On the drive home I started refocusing on education in Norwalk. It dawned on me that the BOE elections are only 20 days away.
Over the next 3 weeks I'm planning to interview all eight candidates who are running this year. I'd like to ask them some general questions, but also some specific to each candidate.
What do you think I should ask?
(Updated: Here is a post I wrote in July that gives some background on how the BOE is elected.)
How does the Board of Education get elected? I had no clue but wanted to know since I was told that there would be BOE elections in November. After searching the web and talking to Town Clerk Andy Garfunkel here's what I learned:
- There are nine members of the Board of Education who are elected by Norwalk residents.
- Each member's term is 4 years. The terms are staggered with elections occurring every two years so the whole board is not up for election at one time.
- Four of the nine members of the BOE are designated as members-at-large. At large members are voted on by all Norwalk residents. All four members-at-large seats are up for election this year.
- Five members of the BOE are elected through district elections. There are five districts in Norwalk, A through E. The district members were elected in 2007, so the next election for their seats will occur in 2011.
District A -- Central Norwalk
District B -- South Norwalk
District C -- East Norwalk, Strawberry Hill and Wolfpit
District D -- Cranbury, West Rocks and Silvermine
District E -- West Norwalk, Brookside and Rowayton
The current BOE members are:
- Chair Rosa Murray (Democrat): Member at large, 2005-2009* (up for reelection)
- Shirley Mosby (Democrat): Member at large, 2005-2009 (up for reelection)
- Greg Burnett (Democrat): Member at large, 2005-2009
- Amy Jimenez (Democrat): Member at large, 2005-2009 (took over the term of Bruce Kimmel) (up for reelection)
- Susan Hamilton (Democrat): District A 2007-2011,
- Migdalia Rivas (Democrat): District B, 2007-20011
- Glenn Iannaccone (Republican): District C, 2007-2011
- Secretary Jack Chiaramonte (Republican): District D , 2007-2011
- Vice Chair Jody Bishop-Pullan (Democrat): District E, 2007-2011
The highest vote getter in the 2007 BOE elections was Glenn A. Iannaccone with 1,820 votes cast. So a relatively small number of voters can have a significant impact on who gets elected. The BOE is reponsible for overseeing our school system and managing a $150 million annual budget. With a responsibility like that more people should be voting. How do we get more people to participate?
Posts
Here is a few to get started.
ReplyDeleteWhat are they looking for in a new super?
What do they expect to accomplsh?
How would they establish and maintain communication with the parents?
How will they handle the Special Ed dabacle?
What news sources do they follow daily to stay connected?
What was the last known total for the 09/10 budget?
How many employees does the board supervise?
How many employees in the district?
How many current principles, district wide, can they name?
What can they do to help the teacher in the classroom?
What is their opinions on a longer school year?
What is their favorite candy bar?
Because as parents who have been very involved in our children's educations, we appreciate the important role that the Board of Education has in shaping their school lives. Of course, we also appreciate that parents have a unique perspective and insight into what makes their schools work and what measures could improve them. So, in addition to being more than willing to answer your questions, we'd also like to hear from your readers. It's all part of the mission of Parents Not Politicians to develop meaningful two-way communication with all those served by our schools.
ReplyDeleteWe have accepted an invitation from the parent groups of BMHS, Roton Middle School and the Brookside, Rowayton and Fox Run elementary schools to not just answer their parents' questions but to hear their parents' concerns. We've also written to the other parent groups in Norwalk offering to attend any forums that they want to sponsor.
Improving communication has to be the priority of the Board of Education-- thanks for your efforts in providing a forum for this improvement in communication to occur.
PS- regarding candy bars, although it has been years since I have been able to enjoy one, the finest candy bar ever made (and I say this with apologies to Hershey and Reese's fans) is the Butterfinger.
What a very different board of education this will be if all of the incumbents lose this election, leaving (because Greg Burnett couldn't even get his own party's renomination) only five of the people who allowed such deterioration in the school system to continue for far too long. It is time for a shake up. Let's hope for a board that will actually appoint a true leader and educator as superintendent of schools. The current board is far more likely to appoint someone who makes them feel empowered and comfortable.
ReplyDeleteA new superintendent, while answerable to the board, must also be intelligent enough to recognize what needs to be changed and he/she must be courageous enough to enact the changes. Although I do believe that Robert McCain may be the exception, the inside candidates for the job have been part of the established system for years. Why would things be different with one of them at the helm? Do the taxpayers want more of the same?
Did the Board stall so long in this process to allow Tony, the Asst Super, time to get his creditials and be a contender? let's hope not.
ReplyDeleteJohn McCain was one of Corda's sidekicks. Ask any middle school principal who Corda favored for every new program and the answer will be John McCain. He touts that he is the king of data and yet, it is apparent that all is not well at his school when you look at how he manipulates the numbers. A recent report was given at a Board of Ed meeting concerning how much progress has been made at the middle school level. There are other schools than Nathan Hale who are improving.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, why are you throwing Tony under the bus? Look at his resume and then look at McCain's. There is no comparison. Also, what kind of backstory is there to why McCain left his previous job? All of those details were swept under the rug by our previous super, Corda, the carpetbagger. Why would one even consider McCain for the super position? He has absolutely no central office experience. Before you cast stones at Tony, why don't you look at what he has accomplished in the district? Why don't you ask teachers about his performance? After what we have seen in this district in the last eight years with Corda's antics and favoritism, it is time to appoint someone who will always put the students first and listen to teachers.
I am sure that my comments will be attached by the dedicated Nathan Hale staff who are always trying to get their boss a new job.
If they like him so much, why are they trying to get rid of him?????
What have Tony's accomplishments been? I know what jobs he has held, but what have been his major achievements in those positions?
ReplyDeletePlease educate those of us who you think are throwing him under a bus because no one has done that.
the teacher interview committee recommended McCain as Asst Super. The parent interview committee recommended McCain as Asst Super. Corda recommended McCain as Asst Super. The Board ed took the recommendation of the administrator interview committee and chose Dadona. Why? Besides being a placeholder, what has he achieveed in his positions?
ReplyDeleteTony has been dedicated to this district for years. His arena of expertise is extensive: school law, especially special education, knowledge of how to create and manage district-wide budgets, as well as signing off on every purchase,grants, development of board policies based on attorney input, data analysis, knowledge of a variety of school improvement model, excellent communication skills with shareholders in the community and parents, negotiations with teachers' unions and familiarity of the contract, and scheduling. Additionally, his skill set includes a wide array of jobs in the district. He was a social studies teacher, a counselor, the Special Education Supervisor, Adult Ed Supervisor, principal, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Schools and recently filled in for Assist. Super for Elementary Schools. He now holds both positions for Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and Assist. Super for Secondary Schools.
ReplyDeleteHe is well known at the state level and has been given kudos for this school improvement work when he was principal of Norwalk High School for three years. The Norwalk High School parents approved and appreciated his strict discipline and attention to making NHS a flagship using the DuFour Model by establishing Professional Learning Communities before they were popular. He also was very involved in the Accreditation process, which gave the school a ten- year extension.
Tony did not use this district as a stepping stone as others have done. He has remained for 30+ years. he cares about, the students, the teachers, and the reputation of the district. You cannot blame him for what has happened to the district in the last eight years. Corda ruled with strong-arm tactics, hired his own cronies, and play lots of golf. When everyone left the district this summer, guess who was at central office trying to clean-up the mess? Tony Daddona. Give him a chance. Many do not know all the things he has done to keep this district afloat. After all of his years of hard work and dedication, he does not deserve to be defamed by a bunch of parents who want a Corda hire to be the next superintendent.
Some of the previous posting is true, some of it exaggerated, some of it not at all true. The parts that are true describe managerial skills, not leadership.
ReplyDeleteLeaders rise to the top no matter the job and get press and kudos without looking for it. This guy Tony has been in the district for 30 years ? and noone but insiders have heard of him until this year. Doesn't say much, does it. He sounds like someone who can't wait to give Norwalk more of the same.
ReplyDeleteThe poster who likes the AS so much should have explained why noone but administrator insiders and this Board Ed wanted him for the AS position, would have made more sense of their argument since noone else seemed to be impressed by that laundry list when hiring time came around.
ReplyDeleteWhich administrators served on that committee?
ReplyDeleteWhat are the untrue parts? I was a parent at NHS when Tony was principal and I was impressed. Do you know something that I don't? There were many of us that wanted him to stay. Fill me in.....
ReplyDeleteYes, and I think I know which (former) parent you are, and you are hardly objective about the former interim principal. Lest that sound terribly negative, I hasten to add that, to your credit, you worked your heart out for NHS, and everyone should remember you for your efforts.
ReplyDeleteHowever, Norwalk needs a different person as superintendent. You are not accurately describing the same man that many of us worked alongside for years. He is not a bad person but I cannot imagine him as superintendent of schools.