The three Central Office administrators and two Principals (Koroshetz is Principal of Brien McMahon High School and Lane is Principal of Briggs High School) will undoubtedly be questioned about the arrests of John Randy Tate and Dina McNelis.
Tate was a Arts teacher at Brien McMahon who was arrested at the beginning of the month for allegedly having sex with a 17-year-old student. McNelis, a substitute teacher at Briggs, was arrested for having "inappropriate" contact with middle school children. The arrests come in addition to the arrest in April of fake special ed therapist Stacy Lore.
It's certainly troubling when one teacher gets arrested for misconduct, but when three are arrested in such a short period of time its perfectly reasonable to ask whether its just part and parcel of life in a large urban district or was there a systemic policy failure that got us here.
The lack of background checks and respect for parent feedback are at the heart of the Stacy Lore saga, but unless Tate had a previous arrest or other problems that weren't reported to the NPS his case would be harder to detect in advance.
McNelis is another matter. According to The Hour, she was shuffled through the Norwalk School system:
McNelis was removed from a classroom at Cranbury Elementary School in 2003 after acting strangely and yelling at a student. She got into her car and sped away from the school, nearly hitting two students and a crossing guard...
McNelis was removed as a substitute in the Derby school system in 2004 because the Derby Board of Education received numerous complaints about her from staff and students...What I can't understand, and perhaps the BOE members can find out, is why McNelis was let back into our school system after her problems at Cranbury seven years ago! What, if anything, did our school administrators tell the poor people in Derby, and in turn did we even check with them when McNelis bounced back to us?
Jefferson administrators raised concerns about McNelis' behavior prior to the Briggs incident, complaining that she ate food that belonged to other teachers and, at one point, hid in a closet...
In The Hour article HR chief Ruotolo said that the events at Jefferson took place in the month before McNelis was moved to Briggs, and when they did she was moved almost immediately from one school to the next.
Why?
Why wasn't she immediately let go? Terminated. Fired. Is there a NPS or NFT policy that prevents substitutes from being disciplined?
And where does the buck stop? Who should be held responsible for allowing McNelis to prey on our children?
I hope that the Board demands some individual accountability for the actions that the school system undertakes. Administrators are responsible for setting up screening systems and training the people that work under them. The fact that McNelis wasn't screened out indicates that either the HR policies are weak or were not properly followed. In either instance someone should be man or woman enough to stand up and take responsibility.
May 18 BOE Agenda
Posts
The City of Norwalk was also running Kids Count Preschool out of the Gallagher Mansion in Cranbury Park for years before discovering that not only were the "teachers" and the school not licensed or certified, but also that they were not carrying the mandatory insurance or compliant with health and safety codes.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like HR needs to take the full blame for this. It is up to HR to do a background check and to support terminations. I have heard that there were more cases in the past that should have resulted in terminations immediately, but the union stood behind the secretary who threatened an administrator. It took months for termination to follow. HR was involved. Then the secretary left with full benefits. It happened at central office and the administrator was embarrassed because of the union's defense posture. Police were even called in because the secretary allegedly had a gun. I'm not absolutely sure, but I think the gun accusation was true. I witnessed the events, but don't have access to the facts.
ReplyDeleteWhere does the buck stop? Dadonna is not worth the 220 plus benefits. The guys standard answer to any question by the boe or parents.
ReplyDelete" Its not in my job description." Marks needs to release Dadonna and find someone that cares and does the job. Yes the system is ripe with incompetence and greedy ego's. Yes this must change. For the money we lay out we should have top notch folks at the helm with a clear concious and complete focus on navigation to get where we want to be. Where does the buck stop? Cruises right past 125 East ave every single time. Someone on that Board please step up and stop the bus of unaccountability.
Yes its systemic. Yes, without doubt people need to hit the road. Lets get it done.
Does Marks have her broom, the heavy duty industrial sized super sweeper, with her? She is going to need it. Dr. if your serious, we are here and we are serious as a heart attack about giving these children a chance. We have fools running our schools and people in the classrooms and offices that should never have been there in the first place. Dr. Marks, bring it on, if you are with us, we are with you. All the way. Lets clean this mess up and turn this around, pronto. The danger to the students in their academic's as well as their emotional well being is more than obvious. Roll the heads and put responsible dedicated good hearted folks in those offices and classrooms. Dr. if you dont act swiftly and boldly state will step in here and its a damn shame its gotten this far and action must be taken swiftly to send the message loud and clear. Marks, here is the bullhorn and the bully pulpit. Do it to it.
12:55, you are so off the track I think you need to see a shrink. Is your aim to destroy? This person and the people you are taking pot shots at are human beings. I said it before and I will say it again. Daddona and the rest are not ducks in a shooting gallery. Your comments speak to the kind of person you are. Get help!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I have only had positive dealings with Daddona.
My only interaction with Mr. Daddonna was at a BOE meeting.. there were a ton of people out in the vestibule and no one could hear what was going on in the meeting. I asked him if there was some way to turn up the mics and let the people hear.. he said he had no idea how to do it.. and spent much of the meeting outside talking chatting. Then I realized it was the Asst Super... and I never returned.
ReplyDelete5/17 306p, You must be daddona or one of his posse!
ReplyDelete4:30, are you paranoid too????
ReplyDeleteGet a life! You are wrong.
3:16 PM, That doesn't make any sense. So what if he didn't know how to turn up the microphones? Most people don't know how to do that in that room.
ReplyDeleteAbout the chatting, I suppose you assume that he wasn't talking business mixed with possible questions involving other matters? Even though business takes up much of a conversation, most people are social enough to ask questions not having to do with business. But that's right, jump to conclusions! How bloodthirsty everyone is these days.
Blood thirsty? Thats way out of context. If your not doing the job you are handsomely compensated for than perhaps its time to move over and get out of the way. Can anyone with a serious face defend this school administration?
ReplyDeleteIf you continually flub your responsibilities and brush aside acccountability like its not in the job descriptions, tha what exactly are we paying six figures plus benefits for. Folks who do not do there job they are paid for, real world, get canned. But alas this is Norwalk. The beautiful historic sleepy suburb of New York. We do things differnt here. Screw up get a promotion and raise. Some folks have to go and should. Its beyond shamefull and embarassing. Yep come to beautiful historic Norwalk and enjoy the easy commute to the city. Enroll your children in Norwalks failing schools with pervert instructors and incompetent highly paid administrators. Yep Norwalks on the move, sure enough. Everyones moving all right, moving out, of Norwalk. Where did it all go wrong. Teachers are supposed to teach, not touch. Oh but thats just an isolated incident that happens in all urban situations. Right? Thats the angle to escape liability?
B.S.!!
and P.S. " YOUR FIRED!!!"
Hopefully this will be a wake up call for the BOE that change is needs with administration--cut from above! They are not doing their jobs!
ReplyDeleteInnocent until proven guilty. It appears that the bloggers above do not care about a fair trial. Just hang them all.
ReplyDeleteUntil everyone knows who knew what, don't be so quick to condemn your 'favorite' target. Yes, this is a bloodthirsty group.
Bloodthirsty or not - look at their record! Someone (or many) need to be accountable for our children's education. The administrators are hired to oversee the people in charge of educating our kids and keeping them safe - provide curriculum, PD, hiring, firing, oversea principals, teachers, etc. Their track record is horrendous and I applaud the BOE for the courage to say enough is enough and at least review the Administrators in charge.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who was at the BOE meeting last year when the parents of the Stacey Lore victims spoke were outraged that such atrocities can occur at the expense of our kids. Since then, more accusations of poor management in HR - Fay seems to be more concerned with saving her job than actually doing her job. I've never been impressed with Tony Daddona. Bruce Morris- well I could write a short novel on everything that is wrong with that whole situation.
Thank you BOE for having the courage to take this review on . We all look forward to the outcome and your feedback. It's time to look forward, not backward and wipe the slate clean.
Lastly, thank you Moina for posting this issue in your blog.
Shame on the BOE. As I understand it, the person arrested for having sex with a student pleaded not guilty. If he hasn't been convicted yet, why drag the names of our top administrators through the mud until more is known. Even if there are questions about policy, this should have been contained to questioning the people involved IN PRIVATE. I hope the 'accused' all have lawyers because this is a public display of incompetence before the policies have even been checked by the board. Shame! Shame!
ReplyDeletecorrection to above post:
ReplyDelete'public display of alleged incompetence'
The BOE can't question people in private unless it is announced publicly. The state's Freedom of Information Act prohibits doing stuff like that in secret.
ReplyDeleteAnother point of note is that even if the individuals are found "not guilty" in a criminal courtroom where the burden is "beyond a reasonable doubt", they can still lose their jobs if found guilty of misconduct by the Board. Two different burdens of proof.
ReplyDeleteThe Board would be irresponsible if they didn't ask the tough questions. This is why they were elected - to ask the tough questions. We do not want Board Members that sit on the sidelines, show up to meetings twice a month and keep status quo while our schools fail our children.
ReplyDeleteThe Board should want to know the answers - the People want to know why and how this could happen ! Repeatedly (allegedly, of course)...
Wow. THIS all makes STACY LORE look like a saint. From what I have read from blogs on the hour that the hour decided to "take down" but can still be read from a google "cache" search...at least in her case services were provided by licensed/certified therapists. She was just an owner/coordinator who it seems had a bunch of insubordanate employees that chose to gang up on her, and not follow any company standards. Looks like the services provided by John Randy Tate and Dina McNelis were a little more than educational. So here you go Norwalk. Here are your 2 certified, teachers with their credentials. Honestly...I would take Stacy Lore (with her credential whatever they were) over these two any day. FINALLY the board is in the "hot seat". Finally. Who ever made the final decision to hire is to blame. Who ever oversees that person is further to blame. Stacy Lore's trial is a waste of tax dollars. BOE ON TRIAL NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteCan't the BOE say that they are looking into the matter without naming names? Some of these people just might not be guilty of anything. All I am saying is that not everyone is told everything all the time. Sure, the HR person should have looked into the background of people hired...maybe she did. Maybe this was a first time offender. Is that her fault?
ReplyDeleteI don't approve of all too hasty trial and judgment here. It's not for us to determine who is guilty of anything. I know about FOI, but it seems that this could have been somewhat private until evidence came in that there was some policy that was not adhered to.
Put yourself in these people's positions. Whether you like them or not, how would you like your name plastered all over the Norwalk Hour and the blogs in this way...and what if you hadn't done anything wrong? Can anyone here say that they would deserve it? I sure wouldn't like it.
2:34, you write like the accused or someone close to them. Please see this from a parent's point of view. You work in a public place, you adhere to school rules, and you are subject to public opinion. It is the BOE to examine and condemn behavior on behalf of these kids. This is serious offense material. I can't imagine if my child were one to be allegedly victimized.
ReplyDeleteIf the BOE does not deal harshly, it will be the BOE that will be dealt with harshly.
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ReplyDeleteIts not the folks, especially the parents that deserve shame here. I mean seriously, cmon, what do you have to do to get weeded out? If sexual conduct with children doesnt count, what does?
ReplyDeleteGive a child a break, hold all adults accountable.
Or we can just not acknowledge it,dismiss and or downplay it and what message does that send?
The board ran on a platform of accountabilty, transparency and integrity. Time to show the cards.
Good point... 6:10.
ReplyDeleteunsubstantiated rumors have been deleted.
ReplyDeleteMoina, I know that unsubstantiated rumors must be discounted, but there is a direct parallel to your deleting these comments and with NPS discounting "talk" about the behaviors of the accused teacher for some time before the arrest. Perhaps this is why this sort of thing gets pushed aside when parents call to report a possible predator situation. Perhaps Faye feels it isn't substantiated. However, in hindsight, we now see that "talking" precludes the approachability of questionable behaviors. I'm not suggesting a witchhunt is in order, but aren't teachers required to report any possible reason to suspect abuse on the part of the parent?
ReplyDeleteI could not believe what I was seeing and hearing at last night's BOE meeting. Only ONE board member stood up for our children. How could Supt. Nast sit there and say "we have an excellent staff who did their jobs well." Why didn't the chairman say anything? Why didn't any one of them want to look into their policies? Are you kidding me?
ReplyDeleteThere is no rush to judgment here, but someone didn't do their job or the system/policies have failed! As of last night, we have 3, that's right I said "3" cases of misconduct by teachers (subs, aides) against our children. Add Stacy Lore and that's "4"!
There is a serious problem in Norwalk and the BOE and Central office admins better wake up!
5:54 I completely agree with you! This is a disgrace!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely a disgrace.
ReplyDeleteApparently Supt. Nast has not received any complaints regarding the handling of these matters. You need to write to Supt. Nast, BOE members, Mayor Moccia and the press to let them know that the parents demand and inquiry and answers. There's strength in numbers - it's time to show your strength. I want to know if policies and procedures were followed by Nast's "excellent" staff. What about you?
Stop with the mob mentality! If the Superintendent is satisfied, let it go. Or is this superintendent also among all the 'bad' superintendents that have come to Norwalk? Poor Susan Marks. Will her decisions be questioned this way too? Mob mentality.
ReplyDeleteMoina- if you are going to pick and choose comments to delete, you also should delete the one telling a writer to see a shrink.
ReplyDeleteWhat part of Publlic Sector do you not get, Tony? If you don't like it, please relinquish your job for one in the private sector. Currently your bunch is being paid by us, the Taxpayers. If it was up to me I would hand you your pink slip today.
Please contact Nast and others today. You can reach them at:
ReplyDeleteNast@norwalkps.org, Board@norwalkps.org, RMoccia@norwalkct.org
I have sent them my note of outrage, and hope that more will follow.
You can reach the Board, Nast and the mayor at the following addresses:
ReplyDeleteNast@norwalkps.org, Board@norwalkps.org, RMoccia@norwalkct.org
I have sent them a letter confirming my disgrace with these actions, and hope that others will do the same.
10:27, there you go again. My name is not Tony, and I do have freedom of speech as far as I know. Do you know differently?
ReplyDeleteIf anyone should have their post deleted, it should be you. Calling me Tony is an accusation that is definitely unfounded. I choose to be anonymous, but I know that my identity can NOT be confirmed as not being Tony. Moina, you can check on that and still let me be anonymous.
sorry, I added two 'nots' above. I repeat I am NOT Tony.
ReplyDeleteCan anyone provide some info on how many law suits are currently pending or recently settled or notification of intent to sue has been filed on/for the district, say for the last 5 years. A decade would be a better comparison. Further broken down by category such as special education, expulsions, employee vs employer, disability claims etc. Maybe someone has access and can fill in the missing blanks.
ReplyDeleteIs there a hot dog freelancer out there that can smell a story upwind 5 miles? How about a BOE member with savy and dedication? Surely eventually some smart plantiff attorney as well as the State will be looking at these records if they haven't already begun. May be a good idea to look at mistakes of recent past. To ensure there are no established patterns of negligence that could possibly increase even further the ever widening gaping sinkhole of liability and leaving the city cookie jar without a lid or grandmas senteniel eye. Some substantial litigation has the very real potential to drain our self insured kitty. That will have a dramatic impact on the kickbacks on those AAA rated muni's. Food for thought. For those in the know, or, want to know, or, should know.
Just a few quick comments.
ReplyDeleteTo the poster who is furious that Mr. Daddona didn't know how to turn up the volume on the microphones in the Board room. Those microphones are not for volume, they are for the audio recording and they do not broadcast. There is no way to "turn them up" for the public to hear more. I'm sorry that you won't go to the meetings because of that, but unfortunately, that is the fact of the matter.
Secondly, as much as I might want to see Ms. Ruotolo leave Norwalk -- and I do for my own personal reasons -- it is critical that the BOE do it "by the book". Believe me, nobody... absolutely nobody knows her rights and what the law says better than she does.
I wasn't at the meeting because I was out of town, so I'll have to take Ms. Noor's account as accurate. I have no reason to doubt her. I believe the Mayor's caution came out of a situation a few years ago, there were a number of issues surrounding the Fire Chief and one of the Commissions violated the Fire Chief's civil rights by discussing his job outside of the proper protocol. He didn't sue, but if he had, we'd still be paying it off.
As eager as I may be to see Ms. Ruotolo sent on her merry way, I also don't want her to go dancing off down the road with one penny more than absolutely necessary.
I am also greatly heartened by the news that Dr. Marks was at the meeting. Hopefully, she is reading the blogs and will get the message loud and clear that people want Ms. Ruotolo out. And also kindly keep in mind, that Ms. Ruotolo and her lawyer, along with the other administrators that people have spoken about can also access the blogs.
These discussions absolutely need to be public. The alternative is to pull an "All Saints Catholic School" trick and quietly let go 2 teachers who have been abusing children for years at that pathetic school. The latest was just last month after the teacher, who has been physically abusing her students for years finally picked the wrong student. The school very quietly let her go and now she is substituting in the Norwalk Public Schools. Just another nightmare waiting to happen.
ReplyDelete9:58, bravo on your comments regarding how things should be done. What I don't understand is how Colarassi, a Harvard lawyer, could be such a loose cannon and demand all these public hearings (confrontations?). I am not a lawyer and could see that these administrators were not being provided their rights. Yes, as a result of the ensuing lawsuits, Norwalk taxpayers could have been paying millions for these administrators if Colarassi had his way.
ReplyDeleteKudos and a big thank you to the last board.........see what happens when you cut positions. Things fall through the cracks, things don't get done, and although you thought buy cutting CO jobs you weren't effecting children, guess what?? YOU DID!!! It is horrible what is happening to the children of Norwalk but it is not one persons fault!
ReplyDeleteCan this be true about teachers being let go from All Saints and then subbing for NPS? Please please please somebody tell us about this. I want to be sure that they are never in our school.
ReplyDeleteTo May 20, 2010 1:46 p.m.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad someone understands what I'm trying to say (and before anyone asks, no I'm not on the Board nor do I work for NPS). One of the reasons that labor laws exist is to protect employees from foundless accusations (been there, done that, have the T-shirt), and the flip side of this is that when an employee is racking up negative incidents, they have to be carefully documented so that a law suit doesn't result from the employee termination.
I think that some of the anger that is exhibited in these posts is from sheer frustration. Ms. Ruotolo has been judged and found wanting and people want her gone. But there are policies and procedures that have to be followed. There are also civil rights issues and privacy issues that have to be factored in. However, like you, 1:46 p.m., I'm baffled about Mr. Colarossi's strategy regarding this.
I'm not a lawyer, but have worked as a store manager in the past and the company I worked for was very strict about this. There was absolutely no wiggle room if someone's job was on the line. I did have to "let go" one employee and pass another case up to the District Manager for termination. And each step of the way both times, I was very, very aware that if I messed up and violated the employee's privacy rights or civil rights, I would be the one losing a job.
Is the process slow? Yes. Is it frustrating? Most assuredly so! And even if it is handled correctly, there is the chance that a lawsuit could be filed anyway, but the chances of it being ruled in the plantiff's favor greatly decreases if all the "i" s are dotted and all the "t"s crossed.
9:26 is the voice of reason here. Listen to this person!
ReplyDeleteI understand that parents are upset, but don't let Colarossi cause us to pay millions of dollars in lawsuits.
I am not on the Board, nor am I employed by the NPS. I am simply trying to prevent a runaway train.
Taxpayers, beware of Colarossi's strategies in this matter. Please!
How unhappy Norwalk administrators are at the prospect of being required to answer for their actions and inaction. Mediocrity, ineffectivensss and unquestioned authority are going to become history.
ReplyDeleteMr. Colarossi, please continue your work.
11:14, what you don't understand is that the Commissioner of Education now has the right to legally remove a loose cannon from the BOE.
ReplyDeleteYou, 11:14, are assuming that action or inaction occurred in the NPS. Perhaps the Commissioner sees it differently.
Mr. Colarossi, I would respectfully suggest that you start to follow Board policy. You are the one who needs to answer for YOUR actions!
There are quite a few assumptions being tossed around in the comments. First of all, the assumption is that "people" knew about whatever violations of the law occurred and willfully ignored them. This is also known as the "what did you know and when did you know it?" question. However, there is a significant legal distinction between a remark made by someone at the water cooler, coffee machine or staff lounge, and one made by someone under oath. That's the difference between "hearsay", "rumor", or "gossip" and "testimony". Also, remember, the burden of proof is on the prosecutor, not the defendant.
ReplyDeleteHuman Resources and Personnel issues literally make up a legal field unto themselves. It's the kind of thing where there are laws that govern the laws that govern the ordinances, that govern the regulations that govern the policies. The word "convoluted" comes to mind. That's why the City has Shipman and Goodwin LLP, a law firm in Hartford, Connecticut focusing on various areas of law, as their representatives for this type of issue. They happen to be good at what they do...as a matter of fact, they are very good at what they do. They are also expensive. In this kind of a situation, I'm assuming the District would not be represented by Shipman and Goodwin, but quite truthfully, I don't know. However, I am guessing that the price tag would be in the same ballpark.
So, while the general tone of this thread is that waving goodbye to Ms. Ruotolo last week would have been delightful, the complications that could arise from a protracted separation would hit us all right in the wallet.
Regarding the Commissioner of Education, based on the wonderful reception he received from the former BOE when he came down a few year, I am sure that we have a fond place in his heart, or at the very least, on his list of Top Ten Districts he'd like to present with cement galoshes. The saving grace here (if such a thing is possible) is that the District has been working long and hard on the issues brought up by the various evaluation teams. So, the District, like it or not, led by one of the Administrators (popular or otherwise)and is actually moving forward in the eyes of the State evaluators. There are fourteen other Districts that have been identified as "in need", so I suspect that the Commissioner of Education would not step in and interfere with the Board at this time.
There's a new Superintendent of Schools on the way and my best guess is that he's going to let Dr. Marks move into her position and start to work on things, including the Personnel and Board issues.
Please understand, any actions that violates the law are still illegal, but the District has to prove: 1 - that they happened; and 2 - follow the policy. After that, it may be a matter of convincing a jury.
1:18 - Please show me the state statute that empowers the commissioner of education to remove a "loose cannon" BOE member. Clearly, you don't like Mr. Colarossi, but he hasn't done anything to warrant discipline by anyone. He is doing the job he was elected to do.
ReplyDelete7:29, clearly you are one of the groupies who likes Colarossi. I guess you don't want to take my word for what I stated. So here is the site that proves that the commissioner can replace board members...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/cwp/view.asp?a=2683&Q=322084&sdePNavCtr=|#45651
Tell your 'friend' that he should follow board policy if he doesn't want to feel the brunt of this new legislation.
The district has been working hard with data teams and has been clearly praised by the State Department of Education. The negativity of parents and some board members has to stop!
ReplyDeleteNo more grandstanding to get attention...There will always be negative people who love to promote gossip, rumors, etc.
Time to move forward with the Marks/Daddona team. And, no, I am not either of these people. Moina has my permission to confirm that statement and still keep me anonymous.
8:18 - The reference in that law has nothing to do with the actions or anything like the actions of Mr. Colarossi.
ReplyDelete9:14, if Colarossi continues to be swayed by the unions, just watch and see. The Commissioner is very familiar with the BOE in Norwalk. He will give Marks the chance to straighten it out. Enough said.
ReplyDelete9:47 - You have an exaggerated sense of the degree of involvement a commissioner of education wants to have in local educational issues. He had a bad experience with the board (BTW, before Mr. Colarossi was elected), but I assure you that he has other issues far more pressing than your dislike for the actions of one board member. If you think that Norwalk's concerns are more pressing than those of Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford, Waterbury and other larger cities, you are mistaken.
ReplyDeleteI repeat the earlier statement that there is nothing in the law that would enable a state commissioner to remove a board of education member for actions like those of Mr. Colarossi. What he did may be unpopular with some, but it was both legal and within the scope of his responsibility.
11:14, legal? He could have cost us millions! He was way out of line trying to put the administrators 'on trial.' And, they were found guilty in advance of any summons!
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think the others, including Moccia, did not listen to him????????????????
1:58 - You have a vivid imagination. It was an inquiry, not a trial. No one was found guilty; for that matter, no one was even accused.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea why the mayor was even involved. He's stayed out of things since the embarrassment he caused by sending a letter to the governor, requesting a waiver for the 180 days of school. If he were so "up" on legal matters, he would have known that: (1) it wasn't his place to make a request, (2) the governor isn't the person who should have received the appeal, (3) such an appeal wouldn't be granted to a district that still has enough days in the month of June to complete the 180 days, and (4) it was a silly reason he offered -- the fear that it might be hot in June.
Look. If you dislike Mr. Colarossi, fine; just say it. Don't try to raise bogus arguments about lawsuits. The board has the right to speak with its employees. (For the record, I wouldn't have done it that way because I would have asked the superintendent to investigate and to send board members a detailed report, but I am not creating crazy scenarios that present a problem that simply isn't going to develop.)
You are certainly defending the actions of your 'friend.'
ReplyDeleteAs for the board having the right to speak with its employees, of course they do. Do they have the right to investigate them in that way? NO!
You are correct. The superintendent should have been asked to look into the matter and to report to the board. If that had been done, the superintendent would have found out that policy was followed; The media would not have had a field day with front page listings of the 'bad' administrators; The board would have shown that getting to the truth is more important than grandstanding; and, as a result, the board would have been respected for its professionalism. One loose cannon caused the ruckus. Guess who?
I suspect that people have become enamoured with the term "transparency" and feel that everything needs to be done in a public forum. Unfortunately, there are privacy laws and civil rights to consider. Also the media goes into a feeding frenzy when things like this happen, and it makes the entire City look bad.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the Mayor writing to the Governor about the make up for the180 school days, Darien and Greenwich had already done so -- and gotten a negative response. The point of the letter was to show solidarity with the other Districts who are also struggling to cram it all in. The administration knew before the letter was even written what the response was going to be.
The Mayor is an ex-officio of the Board. He has every right to be there and quite frankly, the Board needs to work more closely with the City if they want to pull out of this fiscal death spiral they are currently in. The budget for the District is the largest item in the entire City Budget. Right now, there are three major cases pending regarding inappropriate actions by the BOE teachers, which could potentially cost Norwalk millions. Potential lawsuits, interviews and/or disciplinary actions should not be conducted in a public forum -- and trust me, the Mayor is very aware of that. So are all the lawyers who will be representing the defendants.
The Board and the District must move circumspectly in handling these cases. I, for one, don't want to see any of the defendants receive a court awarded damages because of someone's carelessness.
6:52, thank you for stating the truth in such an intelligent manner!
ReplyDelete6:52 - The session with the administrators was never going to be done in public; it was going to be an executive session, which is closed from all spectators. Also, no minutes are taken and no votes can be conducted. I'd like to know whose rights were allegedly being violated -- and exactly how this would have been a violation of anyone's rights.
ReplyDeleteYes, the mayor is an ex-officio member of the board of education, but he lacks the authority to make a decision for the board. Furthermore, he lacks the authority to be the spokesperson for the board. And since when did Darien or Greenwich ever need a position of "solidarity" with Norwalk? Please.
An executive session that was clearly announced not only in the Norwalk Hour but also right here? (and in the most negative way possible!)Whose rights were being violated??????
ReplyDelete1:27, give it up! Thou dost protest too much. You must either be Steve or an overprotective relative.
2:18 - The Hour announced that there would be an executive session, but no reporter would have been given access to the meeting. No one's rights would have been violated.
ReplyDeleteAs I said, I wouldn't have handled it the same way, and so I'm the only protest I offer is about misinformation that has been posted on this site. I don't even know Steve.
8:54, give it up. You are addicted to this forum. I am not. I am able to say good-bye.
ReplyDeleteBye!
7:31 - Interesting comment. When you don't have a logical and intelligent response, you change the subject. First it was to suggest that I am Steve Colarossi or that I am someone related to him. Second is that I'm addicted to this forum, which is moving the conversation away from the original topic.
ReplyDelete4:12, the poster is right. You are addicted to this forum. The whole point was about violating civil and personal rights.
ReplyDeleteGo back to work!
Okay, so I'm addicted to this forum. Now tell me how anyone's civil and personal rights have been violated.
ReplyDeleteIt's called due process. If the mayor hadn't put a stop to the investigation, that would have been the problem.
ReplyDeleteThere is an obvious need for some review of how the process, within the school system worked, or not. If it worked properly, then the public should know that. If it failed, to any degree, the public should know that, too. A review, or investigation, should be done as soon as possible and would have no effect on the criminal process already happening. Your "Harvard Lawyer" is on the right track and sounds like the only responsible adult in the system. Anything less than a full review will be seen as a cover-up.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to imagine why anyone would oppose a full review, unless they are part of a cover-up.
11:04 - Clearly, you don't know what due process is.
ReplyDelete