We-Ha.com is offering our readers the opportunity to meet the candidates running in the Nov. 7, 2023 municipal election. 

Compiled by Ronni Newton

We-Ha.com is offering our readers the opportunity to “Meet the Candidate” – designed to help them get to know the candidates running for office in the 2023 municipal election.

Identical questionnaires have been sent to all candidates, and each profile received has been submitted directly to We-Ha.com by the candidate or the candidate’s campaign management. The responses have not been edited but have been formatted to match our publication style. Questions left blank have been deleted.

As profiles are received, they will be published on We-Ha.com under the “Government” tab. We-Ha.com is not making endorsements of any political candidates but we are publishing this information in order to assist voters in being informed and prepared when they go to the polls on Nov. 7.

If you are a candidate and wish to submit a profile, please return it by email to Ronni Newton at [email protected] as soon as possible.

BOARD OF EDUCATION CANDIDATE

Name: Roni Rodman

Party affiliation: A Connecticut Party – West Hartford

Family information: I have been married to my husband Marc Rodman for 25 years. We have three children, Alec (22) a graduate of UCONN, Max (20) a junior at Arizona State University, and Savannah (16) a sophomore at Hall High School.

Primary occupation:  Consultant for Medical Practices

Previous political experience: I was appointed to the The Conservation & Environment Commission of West Hartford 2020-2022 and have my undergraduate degree in Political Science from UCSD

Other relevant experience that may be related to your desire to serve the community, and further qualifies you for the office you are seeking:

• I have my Masters in Education from Boston University
• Taught 8th grade math and science  in the Salem Massachusetts School System
• Tutored for Academic Coaching Associates- West Hartford tutoring K-12 in Math and Science
• Had all three of my children attend (BUGBEE, KP, and HALL). WHILE THERE.
  • I have been a room parent (many times)
  • KP PTO president (5 years)
  • KPPTO Treasurer
  • PTO Board member at Hall (CONCESSIONS)
  • Little League Baseball Coach
• Treasuer of the WEST HARTFORD YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE.

Why are you running for office? I think that the BOE should not involve politics and that board members should be parents that know what happens in ALL aspects of the schools. I also think that running on the ACP platform gives me the ability to achieve these goals without being politically motivated to choose a side so the board can meet in the middle.

What issue(s) are your primary area of focus? Air conditioning in the schools, safety within the schools, and quality of teaching within the schools

West Hartford Public Schools, like districts throughout the country, has had the benefit of ESSER funds for additional services and staff to assist students with learning loss and other pandemic-related issues, but those funds will soon disappear. How should the BOE prioritize which, if any, services to continue to maintain and to fund in the future? These funds should ABSOLUTELY be used to complete the air quality of  the schools. This was promised and never delivered.  ALL SCHOOLS should be air conditioned and equipped with filtration systems. This should be a priority.

What is your opinion of the role of parents in shaping curriculum for West Hartford Public Schools? I think that there should be parent input. With that said I think that teachers that are trained in the curriculum should be the guiding force on this subject. That is what they are educated to do. Having parent representatives working with the educators are a great way to get parents involved.

What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing West Hartford Public Schools today, and how do you plan to address it if elected? I feel that the biggest challenge is to end the political control of the school. Our educators and parents know what is right for our students and too often politics get in the way. The board is a perfect example of this. (If you would like to read further please read my letter to the editor. https://we-ha.com/letter-concern-about-political-agendas-guiding-board-of-education/

What do you feel differentiates you from the candidates from other parties also running for this position? I am NOT doing this to promote my political career or agenda. I truly want to help and volunteer my time for the betterment our our education system in WEHA

Anything else you would like to share relevant to earning votes on Nov. 7? Vote for Roni Rodman the person who happens to be a member of A CONNECTICUT PARTY – WEHA, don’t vote just because your party says who to vote for. KNOW who you are voting for. If you have any questions, just email me or ask me [email protected]

If you have read this far, thank you for taking the time to learn about me.

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