town. We have a new superintendent who we hired last year who is improving the standards of our school system. She has started with the teachers and that will lead to the students. We have team teaching now that is set up to discuss what we can do better. We have coaches for teachers. I am in total support of what we are doing in the school system. The problem is the scores. Let's remember that they keep going up 10 percent. That is not an excuse, but it shows the bar is going up."

Krupienski: "The mayor's attention turns to the school system during the budget season itself. I would meet more often with the superintendent, but budget season it the most important time. While the board has its desires, it still needs to show fiscal responsibility. We can keep that in line and still give the school system what it needs. Managing the school system? That's why we have a board of education, I would be aware of stepping on toes and know what support the Town Council and mayor can give the superintendent."

Paterson: "Education is an important issue, primarily for two reasons:

1. It is easily the largest part of the budget, and;

2. Education is the first thing young families look at either moving into town or staying,

The mayor has to rely on the professionals to make decisions on curriculum.  I would work with the Board of Education to be an effective advocate and also produce opportunities for students to interface with other students. We could use Valley Falls and the Tolland County Agricultural Center."

Schaefer: "As a 13-year member of the Board of Education in the past, after being educated in the Vernon school system, having four children educated in the Vernon school system and now with five grandchildren here, I have a vested interest in it. I will make sure they have the same quality education. I think you will see improved results. Enrollment is going down, but we can take advantage of that weigh class size."

On attracting young families to town.

Krupienski: "The mayor can supplement Board of Education programs - like after school programs."

Paterson: "Diversity is one thing that makes the Vernon school system very strong. We should make an effort to explain that to people and use that as a positive thing."

Schaefer: "There are many ways to attract people. We have good recreation and we have wonderful school buildings. We can rely on Dr. Conway to promote the school system and work together. We have young teachers which is an advantage but we must have affordable housing and jobs."

Apel: "As mayor I can be the best marketing agent going and market our product. We should take every opportunity to market our school system. We have a good school system."