Windham Education Forum & Help For Our Veterans

March 7, 2025


I was proud to join the community for an open and engaging conversation about education, learning in the classroom, and funding the needs of our children. Please read below for more information.

Windham's new town manager joined my weekly radio show to share his story before taking this important job. Keep scrolling to learn more about his approach to save the town money in his budget proposal.

Connecticut remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting our veterans. Keep reading for a deep dive into how we're helping our heroes who have devoted their lives to serving our great nation.

Here are the sections in today's email:

  • Windham Education Forum
  • Let's Talk About It: New Town Manager
  • Veterans’ Property Tax Exemption
 
Windham Education Forum
I would like to thank everyone who participated in our important community discussion about Connecticut's current education laws and the proposed legislation for this year's session. Your engagement and thoughtful contributions made for a productive and insightful conversation.
Special thanks to our local school officials for their expertise and commitment, and to the public for bringing their voices and perspectives to the table. Together, we took a deep dive into how our state funds the education opportunities necessary to support the diverse learning styles of our students.
The dialogue is essential as we work toward policies that ensure every child has access to the resources they need to succeed. Let's continue this conversation and push for meaningful improvements in our education system!
Click here to watch the entire discussion
 
Let's Talk About It: New Town Manager

Our new Windham Town Manager joined my co-host and me for a conversation on “Let's Talk About It!” Robert Zarnetske has been on the job for more than a month and just presented the town's new budget.

Zarnetske has a long and varied professional history, making him uniquely qualified for his new role in our community. He's an alumnus of Eastern Connecticut State University, the University of Connecticut, and University of Oregon Law School. After college he worked in Washington, D.C. for multiple federal agencies, doing everything from coding programs for the Department of Transportation to working for the Department of Education. He also practiced law in Connecticut for several years.

In this week's episode, Rob breaks down why he believes his time in Windham during young adulthood set him up for success across multiple professions. He also details his approach to the town budget. He emphasized that transparency with the public is key to budgeting responsibly.

Please click on the video below to listen to the entire show and learn more about the key issues Rob is trying to address, his background, his connections to Windham, and much more.
Our new Windham Town Manager Robert Zarnetske discusses his budget proposal.
 
Veterans’ Property Tax Exemption
We took a significant step in supporting veterans by passing legislation this week that provides much-needed tax relief for those who are 100% permanently and totally disabled due to their military service. This bill recognizes the sacrifices made by these veterans and aims to ease their financial burden by reducing property tax obligations, allowing them to keep more of their hard-earned income for essential needs.
By passing this measure, Connecticut reaffirms its commitment to honoring and supporting those who have given so much for our country, ensuring they receive the assistance and recognition they deserve.