Mayor Richard Moccia says that he took it upon himself to ask the State Education Commissioner to waive the requirement that Norwalk has to have 181 days of school. Mr. Moccia says that he sent the letter today.
As of now, Norwalk would have to make up six days – 2 snow days and the 5 days missed this week (minus 1 because we already had an extra day of school scheduled). This means the last day of school would be June 29.
Mayor Moccia said that he wrote the letter after speaking to Gov. Jodi Rell. “She told me that she didn’t have the authority that I had to write to the Commissioner directly.”
Mayor Moccia said that extending the school year into late June was problematic because many parents and teachers had already made summer plans. “By the last week of school there’s no teaching going on. All the educational work has been done. All of the testing has been done. It would interfere with graduation ceremonies.”
Parents however are divided as comments on this blog indicate. Some agree that students would find it too hot to be in classrooms and not much goes on in schools during the last week. Other parents have said that children in Norwalk need as much instruction time as possible.
Mayor Moccia said that he ran the idea by with some parents. He also consulted with Michael Nast, the interim Superintendent of Norwalk Schools and BOE Chair Glenn Iannacone.
“I’m the Mayor. I made a decision.” said Mayor Moccia in a telephone interview. “I don’t apologize.”
It’s unclear if it is the Mayor's role to send the letter. According to interim Superintendent Michael Nast it’s the Superintendent under the direction of the BOE who appeals to the Commissioner for a waiver.
Nevertheless, Dr. Nast also thinks a waiver would be appropriate. “I don’t see them as productive days,” said Dr. Nast referring to the possibility that school would be extended into late June. Dr. Nast says that he is also planning to write to the Commissioner after he speaks with all of the BOE members over the weekend.
Neither Mr. Moccia nor Dr. Nast know if any of the other towns affected by last week’s storm are going to apply for a waiver. Some towns like Westport only missed three days while Stamford and Greenwich missed the whole week like Norwalk.
Mayor Moccia does not know whether a waiver has ever been granted to Norwalk before. “When was the last time we had a storm like this in the last 50 years,” he said.
Friday, March 19, 2010
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It doesn't seem like the mayor has any right to make this decision, so why is he? He should stick to what he is supposed to do and try to do a good job with that. Meddling in BOE affairs adds another layer to the already convoluted system.
ReplyDeleteCould we look out for the kids for once? Why adding another week onto school is a problem is beyond me. It's sending a message that we really don't care about education.
At least the mayor is proactive. Thank you Mr. Moccia
ReplyDeleteMoccia sends letter to wrong addressee?
ReplyDeleteMoccia steps on Nast foot?
This is purely a political move to shield from the heat. Moccia is getting toasted and this is an attempt to be percieved he actully has a clue and is on the case. He doesn't and he isn't. You all complian about city services and the education your children are not recieving, yet you keep electing clowns and never attend a meetting. All that ruckus with Corda and only a couple of dozen, out of a city of nearly 90,000 - thats 24,000 parents and less than 50 show up to meet the perspective superintendent. Hey you people, why you dont care? You dont vote and if you do, you vote the for clueless clowns, like your back in HS and vote for the most popular. Hey its your kids, your property, your community, your money. If you dont care, do you really think the clowns you put in power care? Wake up and participate or get out of the way of those trying to make it better. It is your community. Only you can change things. What are we all waiting for?
I don't attribute the mayor's action to an ulterior motive, but it is entirely inappropriate for the chief elected officer of a community to write such a letter. For what it's worth, I disagree with the request in the first place because Norwalk students need all of the instruction they can get, but if there is to be such a request, it should be from the superintendent of schools.
ReplyDeleteTotally inappropriate for the Mayor to write the letter. I agree with 12:15 folks! We are putting all the wrong people in very important positions. Susan Marks is one of them. If you think you had a choice in choosing her, wake up. It's a done deal, and was even before the public met her.
ReplyDeleteWhat bothers me are the assertions by the Mayor and the interim Supterintendent that, even though schools would be open, nothing very productive would be going on because it's late June and hot.
ReplyDeleteI teach in NYC every year until close to the end of June, long after state testing has been completed, and there is a whole lot of productive learning going on.
(This year ends June 28 and June has only two half days scheduled. Schools have been closed twice for snow this year.)
If the statements by the Mayor and Nast are accurate, I hope the new Superintendent takes a careful look at what's going on in our schools.
By the way, the school I work in was built in 1904 and does not have air conditioning in classrooms. There's a huge difference between June and July/August.
Bruce,
ReplyDeleteAre you interested in a job in Norwalk after you retire? I think most parents would be thrilled if you were willing to take Mellion's job let alone a teaching job.
For many of us, you were the only voice of reason on the BOE. We miss you.
Okay, I have no idea why everyone is getting worked up about 1 week... Maybe I am clueless but in my mind, if my kids learning is significantly diminished by the loss of 1 week of school, then we have a much larger issue at hand. Also, some schools may have A/C but I know my kids don't and its hot enough in early June let alone the end of June. If anyone can demonstrate where the loss of the 5 days negatively impacts a child's learning or ability to move onto the next grade effectively, then yes, I am all for the makeup. However if no one can then why is everyone so worked up? Making this a referendum about the town leadership I think is ingenuous to our kids. This discussion should be about whether ours kids need the extra week. Not about thinks the Mayor is doing a good job or not doing a good job.
ReplyDeleteIf a week doesn't matter, there is something gravely wrong in this school system.
ReplyDeleteI invite anyone into a classroom n June 28th to the top floor with low air quality to come and teach a class.....
ReplyDeleteI would gladly teach in your classroom for the week for your salary.Would you be willing to forfeit your week's salary so that I could take your place?
ReplyDeleteNo one can predict the weather for the week. It might just rain all week or be fairly cool. Our June weather has not been all that great lately.
This is sad.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all: A week here and a week there add up. For instance, children are in elementary school for six years, including kindergarten. That's six weeks, or 30 days of instruction.
Secondly: I believe the last week in June we are talking about would be half days. Please check the average temperatures for June, it's not that hot, especially before noon.
Thirdly: I have 23 years of experience working full days (which in NYC are from 8:10 to 3:07) until the last week in June. I've worked on either the 4th or 5th floor of a building built in 1904. Except on rare days when the humidity is high and the temperature is far above average, it is okay. And the kids, who do not seem to be bothered by heat, learn. The biggest problem is hydration, not learning.
Fourthly: The last week in August and the early days of September are generally hotter than June. Are we suggesting that in Norwalk nothing important is going on in classrooms during those weeks?
And fifthly: Even if it is hot, so what? I have never read that heat is an impediment to learning -- if the instructional material is delivered properly.
Thanks, Bruce. I am a retired teacher and I never taught in an air conditioned building. I worked with large classes in buildings that had poor ventilation. I did my best to keep kids motivated because that is the commitment that I made when I took the job. When my kids would ask somewhat playfully, "Do we have to work today?" I responded, "Yes, because they are paying me to teach." They understood my commitment to them.
ReplyDeleteOne other thing is that I taught summer school as well, also in buildings that lacked air conditioning. One place had hardly any air circulation, other than that allowed by open windows. It was hot and humid. I taught because that is what I was supposed to do.
So, to the person who posted at 7:10 a.m., I have done it many times. You will survive. You will do your best professional job if you care about your kids.
Which schools really have no A/C? Ours has it and cites custodial concerns to get it on. Why bother for just a few days. Well.. ask your school if there is AC. And then tell them you feel it should be running. I find it hard to believe that any school would run with out aircon and not be able to cool at least a portion of their building.
ReplyDelete