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March 23, 2017

Mr. Allan B. Taylor, Chairperson


State Board of Education
238 Whitney Street
Hartford, CT 06105

Dear Chairman Taylor:

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. When I sent my last letter I had hoped you would
have recognized the inappropriateness of your comments describing schools in which the majority of
students are minorities as ghettos. Instead, your response seems to rationalize the statement you
made.

While I appreciate the detailed history of creating racially balanced schools and the clarification that it is
your desire to increase diversity throughout all Fairfield schools, it is troubling to me that there is no
recognition that labeling a large concentration of minority students as a ghetto could be considered
extremely offensive. While the definition of the word ghetto in part refers to an isolated group
(Merriam-Webster), it also refers to connotations of inferior status or limiting opportunity. Just
because a school has a large minority population in no way makes it automatically a place of despair,
inferiority and marginalization, yet that is often what comes to mind when using the word ghetto to
describe a situation which is why such word choice was inappropriate.

I do not believe your response showed sensitivity to the issue that community members have brought to
my attention and I am sure to your attention as well. That makes me question your ability as an
education leader to address the concerns of people throughout our state with an understanding of
differing viewpoints especially regarding sensitive and complex issues.

To address these concerns and move our state forward, I ask that you clarify your views with the
community and issue a formal written apology for the use of language that clearly offended multiple
individuals.

Sincerely,

Len Fasano
Senate Republican President Pro Tempore

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