Stonington Schools Superintendent Van Riley recently objected to the Finance Board's questioning how budgets were spent. He was asking for an additional administrator to evaluate teachers. I support the board in questioning his request and the federally-mandated, state-required compliance created by businesspeople, not educators, that has never been field tested.

Common Core is big business for Bill Gates and Wall Street. Driven by President Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, after a donation from Gates, state governors signed on to receive federal funding. Ten states have not.

CC devalues divergent thinking and creativity. One-third of a teacher's evaluation is based on scores. If scores don't improve, jobs are jeopardized. Schools seek funds for administrators, teachers of challenged students, computers, computer technicians, broadband increases and software/ curriculum materials that cover new SBAC tests.

Thomas Scarice, Madison's superintendent, has the courage to come out against CC stating recently, " Such tests do not and cannot, measure the skills and traits necessary for competing in the global economy."

Connecticut has had excellent standards and yearly standardized tests. CC is a political issue with financial and curriculum implications. Think about your next tax bill. Finance boards must question how budgets are spent.