This is a letter by Marc Schoenen, a Norwalk Public School parent.
Interim Superintendent Nast, Mayor Moccia and the Norwalk Board of Education:
I am dismayed to learn that Superintendent Michael Nast has ordered the halting of an internal investigation of policy and procedures that led to the hiring of Dina McNelis. There are clear and distinct differences between what the police are investigating, and what the Board's constituents and concerned parents are requesting. A police investigation is intended to determine if criminal behaviour has occurred, and, if so, to determine whether or not to proceed with pressing charges against individuals for alleged crimes. What concerned parents across Norwalk want is to review the Human Resources department in the Central Office and determine how and why Dina McNelis was allowed to be hired in the first place, given a track record of inappropriate behaviour and previous dismissals within the school district.
An honest assessment of this situation would provide transparency to constituents, rather than the status quo, which many perceive as a cover-up, and an effort to not cause any waves in the last month of the interim superintendent's tenure. The ask is simple: What paper trail exists and what reviews were performed by Human Resources and other central office administrators in allowing Dina McNelis to be placed on the substitute teacher roster? What reports were produced, to whom were they provided and how were they reviewed?
Repeated lack of transparency, repeated insistence that the Central Office got the "job done and done well" in light of circumstances not only with McNelis but also in regards to Tate require explanation. The public is furious, and we will not allow this issue to continue to be swept under the rug, simply because the school year is nearly over. This issue will not simply go away.
This reflects poorly upon the entire Board of Education. How can the public have any faith that these were isolated incidents? Absent any review, how can parents be assured that we will not have further instances that put our children at risk? It was only eighteen months ago that this city was rocked with the Stacy Lore autism scandal. Combined with Dina McNelis' rehiring and assignments, it portrays a pattern of carelessness and a lack of ownership in addressing the needs of our school district.
Superintendent Nast -- I implore you, do what is right for the school system and the concerned citizens and parents in the community. Demand accountability and provide transparency in reviewing the policies, procedures and reviews performed by the Human Resources department and Central Office administrators in the case of Dina McNelis. Take a stand and do not hide behind opaque legal advice, which seems to be constantly shifting. Why was there not legal advice last week advising against an investigation? Reviewing internal policy and procedure regarding how employees are hired, background checks are performed, and reports are provided to the proper management is a fundamentally different investigation than evaluating alleged criminal behaviour by McNelis and Tate.
The public deserves answers; the Board should demand accountability of its administrators. Please provide transparency in identifying what went wrong in light of these recent events.
Thank you,
Marc R. Schoenen
Thursday, May 27, 2010
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Well written letter.. permission to quote in a letter to BOE in support? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWell said and bravo!
ReplyDeleteWhile I am definitely interested in the reply to this letter by Nast, I am more interested in an update on the budget cuts. Why is there no information lately? Transparency??????
ReplyDeleteI agree, the letter is great and very appropriate (I do not thnk we will get any reply though) but I have to say I am also disappointed that we have not heard anything new on the budget. Why don't we have more info?
ReplyDeleteI heard we are not getting a reply because the administrators' union is involved again. There is a huge power play at work.
ReplyDeleteTime to dump the unions and move on. The teachers union is doing all they can do to block CT from receiving RTTT funds, the teachers union and the administrators union seem intent on blocking a budget that doesn't contain full concessions in their favor. Educational reform is coming no matter how long they hold on. Let's pass this budget, wrap up this investigation and set to work on how to improve our schools.
ReplyDeleteIt's true, what 4:22 said. Full concessions or nothing. Let's pass the budget without giving the union full power over the school system!
ReplyDeleteListen- the budget has nothing to do with the lack of a competent HR department.
ReplyDeleteHas Supt. Nast submitted his final cut list? NOPE!
So, if the "leaders" in charge of the process haven't done what they're supposed to, how can any one blame the unions?
Blame them for opposing RTTT- ok- that's fair- but a subject for a different thread. But, let's keep this thread focused on why Nast is protecting Rutolo, why Asst. Supt. Dadonna doesn't have a plan to remove substitute teachers and why Ruotolo hasn't done the honorable thing and taken responsiblity and vowed to improve.
6:05, you are obviously a union member trying to distract everyone from the obvious...
ReplyDeleteThe union is dictating the cuts. It's all their way or they won't cooperate!
Deny it if it's not true, but you know it is.
Ya wanna know why its so quiet from BOE and Central? Watch closely, you are about to witness an attempt to what is commonly refered to as, "pulling a fast one".
ReplyDeleteSo much for transparency!
ReplyDeleteSo does the administrator's union get what they are demanding?
Can someone explain why Rutolo still has a job? Why Asst. Supt. Dadonna was even hired in the first place? Why Ruotolo hasn't taken responsibility? How many more times will she be permitted to mess up? How much money do they make? Why should my taxes support the continued failure of this inept group of people? What are they doing to move this district forward? The residents demand answers! We will get our answers and see your paper work through the freedom of information act if we have to.
ReplyDeleteWe might as well start an investigation of Susan Marks while we're at it--That said because there has to be something strangely quizzical about anybody who wants to jump to the helm of this school district. What a time to bring on someone new--budget in the toilet, inept CO, criminal probes, union shenanigans, and let's not forget the transparent board that is suddenly rather opaque. Guess she can start out with "None of that happened on my watch" You have to think that Nast is counting the minutes until he's done with this gig. Unlike Papaload, he won't be back to this mess. Best of luck to Dr. Marks, because she's going to need a lot of it; although a very large broom would help--and don't smile until Christmas!
ReplyDelete10:57, there you go again. I've figured you out; Distract everyone so that when the administrators' union is brought up and their attitude of 'my way or the highway' is mentioned, you whip out the Daddona card. You would be a great mob leader, except you don't display the intelligence that is needed. You are waaaaay too obvious.
ReplyDeleteI could even ask why in the world you were hired! It is obvious who you are!
I repeat my question, is the administrators' union going to get their demands met in the budget cuts? Input in the process is one thing, but demands are quite another....
3:50 - I don't know who 10:57 is.
ReplyDelete3:50 you must be a Ruotolo Dadonna supporter. CO is inept as are some of the principals in the district. They need to go. The new Superintendent needs to make all CO employees reapply for their jobs. Why should my tax dollars support ineptness and failure. It is broken yet those charged with fixing it continue to make excuses, blame and collect huge pay checks. CO needs a new set of eyes, not more of the same. In the corporate world, they would all be fired for running a failing business. In the world of Norwalk, they get a raise. Stop allowing them to rob the Norwalk taxpayers. Where is the accountability?
ReplyDeletewill you two stop it. go outside and have a beer and just stop!
ReplyDelete8:35, are you really unaware that these people have contracts? Are you aware that those contracts would have to be paid in full for the remaining years? You talk about robbing the Norwalk taxpayers, well get your bank account ready if what you want becomes a reality.
ReplyDeleteAnother reality check.....By whose standards are these people inept and failures? Perhaps you should check with the Commissioner of Education. I believe that he sees this matter quite differently. Are there slackers in the system? You bet. It appears the slackers are in special ed, some instructional specialists and the director of elementary ed. If Marks comes in and supports those who evaluate, which btw, would be a new concept in Norwalk, then the slackers will be let go. HR and the Human Relations dept. do need review too.
The rest of those at CO are working very hard for the students!
3:07 - How do you know? Do you have a public statement, written or spoken, in which the Commissioner of Education made a positive assessment of any of the central office administrators?
ReplyDeleteContracts? The only one with a contract that goes beyond a year is the Assistant Superintendent.
3:32, I have contacts with the Commissioner.
ReplyDeleteAlso...how about the building administrators? They have contracts.
3:07 here is your reality check . . .
ReplyDeleteAny of the top brass can be canned for malfeasance. We wouldn't have to pay them for the rest of their contracts.
Rutolo put a sub in a classroom after a principal basically wrote an eval that said she was acting strangley. Hey, guess what 3:07? The sub doesn't have any rights to keep coming back. Rutolo putting her at Briggs is a sign of Rutolo's gross incompetence.
If Rutolo did everything great, why won't Nast release a timeline of when she got the complaint and when the sub was assigned. If everything was great with the gross art teacher, then put it out there the date they got the complaint from the principal and the date that guy was put on leave.
If these guys are poker players, then we'd be calling their bluff. It's time to put up or shut up.
3:07 Stop making excuses. That is why CO is a failure. The people are tired of excuses and reasons why the ineptness must continue. Who cares if Rutolo needs to be bought out. Rutolo needs to be fired for all the problems she created. No apology from her, just excuse making from people like you. A lot of people at CO need to go. Time for a house cleaning.
ReplyDeleteThere is much ado about something right now in NPS, so we suspect some change is certainly in order. We've seen the surface froth from several stews this month; it's disconcerting to think that we only catch the waft when the wind blows. Dr. Marks will have her hands full, to be sure. Issues like substitute monitoring, the problem with the principal at Wolfpit (see yourct.com: More Woes for Dr. Marks),
ReplyDeleteand the situation with Brien McMahon's art teacher are only a few hot ones waiting to be addressed. Dr. Marks, we're counting on you!
I am appalled at the hatred people have here for central office administrators. Do you even know these people? Are you making snap judgments based on what some people are saying here? Are you aware that there are central office administrators who are on here daily making sure that their least favorite people are crucified on this site? Why, you ask? Because some of these 'condemned' administrators hold these central office people accountable. What do you mean, you ask? Some of these people spend quite a bit of time online complaining about certain administrators.... AND sometimes these people take Friday afternoons off claiming to be where they are not.
ReplyDeleteGet to the truth, but not by negative comments made here. Dr. Marks, follow the online activity of administrators and secretaries under your purview. Let the truth be known, but let it be the truth!
7:03- I LOVE YOUR SPIN.
ReplyDeleteYou're telling us that none of the junk that's going on is anyone's fault except someone who has an axe to grind with his or her boss?
Next thing you know, it'll be a secretary's fault for why the odd substitute was sent to Briggs (maybe it is some grand union plot to disgrace the highly competent HR director?). Will it be that same person's fault when it's revealed that the sub was on the list until after her arrest?
7:40, that's not at all what I said. Let me clarify for you...Many of the nasty comments that keep getting perpetuated about certain administrators are written by a specific person who has an axe to grind. This has little to do with the legal problems that are going on regarding that substitute. You are the one spinning the story. You are probably the central office person constantly online and you are the one keeping the most nasty of comments going. I'll bet you'll even deny that!d Go ahead....what's YOUR next spin?
ReplyDeleteRegardless of the "spin" - the next move is Central Office and BOE. Free tickets available at the 7:45 pm showing! The taxpayers have asked for an HR investigation, Nast has yet to put forth a follow up proposal for the budget - call it a double feature!
ReplyDeleteRegarding the budget, call it lack of transparency!!!
ReplyDeleteSo- 7:40 denies being an adminstrator, then he or she is an administrator?
ReplyDeleteWow- what were you doing a few hundred years ago-- you weren't anywhere near Salem, where you?
12:56, Were you anywhere near a school system? 'Where' and 'were' are two different words. The one you wanted was 'were'. On second thought, maybe you were the one who wrote the letter for the administrators' union? That grammar was terrible too.
ReplyDeleteAs for 'administrator' or 'not administrator,' who cares? Apparently you do!
3:07 - Can we really be sure that people need to be fired here? There are issues that need to be addressed. There are areas of weakness that need to be strengthened. Most of it is good business sense. When we call upon Dr.Marks, we merely want someone who will implement good business sense into NPS. No one should take that personally. Administrators at CO should push for good business sense. It would help morale all the way around. We should not be taking things personally and work to make NPS the best district it can be. The previous superintendent left our system with wounded employees. Morale was never so low. Let's stop taking things personally and fix our school district.
ReplyDelete4:49, good for you! You are the voice of common sense.
ReplyDelete