State Senator Toni Boucher Reappointed to Committee to Review Eligible School Projects

HARTFORD – State Senate Toni Boucher (R-26) has been reappointed to the Committee to Review School Construction Regulations and Property Listings for School Construction Projects.

Senator Boucher, one of eight members on the committee, will be tasked with determining if property listings are compliant with Connecticut General Statute and standards and regulations established by the State Board of Education.

“I am honored to have been reappointed to this committee,” said Senator Boucher. “I have been a long-time champion of better education and schools for the children and future generations of our state. This role is a great opportunity to ensure that appropriate and beneficial school construction projects are completed and financed with proper oversight.”

Pursuant to section 10-283 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a committee to review the listings of eligible school building projects is appointed annually, and consists of eight standing members of the General Assembly. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the Senate each appoint two legislators to the committee.

Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, who appointed Senator Boucher, pointed to her desire to volunteer time as well as her dedicated background in education saying, “Toni’s expertise, leadership on the General Assembly’s education committees and commitment to state service will be of great value. Her efforts are very much appreciated.”

As the current Ranking member of the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee and the Higher Education Committee, Senator Boucher helps to oversee legislation relating to the state Department of Education, local and regional school boards, Connecticut Public Universities and Community Colleges, state libraries, museums and other historical associations. She previously served as Ranking Member of the Select Committee on Children, working on legislation dealing with children’s issues.

Senator Boucher became known in the legislature as an outspoken advocate for education at all levels when she was a State Representative. She authored and helped pass legislation to reduce the mandatory age at which a child must enroll in school from seven to five, and reformed bilingual education, and helped institute the Connecticut College Trust Fund to help parents save for their children’s college education. She successfully worked for legislation to promote early reading success, preschool education programs for disadvantaged children and to enhance educational accountability.

Senator Boucher’s involvement with education and youth issues pre-dates her service in the General Assembly. She has served as a member of the Connecticut State Board of Education, where she chaired its committees on policy and long-range planning. From 1986 to 1994, she served on the Wilton Board of Education, during which time she was both the chair and secretary. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Wilton Education Foundation and five school/community based planning teams; the Quality and Integrated Education Local Planning Committee and the Foreign Language Task Force (1978-92).

Also, she was active in the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education and the National Association of State Boards of Education; Wilton YMCA Expansion Fund; Board of the Wilton Youth Council’s Project 94, 96 and 2000; Technology Task Force (1993-present); Gifted Task Force (1988-90); and the Wilton Parent-Teacher Associations. Early in her career, Senator Boucher worked as a translator and secondary education language teacher. She is fluent in Spanish and Italian.