Next Tuesday (Aug. 18) I have an interview scheduled with William R. Papallo, Norwalk's interim Superintendent of Schools. Although he will be in charge of day-to-day operations of our schools temporarily Dr. Papallo will still be making decisions that will have longterm impacts. It's important to know where he stands on certain issues.
I've started compiling a list of questions to ask him but I want to make sure that I get answers to questions that are on your mind. If you have a question that you would like me to ask Dr. Papallo please e-mail me at norwalknet@gmail.com or write something in the comments section.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
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The teacher's contract is up for renewal in August 2010. It might be under dicussion right now by the Board of Education. What part will Dr. Papollo play in that? How does he feel about the suggestion that the contract be extended for the minimum time allowed by law so that a new Superintendent can be a bigger part of that discussion and whatever decisions are made?
ReplyDeleteIt is well known throughout the district that there are several abusive and bullying administrators. This fact has been ignored, stonewalled, and covered up for years. Race has and continues to play a part in this problem. Does Dr. Pappalo have any plans to face this issue?
ReplyDeleteSince Dr. Pappallo will be part of the superintendent search, what types of entities will he be suggesting to help with the search? Will he and the Board look outside of traditional consultants and see what other organizations, like the Broad Center for one, wwww.broadcenter.org, have to offer districts who are looking for new district leaders?
ReplyDeleteBill thank you for holding the helm, exemplary sir. We are fortunate to have you helping us get our acts togther.
ReplyDeleteQuestions? There are many but Bills job is to keep the motor running and the gentlemen is very capable.
The first couple of weeks of school opening is a challenge in a normal enviroment but this is a doozzie and thats why Bill accepted, he dont need no dough, he is in it for the challenge.
Cant help but truly admire and respect the man.
We are in very capable hands with a gentleman of such experince and understanding.
I think Bill is the type of guy that rather relishing the spotlight he appears to be a mover and shaker and tuned in to the value communications and talent.
I imagine Paps will be asking us what we think is our weaknesses that we must focus upon and what we need to shore up support in areas we are improving.
In fact he already has a new comment page up and running on our districts site for anyone to communicate with him.
There is no magicial czar than can come in wave a wand and make all the children sucessfull overnight. Gonna take some work yet in the trenches but we are finally moving forward.
I would be interested in what the Paps thinks of the ongoing E.C.S. case stuck in court and in the capitol.
Also, would love to pick the gentlemen's brain on what he can add to the debate that has begun for Norwalk and the State regarding reorganization and compliance to meet requirements to acceses the huge pot of gold that our President has tossed on the table.
Our chief says, okay, yes there is a problem, heres the dough, do what you need to to get the the resource and get it where its working and replicate.
Have to admit our Pres. has a very full plate and he is working hard to level the playing field, but any commander knows it takes the the troops to triumph.
Tracking data on students combined with teachers. We have alot of data but we dont have the data and organized in a way we need to break it down into real world.
Yes I beleive there are negotions underway for the unions; it is supported that the quickest way to get access to resources, substatial resources that are available to us, is to put cameras in all classrooms.
Like it or not its coming and it will have dramatic effect in so many positive ways. The union must embrace this as it will benefit the students and the teachers and there are many teachers really out there giving it there heart and soul.
Yes its an expenditure but its coming.
Every parent will suppot this and those teachers that have done so much giving, even of there own money to buy supplies for the disadvantaged and coming in early and going home late helping the kids that need more attetion. These teachers will get the recognition they deserve and have never been acknowleged, they will be noticed.
Cameras in the classrooms are coming, funding is available. Bids need to go out this year.
The other obstacle that must be tackled immediately is some legislation that is blocking access to to that pot of gold.
So lots of work to do but we can get it done.
We are all working to give every child an equal shot and together we will make that goal a reality.
So Paps, we dont have much time here, can you perhaps share your thoughts with us on some of the barriers you see in pursuing Race to the Top and what must be done and where the lazer focus should be directed?
If there is any district that deserves a shot to get at that significant amount of assisstance, its our district.
We need all the help we can get and as fast as we can get it.
Tells us Paps, what do we have to do to reach for the sky and actually be abale to grab hold?
The motivation and inspiration is present, what do we have to get done?
People waking up and standing up, how can we get that prize Paps?
Cameras in the classroom will not happen; furthermore, it is a ridiculous idea. And note that I am not a teacher, nor do I have any relatives who are teachers. The atmosphere that that would create would put Big Brother to shame.
ReplyDeleteThere is a $650 million district version of 'Race to the Top' funding. This requires innovation at the district level. The 'Race to the Top' funding is at the State level. Does Norwalk schools or the Board have any plans to try to tap into that $650 million funding? Does it have any initiatives in the works?
ReplyDeleteEven though the State doesn't track teachers and students progress yet, does Norwalk have the capabilities to that?
ReplyDeleteWill Dr. Papallo and the Board of Education ensure that the superintendent search process is open and accessible to the public and community, that there will be public forums and feedback sessions? Can you ask him what phase of the process that they are at right now? Will he be willing to keep you up to date as this process moves along?
ReplyDeleteNorwalk does have the ability to track the progress of individual students on standardized tests -- and by extension their teachers.
ReplyDeleteTo do this requires comparing the scale scores of students (as opposed to proficiency, goal, etc.) from one year to the next. These scores are more revealing than what the public reads and hears about.
For instance, a child may score at the proficiency level two years running, which shows no improvement. But an examination of his or her actual scores on the exams might reveal that he or she improved 50 or 60 points from one year to the next. Even though the child is still at the proficiency level, the child and the teachers should be commended.
The opposite is also true. A child's score may decrease by 50 or 60 points but still stay within the proficiency range. In this case, even though the child is deemed proficient, some type of intervention may be called for (which, in some cases, could very well focus on what his or her teacher has been doing).
New York City, where I teach, has been using this type of analysis for a few years. While it does make it easier to map progress, it, too, has its problems.
One recent study showed that the recent improvement in scores in NYC -- essentially, the percentage of students who moved from below grade level to at grade level -- reflected minimal change in the actual scores on tests.
In laypeople's terms, thousands of kids went from a C+ to a B-. This, of course, might be applauded. However, closer analyses of the actual tests -- despite what the testing companies say -- indicated they were one or two questions easier -- enough to tilt the scores of an entire system.
During the early part of this decade, before the implications of No Child Left Behind had fully sunk in, I was teaching fourth grade in NYC. At the time, most statewide standardized tests were quite difficult.
A few years into the decade, teachers and administrators started to notice there were large clusters of students who were missing grade level by one or two questions. During the 2003-04 school year, I had 13 students (out of 32) who were one or two questions below grade level on the reading/writing test.
As far as the federal government is concerned, the percentage of students at or above grade level is the only thing that counts. Thus, it was easy for the state to make adjustments in testing -- nowadays, students with the ability of the 13 mentioned above would easily score at grade level.
Kind of like magic.
What does Dr. Papallo think about the concept that educators should be measuring outcomes, not just compliance?
ReplyDeleteWhat does he think about the idea that a good accountibility system should monitor academic progress and what schools contribute to students, not what students bring to schools?
What will Dr. Papallo do about crowding in some classrooms (25+ students in some elementary schools), while other elementary schools have empty classrooms or low numbers of students?
ReplyDeleteThere were 12 aides cut from the budget. Could you ask Dr. Papallo to clarify those cuts? Is it 1 aide from each elementary school (since there are 12)? If not, where did the aides get cut from? And were the cuts for teachers aides, and if so,what grades? Or was it a cut to an office aide, or another type of aide?
ReplyDelete