Niche, a national education organization, recently ranked Ridgefield Public Schools as the 5th best school district in Connecticut. Even so, like every district, we face real challenges. Maintenance issues – such as delayed repairs to leaking roofs – should have been addressed more quickly. The schools project almost $200 million in capital needs over the next decade. Teacher compensation lags behind neighboring towns, driving turnover. A bachelor’s-degreed teacher in their 10th year earns nearly $15,000 less annually in Ridgefield than in Wilton. Just like our police officers and firefighters, our teachers deserve respect, stability, and competitive pay.
Ridgefield is also facing demographic pressures. Over the past 20 years – from when I was a student – student enrollment has declined from 5,560 to roughly 4,360, a 22% decrease. The number of public school students with special gifts and learning needs have nearly doubled from 9.0% in 2015 to 17.9% in 2025. Large class sizes can compound learning needs.
Our school system is Ridgefield’s most valuable asset and represents approximately 70% of the town’s total budget. It needs leaders with real skin in the game – people with a direct stake in its success.
We will serve as Recruiter-in-Chief to encourage more families to choose Ridgefield Public Schools; ensure teacher salaries are competitive with neighboring towns; reduce class sizes while managing costs; launch TigerCorps, a free college-prep program connecting RHS alumni with college-aspiring seniors; develop partnerships for vocational and high-ROI career pathways such as HVAC; implement a long-term, responsible plan for school facilities that addresses maintenance and capital improvements; and establish a dedicated education foundation to support long-term excellence.
We will espouse strong fiscal stewardship and management of taxpayer dollars. We will ensure any new spending will be accompanied by corresponding revenue generation.