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Health & Fitness

Reflections On 'Back To School' And The 'Electoral Process'

Acknowledging EG's excellent school system, our concerns in maintaining this excellence, and the importance of voting in the upcoming primaries on September 11.


In a bittersweet moment this afternoon, we tightly hugged our freshman daughter before we left her in her new home-away-from-home at Northeastern University.  It seems like just yesterday we were nervously dropping her off for her first day of with Mrs. Sequino ... and then there was that first day of kindergarten with Mrs. Testoni ... and on we go from there. Our daughter has been blessed with some of the finest teachers and school administrators in the state, right here in East Greenwich. I couldn't begin to list them all, but they know who they are. Thank you for all of your guidance, inspiration, care, and understanding. 

We realize it has not been easy to maintain such high standards in light of unfunded mandates, exponential increases in administrative costs (i.e., health care, energy, facility maintenance), numerous program cuts, tighter regulations, and pressure to "teach to the tests."  Achieving a #1 status in the state has required significant creativity, critical problem solving, clear communication, and collaboration. What's remarkable is that E.G. citizens have managed to ante-up some 5 percent in tax increases every year to maintain this excellence.

That said, a good many of us have reached a financial straining point, and something must be done to relieve the pressure. September 11 is Primary Voting Day. Only about 2,200 citizens in our town are registered as "Republicans," about 2,000 are "Democrats," another 6,000, or so, are registered as "Unaffiliated." In the grand scheme of things, it is not your political afficiliation that matters. What matters is that you are an East Greenwich citizen; we are all in this together. If you want to have an influence on the future of our schools and our children, spend some time researching the viewpoints and backgrounds of ALL the candidates. 

Find out what's happening in East Greenwichwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

If you are uncertain, call the candidates up, share your concerns, and ask them some pointed questions. Listen to how they respond, and make an informed decision. Your vote counts! 

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