A version of this story appears on TheDailyNorwalk.com
More than one hundred parents and staff members from schools that will be affected by the BOE’s proposed budget cuts crowded into the Concert Hall at City Hall to beseech board members to leave their schools alone during the board meeting’s public comments section.
“Principal Sara Reilly and and Assistant Marybeth Crupi have been a valuable, successful, strong administrative team that Rowayton school cannot afford to lose,” Karine Sweitzer, a parent, told board members. “Marybeth has been instrumental in closing the achievement gap with her expertise in literacy. This past Fall we lost our fulltime literacy specialist and she’s been working with the kids in the classroom.”
Sweitzer and other parents were incensed that the BOE is considering eliminating Assistant Principals, teachers, literacy specialists and other staff in order to make up a $1.5 million gap in the schools budget.
That task was made infinitely harder when earlier in the meeting interim Superintendent Michael Nast announced to cheers that the middle schools AT Program would not be cut. Keeping AT will mean that the $425,000 in savings derived from laying off teachers in this area will have to be found elsewhere.
Parents from Naramake were equally passionate in their yellow t-shirts waving signs that read “Believe in Our Team” every time one of them spoke.
“Standing before you tonight is a family. Standing before you tonight is a team. Standing before you tonight is the lighthouse school of Norwalk,” said Liz Morelli a parent of two students who attend Naramake elementary. “I find it ludicrous that I am standing here before you once again to stand up for what is right. We all know that eliminating positions in Naramake is taking a well oiled, excellent functioning machine apart when it doesn’t need to be fixed.”
Morelli and others suggested that the funds to bridge the gap could be found at the central office.
“I am not convinced that the powers that be have not taken a good hard look at their own back yard,” said Morelli. “I am not convinced that there are honestly no employees elsewhere in the system who are not being kept despite their inability to work effectively or efficiently.”
Indeed earlier in the evening representatives from the Norwalk Federation of Teachers (NFT) and the Norwalk Association of School Administrators (NASA) circulated their own budget proposal which suggested that significant funds could be found in reducing Central Office costs and in non-classroom areas.
Several parents urged the BOE members in their public comments to give serious consideration to the union’s proposals and not to dismiss them out of hand.
One parent urged the BOE not to forget that education is an important component to the overall economic health of the city of Norwalk. She said education is a major factor in the decision making process when people consider moving to Norwalk, and feared if we continue to make cuts in our school system that families and business would decide to go elsewhere.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
FYI - Naramake was wearing Yellow tees.
ReplyDeleteThanks, sorry about the mix-up.
ReplyDeleteWere you there?
ReplyDeleteMy husband, a former journalist, was there. He covers for me when I am unable to make a meeting, which is pretty infrequently. I write the article with him afterwards. I will make sure to include his byline when I am not present.
ReplyDeleteCould someone please let us know what the cuts were that the union was circulating?
ReplyDeleteThe Naramake turnout was truly inspiring. It is a stark contrast comparing the dedication and interest of the parents and administrators as compared to some of the other elementary schools in the Norwalk Public School system.
ReplyDeleteThese comments singling out Naramake as 'better than' are, unfortunately, a part of Norwalk's major problem. It's not 'us' against 'them,' folks! Let's work together as a district!
ReplyDeleteCount ended up exceeded 200 by a couple dozen mostly parents representing the east side schools of Narramake and Nathan Hale. Signs read "We believe in our team", and "Let the childrens voices be heard". A couple hundered pages rustling loudly but politely, can be a very effective tactic.
ReplyDeleteHats off to Moore and Ditrio for going above and beyond and researching and
Thier proposal indicates over a million increase for sp/ed. What is that increase going for, admin, teachers, equipment, outsourcing?
Can someone explain how the heck we are raising the paychecks of the top administrators?
Can anyone make an serious arguement that anyone in that entire building is worth 200 - 250 grand?
And Dadonna, Corda's wingman is getting a raise of $55,000 on top of the $200,000? But for that he will so graciously throw in a week of unpaid vaction?
There is no way, no how, Dadonna would clear that kinda dough in the real world.
In the real world B.S. artists are not tolerated, unless of course your in law or finance. Neither is continued poor performance tolerated. But thia is Norwalk, you screw up we give you a promotion and raise.
The climax of the evening was when a young lad of about 9 took the microphone and made his plea for his school.
If this all wasn't so sad and pathetic it would be inspiring. Looking at the board one could feel like either crying or screaming.
I think we need to notice one very point here. Not every school has come forward to fight for its vice-principals. When faced with a zero budget, most realize the need to prioritize the list of items bandied about for the chopping block. The schools that fight for their vice-principals must have vice principals worth fighting for. I would guess these VP's not only positive, engaging personalities, but they are supportive to students, staff, and parents who are able to provide effective leadership in their buildings. It takes a strong presence to unify parents and staff and build a strong sense of community. These VP's are to be commended for that. However, these rally agents should be an intrinsic part of every leader in every building. Imagine how powerful a district we could be with a network of such strong internal support. Dr. Marks, we're counting on you!
ReplyDeleteThank you...
ReplyDeleteI was proud to be part of the Naramake family last night. We don't think we're better than anyone else, we just make due with what we have. We want to hold onto what little we have left. Naramake does not receive any Title 1 funding and therefore does not have any additional funds to supplement any of these positions that up for elimination or downsizing. Most of our aides were eliminated last year (a few were reinstated after November, but at reduced time). There's just not much left to give back.
We were respectful and professional and just spoke truthfully about the fine staff and administrators who make Naramake a very special place to learn. We were not proposing any solutions or alternative budget scenarios. We do not believe in throwing other programs under the bus as some have done in the past years. ALL children across Norwalk are deserving of any and all resources. We were making a case for our Assistant Principal, our half time Literacy Specialist, our Intervention Aide and our Utility Aide.
The fact is, it took a lot of hard work and innovation to assemble the parents and teachers who were in attendance last night. But when you believe so deeply in a school as do the parents at Naramake, it's all worth it.
I have to ask this question, but is anyone looking to save the strings program? eliminate a top ranked admin and keep the strings program in tack. The benefits to so many young students is worth the 75K..... Steve I know some parents have invited you to attend a concert...will you do it? I think the BOE shoudl do it to see exactly what great things can happen with a great strings teacher.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the update in what is going to be possibly cut....
I don't think it's a fair assumption that other schools don't care as much as Naramake does, when a school or program is specifically in danger of being affected by budget cuts the parents rally - Columbus was out in force last year when their aides were on the block. What our big issue is that we turn out and fight when these cuts come on the table but who is fighting the city in the first place for not making Education a priority? 0 % increase means something has to be sacrificed or the budget must be raised!
ReplyDeleteI would love to hear less complaining about the Title 1 funds however - you have your neighborhood school and would definitely be raising a fuss if we started busing more low income kids into Naramake which would then qualify you for Title 1, it sounds ridiculous to hear Naramake parents whine about that over and over. You also have a Family Resource center which only a couple of our schools have.
We can't have it all and trust me this is happening in towns all over, the economy is not back where it needs to be yet!
Coaches clearing nearly 200 thousand. Administrators 150 - 250 thousand? A year?
ReplyDelete10 months? No thats fair we are getting our bang for the buck, lets just remove second languages, the sports programs, music programs, drama, art. When we are done we will have more money left over we can extend the school day and force the students to stare at books all day long. We certainly need those big buck administrators, without them, geesh, wonder where we would be?
Again....I do not see cuts in central office administrators. Can someone tell me why not and if I missed it, who will be cut?? Before you cut a program from a child why a central office admin is not being cut?
ReplyDeleteThank you, 8:54! It got ridiculous hearing Naramake parents complain over and over about not getting Title I funds. One person mentioned it four times during her three minute speech. After a while, we stopped counting.
ReplyDeleteThe federal government set up the guidelines for a reason. It is much harder to educate poor children, and that is why schools with a HIGH percentage of at-risk kids receive extra funds. Period.
The Family Resource Center brings money and program into Naramake. It also takes up BOE resources, space, and occupies classrooms. This prevented minority children from being bussed into that school in the first place. Naramake is a middle class, neighborhood school. Take a visit to Kendall, Tracey, Brookside or Jefferson and you will see just how out of balance Norwalk is.
This being said, we have to stop working against eachother and keep the system as a whole in mind. It is about children, so let's get rid of the 'not in my backyard' attitude and pull together.
Why do coaches get paid so much.....I think that is crazy!
ReplyDeleteAs a community all Norwalk parents are fighting together for the good of our children. We can't do everything but together we can make a difference.
ReplyDeleteYa got that right 3:23. We certaninly, CAN make a difference working together. Education reform just passed last night is testament to the power of folks working together on a common goal. I often contemplate, why do we have to fight and fight so hard, and it is an ongoing battle, for what is right for the children, right for our community, right for our nation?
ReplyDeleteThe Family Resource Centers are non-profit organizations funded by the state. They do NOT bring money into the schools that have them and the resources ARE shared with the rest of the community (i.e. the Preschools at Naramake and Fox Run are open to anyone in Norwalk through a lottery, the Playgroups are attended by people all around Norwalk). Conntrary to what you may believe, Naramake and Fox Run families and people in the district DO NOT get first priority for open spots in the pre-schools. Other schools have preschool programs as well (Wolfpit, Marvin, etc...) that "take up classrooms" as well. Just clarifying this misconception.
ReplyDeleteSorry 2:04 but you are misinformed. Wolfpit and Marvin's preschools are run by NPS, not outside agencies.
ReplyDeleteThat was what I was saying, sorry if I was not clear. Both of those preschools serve SN as well as neuro-typical children.
ReplyDeleteAgain the paper this morning talks about savings tot he city with the bid to take down the old police station--can we use that monet for education?? Seems like Mayor Mocchia just doesn't take education seriously!!
ReplyDeleteI'm at one of those Title 1 neighborhood schools and let me tell you, it gets so tiring hearing negative comments from middle class families who are districted there but do everything they can to be anywhere else. Maybe if more people embraced their neighborhood school and spent their time there instead of running off to All Saints, Columbus or Side by Side we'd be more balanced - our school makeup does NOT match our neighborhoods - I know Columbus prides itself on so called diversity but it is mostly only white middle class that I see flocking there year after year. Their loss though, our "out of balance" title 1 schools have some great teachers and kids, try them sometime.
ReplyDelete8:50 - although I'm at one of the non-Title 1 schools, I'm also tired of people believing the bad PR about NPS. I have friends who told me that I shouldn't move to Norwalk because, "the schools are bad. If you do, you'll have to go to private." Fortunately, I visited the school, spoke to parents of students who attende/ed the school and formed my own opinion. Norwalk schools ARE good schools, they can be better, but as I speak to friends in the surrounding towns and friends with kids in private, I find that my children are getting an equivallent or better education than they are. It seems that, in the eyes of people who say that NPS are "bad", it's all about test scores, and to be honest, race and class.
ReplyDeletePlease get your facts sraight before spouting off about the Naramake FRC.
ReplyDelete"The Family Resource Center brings money and program into Naramake. It also takes up BOE resources, space, and occupies classrooms.This prevented minority children from being bussed into that school in the first place."
Is incorrect. The FRC doesnot bring money into Naramake. It only occupies classrooms when school is out for the day thus did not prevent minority children from being bussed in.
Secondly - The parents were not "complaining" about not having title 1 funding - they were simply stating that because they don't have it they do not have the means to offset the costs of these positions being eliminated from their budget.
That being said...YES the schools of Norwalk DO need to unite. I saw very clearly at the BOE meeting that the staff of the various schools there were united. But now on this comment section it seems it's the parents that need to unite. All this bickering back and forth gets us no where. If the parents of the schools unite - imagine the force it would create. Yes - there was a big turn out at Tuesdays meeting - as there should be at many many more BOE meetings - yet sadly, there is not.
Where is the Naramake preschool housed? What classrooms do they use?
ReplyDelete