This letter from Interim Superintendent Michael Nast has been posted on the Norwalk Public School website.
March 19, 2010
Dear Parents,
I want to share with you my response to the questions I have been asked regarding why school is closed today, Friday March 19, 2010.
The number one reason and prime consideration is the safety of all students.
The questions I have been asked are:
Q. What is the process you used in deciding if school should be canceled?
A. Collection of information regarding the status of wires down, tree removal, debris in the streets and ability of the school buses to pick up children. On Thursday I had discussions with
* Mayor Moccia (on-going throughout the day)
* Hal Alvord, Director of Public Works
* Mark Gorian, NPS Director of Facilities
* Superintendents in Stamford and New Canaan
* Harry Rilling, police chief
* Dennis McCarthy, fire chief
* CL&P representative, Walter Szymanski
* Glenn Iannaccone, Board of Education chairman
* Johanna Garcia, Transportation coordinator
* First Student bus drivers
* Assistant Superintendent Tony Daddona
* Chief Operating Officer Dan Cook
Q. Who makes the final call?
A. The interim Superintendent of Schools
Q. Why was there a delay in the decision?
A. The decision was made at approximately 6:45 p.m. Between 5:00 and 6:30 the Fire Department was doing onsite review of various locations identified by the Transportation Department as being unsafe. Their report was received at about 6:45 p.m. indicating that the identified streets were still not passable. Conversations with CL&P representatives at 6:30 p.m. indicated that there were 75 troubling areas where wires could be live which could be potentially unsafe for children, especially for those that walk to school.
Q. Do these days have to be made up?
A. The state requires that students attend school 180 days, however, an appeal can and will be made to the Commissioner of Education.
Q. Will the students have their April vacation?
A. Yes. If days have to be made up it will be in June.
Q. What are the make up dates for CMT Science tests for grades 5 & 8
A. Students will take this test on Tuesday, March 23.
With the approval of the Board of Education, Friday March 26, 2010 will be a school day for students. It is currently scheduled as a Professional Development day for teachers; however, under the circumstances it is more important to have the students in school. Elementary conference days will be extended April 5-9.
Sincerely,
The signature of Michael Nast
Michael R. Nast
Friday, March 19, 2010
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Thanks Moina. This answers my questions and verifies what I had thought were the reasons for school delays.
ReplyDeleteMcQuillan (State COE) should not, in any respect, honor a waiver of required days. Norwalk is a district shown to be in dire "need of improvement" by the state and various reports. If he opens up this can of worms, everybody jumps on the bandwagon. Days are built in for make-up until the end of June. That calendar gets board and union approval every year. It would be a huge surprise if this appeal is honored. One has to think Nast knows this, but is playing along not to ruffle any feathers.
ReplyDeleteThank you both Moina and Superintendent Nast.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more with the idea that we look a bit pathetic asking for a waiver because it does not suit our fancy to go to school until the end of June. This makes us look even more incompetent in the eyes of the state which already sees us as a struggling district that is unwilling to do the difficult and uncomfortable things to get serious about education. If the taxes weren't so darned high, I'd pull my daughter out of school and send her to private school.
ReplyDeletewith regard to the waiver...it was the mayor requesting the days, and he sent the letter in. The supt. did not do that. Right now we have a committed leader of education, who is struggling with unions who won't budge an inch. The unions in this town are parylizing the the education of our children. How come the union presidents have so much say......taxpayers, and parents get behind the supt., don't listen to the unions...they are sacrificing your children's education for their pocketbooks. These unions won't budge an ounce.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many people unemployed and we have folks that won't take on one extra duty to save money...what is the focus the dollar or your child's education?
Will Marks be able to handle the union?
ReplyDeleteonly if the boe supports the candidate.
ReplyDeleteunfortunately the boe is split and not a team as of yet, and a few of them feel the need to work behind the scenes with these greedyleaders.
time to start honest work with honest people, and get rid of backyard politics.