This is a letter to the editor from Marc Bradley, Norwalk Democratic Town Committee Chairman. It references a March 22 article from The Hour.
Moccia the Magic Maker
I was amazed to read in Robert Koch’s article, Unions Urged to Accept Wage Freezes that the Mayor had magically come upon $1.4 million in additional Educational Cost Sharing (ECS) funds – a remarkable discovery on the eve of the Board of Estimate and Taxation’s public budget hearing.
The Mayor states that the $1.4 million in additional funding from Governor Malloy is meant to, “replace the (lost) federal stimulus money” and that he would graciously, “transfer that 1.4 million to the Board of Ed”. This would have been a fine gesture had a) the money actually been new funding and b) that the funding was meant to go anywhere BUT the Board of Education.
The $1.4 million referenced is a portion of Norwalk’s annual share of the ECS funding – funding that both the Mayor and the City’s Director of Finance, Tom Hamilton should have been well aware of.
While it is true that the State prevented a reduction in these funds for fiscal year 2012, the total amount compared to the previous 3 years has not increased or decreased a dime. ECS funding is distributed annually, to every municipality on a predetermined scale. For the past 3 years, Norwalk’s share of ECS funding has held steady around $10 million per year.
These funds are meant to supplement our school system. They are not monies meant to fill holes in the proverbial dike – you know, some extra spending cash that allows the Mayor to skim off the top of the annual Board of Education budget.
As a City that has a diverse student population with a variety of needs, the State funding is meant to add additional programs to enhance our school system. Time-and-time again this administration has used State ECS funding as a means to dilute our public school system, as an excuse to take additional municipal funds out of our kids’ schools.
If our schools fall behind, our property values will continue to slip, and our taxes will continue to rise. It is time that our Mayor stops playing games with Norwalk’s taxpayers, voters, and public schools. The blame game, Union finger pointing, and last minute gifts from the Mayor and his administration are not the ways to move Norwalk forward.
Marc Bradley
Norwalk Democratic Town Committee, Chairman
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
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Marc,
ReplyDeleteExcellent letter. Games are nothing new when it comes to school funding in Norwalk. Our finance directors have traditionally low-balled early grand list projections, only to be surprised later on in the budget cycle. This year's initial .25% growth was more than doubled a few months later. I recall this happening several times in the 1990s.
Also of interest this year is the refusal -- so far -- to seriously discuss our extremely healthy rainy day fund, which I'm told is about 9% of total spending, well above the rating agencies benchmark and Norwalk's own policy.
Finally, the game of chicken between the city and certain members of the BOE on one side, and the NFT on the other, is depressing in that it has been played out so publicly. Seems some of our elected officials are more interested in headlines than getting a budget done.
I agree with Mr. Kimmel that Marc Bradley's letter hits the mark. ECS is educational cost sharing - educational being the operative word here. The city and Mr. Moccia continue to misrepresent this. Mr. Kimmel - I hope that you will speak tomorrow night and also Mr. Bradley at the BET meeting. Your background and experience speaks volumes.
ReplyDeleteour property values have continued to fall because of the schools even when they were fabulously funded so I'm not buying the more money argument and as an overburdened taxpayer, I'm glad that funding somewhere is healthy so leave the rainy day fund alone.
ReplyDeleteCome on, Mr. Kimmel. Mr. Bradley is representing the Moccia challengers and has not been an avid supporter of Norwalk schools until the Democratic campaign was recently launched. Are you running for office again, Mr. Kimmel? If you do, please try to be as open-minded as possible and not fall rank with those zombielike candidates who do not think for themselves. I would hope you would respect a diverse working climate in the political arena as well as you respect varying viewpoints in your classroom. It's just so tedious to see the finger pointing that arises during election time. Rainy day funds have always been in place, and thankfully so. This is a weak argument that does little to solve the problems our schools face today. More importantly, the political "blame game" does more damage to our schools in the long run with its negative publicity. More than ever, voters need to consider positive-thinking individuals who commit to collaborating with others of different affiliations - in a spirit of compromise - in order to support our schools (and city) over the next two years.
ReplyDeleteBravo 6:15 PM! You are right on target!
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Bradley,
ReplyDeleteI am extremely frustrated by what I feel is your disingeuous use of education and Connecticut's useless and unfair ECS formula for political gain.
As a parent, taxpayer,educational activist and political independent I am angered by BOTH political parties in Norwalk to use 'educational sound bites' for political gain. (A few months ago it was the GOP complaining about wasted monies on a $150 bus ride to Bridgeport by middle school students to see a sitting US President It was labelled a "poltical rally" for
prospective voters...really??? 13 year olds!!! )
WHERE are Norwalk's politicians tomorrow when there will be an ECS hearing in Hartford on this very topic? Norwalk gets absolutely ripped off by the state and has been for years.
I will be testifying on behalf of our city, as a parent, taxpayer and activist!
The mayor's office provided me with their resolution regarding the unfairness of the ECS formula and I will be incorporating it into my testimony. Dr Marks is weighing in with her thoughts on the matter. When I asked the union leadership for comments, I received no response.
I caution readers to be weary of anything coming out of either political party as we go into an election year, and look at the indidivual candidates themselves.
Unfortunately our educational system across the state is riddle with politics. I urge voters to use common sense and think for themselves.
Lisa you're my hero
ReplyDeleteYes, well said, Lisa!
ReplyDeleteThank you Lisa for speaking on my behalf - I'm on "Lisa's Team"!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIf we have 6 men and women serving different parts of Norwalk, shouldn't they be fighting for better ECS funding for us? Do I really need to spend over $20 in gas and take a day off for a bill that's really more about helping charter schools than us?
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've seen, the changes would give more $$$ to charter schools. Plus I read that it still allows small towns to get as much as Norwalk and that it probably will not give much more to Norwalk.
Yes, I believe in education reform. I've attended ConnCan presentations, but I can't jump on their bandwagon. I simply cannot get past their "Charter Schools solve the education issue". Have you looked at the horrific performance of some of the charter schools in CT (Hartford, perhaps)? Having said that, there are elements to what Lisa's group and COnncan are doing - for instance, teacher performance reviews and merit pay.
ReplyDeleteMany successful schools systems throughout the country have been successful because they have worked with their unions to achieve excellence for their members and their students. Norwalk needs positive leadership that will bring our schools into the 21st century. Otherwise, the future looks dim.
Whoever can rise to the occasion and figure out how to partner with our local unions is going to win the prize at the end of this race... People are tired of the blame game.
We interupt this battle over money and command and control for a teachable moment, which seems to escape discussion,recently,(teaching).
ReplyDeleteYOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan (Mar. 25, 2011) - Tech. Sgt. Jason Myers from 374th Mainteance Sq, waves to sixth graders at Elsanor Elementary School in Robertsdale, Ala., after a video teleconference to discuss Operation Tomodachi. Their teacher, Jeff Rhodus, had been discussing with his class the recent natural disasters in Japan.
Anyone with a line into Pacific Command?
Teachers, call to action, let it shine.