Conflict of Interest in the School Board?

I will begin by saying that Milford is not a town filled with gossipers or conspiracy nuts, and do not possess a lynch mob mentality.  We are concerned parents and residents.  If we are critical of the long range plans being proposed, it is for a damn good reason. We have a school board that is perceived to have no credibility.  You can almost compare it to the “The boy who cried wolf”. We need to keep in mind that this decision will impact our children’s academic future and welfare.  When we vote our representatives into office, we put our trust in their hands that they will perform their jobs at their highest level and in an ethical manner.  Well, what we hope for and what we actually receive are two things altogether different.  There have been serious ethical concerns raised regarding conflict of interest involving members of our school board, the consultants, and their affiliation with special interest organizations.  Both Dr. Feser and Mr. Cummings are sitting members on the Long Range Planning Committee as well as members of the CT Assoc. of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS).  One other person who is a sitting member on the committee is the external consultant, who is also a member of CAPSS.  At first glance one may say, so what?; but what people do not realize is that this association has a 2014 Public Policy Agenda which proposes, and I quote "That the CSDE (CT State Dept. of Education) develop with meaningful participation by all relevant parties a state wide plan for magnet schools".  My concern is only heightened due to the fact that Stefan Pryor (Commissioner of CSDE), who is a proponent, is also on the Board of Directors of CAPSS.   My main reason for this article is a concern that all options are NOT being presented to the parents on the Long Range Committee as it falls outside of the CAPSS agenda.  In fact, every option being proposed has this element within it.  I would ask that everyone just think for a moment, wouldn’t the President of an organization following this educational agenda be the most suitable person to implement it within their own district?  There is no agenda for those opposing these options, no aspirations to advance to public office, no strategic plans in place with economic development groups, or any career ambitions that go beyond our town. We are simply parents and residents who want to preserve our school system for the sake of our kids, their future, and our town. It's our responsibility to make sure they receive the same type of education as we did.  There is a reason why Apathy is every elected official’s strongest ally.  Don’t let our kids become a casualty of it.