Newtown Board of Education Member Thanks Monroe for its School

Monroe came through for Newtown after Sandy Hook Elementary School became a crime scene following the fatal shootings there one month ago, allowing the school to use the mostly vacant Chalk Hill building on Fan Hill Road. On Monday night, Newtown Board of Education member Keith Alexander formally expressed his gratitude at a Monroe Town Council meeting.

"I just want to thank you so much for the use of your school," said an emotional Alexander. "I really can't think of how to say thank you. We just want to thank you over and over again. It's fantastic that this was made available to us."

Town Council Chairwoman Enid Lipeles replied, "Your loss is immeasurable."

Alexander also praised the Monroe Police Department for making the school safe and secure.

During the First Selectman's Update, Monroe First Selectman Steve Vavrek thanked the Town Council for its support of allowing Newtown to use the town's building and for getting things done quickly.

"From the Governor's Office to Congressman Jim Himes' office, it's been a great, great effort," Vavrek said.

He said bad wood was recently removed from the gym floor, replaced and repainted and he praised Jennifer Aguilar and Kelly Plunkett for leading a volunteer effort to build a playground outside the school. "They called someone who happened to be from Sandy Hook," he said of the construction.

Vavrek looked at Alexander and said, "Newtown, you're us, we're you."