Norwich: Board of Education will host legislators, Norwich Bulletin

Norwich: Board of Education will host legislators

Norwich Bulletin

9/14/08

The Board of Education will host a legislative breakfast featuring state and federal elected officials at 8:15 p.m. Oct. 24.

The forum will be at Kelly Middle School, and will be split into federal and state education issues.

Courtney to speak
School Board Chairman Charles Jaskiewicz said U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, is scheduled to address the group about changes to the federal Title 1 program, which Jaskiewicz said could cost Norwich $250,000, and the ongoing No Child Left Behind program.

Aubin leads discussion
The second portion of the program will feature Norwich Superintendent of Schools Pamela Aubin leading a discussion about state issues, including changes to Connecticut’s Education Cost Sharing reimbursement regulations.

Aubin also is expected to discuss a Norwich initiative to teach cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use of automatic external heart defibrillators to all students 12 and older.

Jaskiewicz said invitations to the breakfast will be sent to all local candidates for state and federal office in November, as well as mayors, first selectmen and school superintendents throughout the region.

Courtney Urges High School Students To Get Involved Politically

Montville High School senior Megan Logan, 17, got a chance Wednesday to ask her congressman whether he approves of what President George W. Bush has done in office.

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, said he credits the president for a few things, but that under Bush's leadership the country has gone “backwards.”

About deficit spending: “The cost of interest is growing, and it's going to affect all of you,” Courtney said.
About cutting taxes for the affluent: “Tax breaks to Paris Hilton cost money,” Courtney said.

Courtney has announced plans to visit as many schools in the 2nd District as possible. He was at Montville High School on Wednesday, a visit that included a tour of the school and a question-and-answer session with a class studying American law.
Courtney acknowledged the role of young voters in the November elections. Courtney defeated Rob Simmons by just 83 votes. He said a record number of young people voted, and he received a significant number of votes in college towns such as New London, Storrs and Willimantic.

“There's a pretty good case that they had an impact,” Courtney said.

He urged students at Montville High to get involved in politics.

“I'm not saying that you all have to get out there with fliers, but at least participate,” he said.

Courtney, a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, also spoke about upcoming legislation that will have an affect on students.

One such bill would cut interest for student loans from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent and could save the average student approximately $5,000, Courtney said.

“It can make a difference if a (student) goes to school or not,” he said.

American law teacher George Dawe concurred, saying hefty loan payments can be a burden for young adults.
Courtney also noted the support from the House of Representatives and the Senate to increase the amount of Pell grants, where the federal government provides money to students to pay for college. The amount has not increased in six years, while the cost of tuition continues to rise, he said.

Courtney also talked about a bill to increase minimum wage; a resolution in Congress opposing policy to increase the number of troops in Iraq; casinos affecting local communities; No Child Left Behind legislation and unfunded mandates; the country's dependence on fossil fuels; and the 2008 elections.

Courtney also visited H.H. Ellis Technical High School in Danielson and Norwich Technical High School this week. He plans to visit Stafford High School on Friday.

Montville High School Principal Thomas Amanti said this is the first time a congressman has asked to come to the school and visit with students.

“I think it's great,” Amanti said.

Published in the Montville Times - 2/22/2007

By Amy Renczkowski

Congressman lauds voting to Ellis Tech youths

As published in the Norwich Bulletin, February 21, 2007

DANIELSON -- The proposal on the Democratic agenda in the first 100 hours of Congress that won the most support from Republicans was the measure that cut interest rates on student college loans.

"That wasn't a coincidence," U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, told students Tuesday morning at Harvard Ellis Technical High School. "It wasn't a matter of members of Congress being nice people. It was a reaction to the impact that young people had on Congress in the last election."

Younger voters, especially those 18 to 25, turned out in higher numbers in November than in any previous elections since 18-year-olds were given the right to vote in 1972. The result was a shift in power as Democrats regained control of both chambers of Congress.

"The more you vote, the more politicians are going to pay attention to your issues," Courtney said, noting in past elections, politicians and candidate focused on issues concerning older Americans who are more likely to vote.

"But that's changing," he said. "And it is a change that is important for the future of this country."

Traditionally, 18- to 25-year-olds avoid elections, registering the lowest percentage turnout of any age group. Most young people say they don't vote because they're not convinced their vote matters.

Courtney hopes to dispel that belief, using his victory in November as an example of how important those votes are. Courtney won by 83 votes out of more than 240,000 cast -- the closest congressional race in the country in 2006. He attributes his victory to the higher turnout of young voters.

"That was pretty shocking," said Samantha D'Anna, 16, of Plainfield, a hairdressing student.

D'Anna was one of 10 students selected to pose questions to Courtney during the hourlong assembly. The topics included gas prices, education, the war in Iraq, possible reinstatement of the draft and global warming.

There also were questions on gay marriage, which Courtney said should be left to the states to decide; and dairy farming subsidies, which he supports.

The students gave Courtney high marks for his answers.

"I understood everything he was saying about the questions we asked him," D'Anna said.

Still, his point about the impact of younger voters on changing the outcome of elections surprised her.

"I didn't get it at first," added Robert Smith, 15 and a sophomore from Plainfield, "but when you think about it, it makes sense. Every person has a different way of looking at things, so I can see where one age group could have a different opinion."

"If I leave you with one thing to remember today," Courtney said, "it's this: No group is more affected by the decisions being made in Washington, D.C., than you, the young people in this country. And Congress is paying attention because of the way young people impacted this last election."