Politics & Government

Brennan and Skibitsky Agree on Obama Education Plan

Mayoral candidates believe education policy is best left to Board of Education.

George W. Bush may have made the campaign pledge to be a "uniter and not a divider" but in the world of Westfield politics, Barack Obama is the president who has managed to unite Republican Mayor Andy Skibitsky and his Democratic challenger, Bill Brennan.

When questioned about the president's proposed plan to extend the school day by 90 minutes and the school year by a month, both candidates declined to state an opinion on the plan, saying education policy is best left in the hands of the Board of Education. Under state law, the mayor has no control over the actions of the independently elected school board.

"Part of being a good mayor, hopefully, is to leave the Board of Education and school issues to the board," Brennan said.

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Skibitsky's comments were remarkably similar to Brennan's. Neither of them were near each other when they were asked for comment on the Obama education plan.

"I will let the Westfield Board of Education dictate education policy," he said. "They have done a good job."

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Skibitsky elaborated further on the subject than Brennan. Speaking as a parent, he noted his two sons in high school may not have the time to go to school more.

"My children don't have much free time between school and extracurricular activities," Skibitsky said.

 

 


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