Board of Education Meeting Round-Up

The Board of Education met on the eve of the first day of school to discuss the superintendent search, facility repairs and the mystery of the missing portable classrooms.

Portable classrooms that were supposed to be ready for use by the first day of school at Naramake and Rowayton elementary schools are literally missing in action. The company that was contracted to supply the units has not delivered them as promised.

Interim superintendent William Papallo called the situation "painful" and a "carnival."

"The company has lied to us so often," he said. Norwalk Schools CFO Dan Cook said the portables are now scheduled to be delivered on September 10th.

In a predictable move, BOE Chair Rosa Murray said that the Superintendent Search Committee would be comprised only of the nine school board members.

"Many people , including the Mayor and other stakeholders, have volunteered to participate in the search," said Ms. Murray. "However, we will stay with the nine board members." Ms. Murray described the board members as having an "intimate understanding" of the system.

She added that the BOE would keep the public updated however they will deliberate in private to ensure confidentiality.

In an interview after the meeting Ms. Murray said that the Board's first order of business will be to engage a search firm that specializes in superintendent recruitment. She added that public input will be sought through focus groups and stakeholder meetings. When asked what would happen if a new superintendent is not found by the time Dr. Papallo leaves in less than five months, she said, "We'll have to see how things go. We can't say anything now."

The BOE also voted last night to reinstate the elementary school Assistant Principal positions. Tomorrow morning students and Wolfpit, Tracey and Columbus schools will see the same assistant principals that were there in June. During the summer there was a plan recommended by Dr. Corda that would have moved Columbus' assistant principal to Marvin and assigned part-time assistant principals at Wolfpit and Tracey. Vacancies at Marvin and Naramake are being advertised as full-time positions.

At the meeting Dr. Papallo also shared the good news that the State will be providing approximately $50,000 to help transport students to a technical school in Danbury, freeing up some funds for reinstating the assistant principal positions.

The BOE also began discussing the NPS Facilities Audit awhich outlines required construction projects at all the schools. The assessment was originally done in 2005 and has been updated to reflect the current needs of Norwalk schools. The audit found that approximately $50 million was need to keep school buildings in good condition. According to Dan Cook there is currently only about $6 million in the BOE's capital improvement fund. (For more details on this sub ject see a story in the Norwalk Hour).

During the public comments period Norwalk Federation of Teachers (NFT) President Bruce LeVine Mellion told the BOE that teacher morale has been low for the last two years.

The union and the BOE are locked in a increasing difficult contract negotiation. Mr. Mellion told the Board "You have sent a lightening bolt of fear by the proposed action," he said referring to various concessions the BOE has asked for. Negotiations between the two sides are continuing.