FAIRFIELD — First Selectman Bill Gerber apologized Friday, Feb. 28 to public school teachers after he made disparaging comments about a company that provided professional development during a Board of Selectmen meeting on Wednesday.
“I offer my sincere apologies to all Fairfield Public School teachers for the way I recently worded my concerns about a $1.7 million line item in the Board of Education (BOE) proposed budget on Wednesday, February 26,” Gerber said in a written statement. “The expense I referenced relates to a permanent path to increase salary (sometimes referred to as a ‘lane change’ within collective bargaining agreement schedules) for teachers who complete coursework for professional development.
“My incorrect understanding and mischaracterization of this budgeted expense originated from a joint meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at Town Hall with Fairfield Public Schools and BOE leadership, together with several members of my leadership staff.”
He agreed with a statement made that The Teaching Channel (a third-party provider) was described as “a diploma mill” and that certain coursework completed through that provider is not sufficiently relevant to curriculum to warrant a “lane change.”
See meeting video here.
He pointed out that after the Feb. 26 meeting he found out the Fairfield Public Schools administration had already notified teachers in an interoffice memo that “effective January 6, 2025, courses from The Teaching Channel or similar third-party providers will no longer be considered for ‘approved graduate work at accredited colleges or universities’”
“As one teacher told me: ‘next time, check with teachers to ensure you have the full picture,’ Gerber said. “This is good advice that I will follow going forward.”
and educational excellence.”
Fairfield Republicans on their Facebook responded right away to Gerber’s original statement with a headline that read: “Gerber Asks Teachers to Reopen Contract While Criticizing ‘Fly By Night’ Online Diplomas; Claims Doesn’t Like Being Ripped Off”
“At a time when school districts across the country are grappling with severe teacher shortages and the skyrocketing costs of higher education, First Selectman Gerber has launched an unnecessary and insulting attack on Fairfield Public School teachers for their pursuit of continuing education,” they stated.
“During the Board of Selectmen budget meeting on Feb. 26, he characterized accredited online programs as ‘fly-by-night’ online diploma factories,’ a statement that is not only dismissive but deeply offensive to the hardworking educators who dedicate themselves to professional growth for the benefit of their students.”
