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BOE Candidate Focus: Albert Barrueco

By Steve Goode

October 15, 2009

Here's the second of our BOE Candidate Focus series.

Albert Barrueco, a Democrat.

Click below to read more.

NAME

Albert Llosas Barrueco

AGE

27

NEIGHBORHOOD YOU LIVE IN

Downtown (Charter Oak Neighborhood) (Home Owner)

PROFESSION

Attorney (Day Pitney LLP, Hartford)

FAMILY

Single (Mother, Father, & Brother (12 years old) live in Seymour, CT)

YEARS IN HARTFORD

Moved to the Hartford Area for law school in 2004. Settled in Hartford after graduating from the Univ. of Connecticut School of Law in 2007.

In 200 words or less:

What is the most pressing education issue affecting city students and how do [you] plan to address it?

The most pressing education issue affecting Hartford students is the ability of the school system to continue improving student achievement and retention in light of serious financial constraints. The District's commitment to the current reform efforts and to improving the quality of education will be tested as the school board is forced to grapple with increasing costs and difficult budget cuts.

However, as tougher fiscal, strategic and political decisions loom, I would remain committed to improving education quality. In order for the District not to turn its back on Hartford's children, the school board will be required to do more with less. If elected, I would not be afraid of trying new approaches or thinking "outside the box." I would encourage more partnering with businesses, philanthropists, non-profits, and other community organizations for more financial, strategic, and intellectual support in order to maintain progress in light of new financial constraints. The key to success involves the employment of multiple strategies: continuing the reform efforts, maintaining small learning environments, listening to and supporting our teachers, increasing graduation rates, restructuring our commitment to children with special needs, promoting accountability through school-choice, and engaging parents to become more active partners in the education process.