Letter: Greenwich BOE Chair Responds To First Selectman Newsletter

Greenwich Board of Education Chair Karen Hirsh has issued a letter to the editor in response to First Selectman Fred Camillo's most recent community newsletter

I am writing in response to the May 9th Community Connections newsletter issued by the Office of the First Selectman. It is disappointing that Mr. Camillo’s message omitted key facts and misrepresents the legal and procedural realities involving the Board of Education (BOE).

For the record, Mr. Camillo has filed both a Freedom of Information (FOI) complaint and a lawsuit in Connecticut Superior Court against the Board of Education. To date, these two actions have already cost Greenwich taxpayers over $200,000 - public funds that instead could have directly supported our schools and students. In both matters, Mr. Camillo is the plaintiff, meaning he initiated these proceedings and that he also has the power to end them at any time and prevent hundreds of thousands - potentially millions - of additional taxpayer dollars from being spent on litigation.

Furthermore, it is inappropriate and concerning that Mr. Camillo is using official town communication platforms to advocate for his personal position in an ongoing legal matter. Public trust in governmental communication relies on transparency and neutrality, not selective messaging.

The Greenwich Board of Education is made up entirely of volunteers committed to serving our community with integrity and focus. Despite the distractions posed by these legal actions, we remain steadfast in our core mission: ensuring a high-quality public education for every student in Greenwich.

Sincerely,

Karen Hirsh
Chair, Greenwich Board of Education