NPS Statement on McDowell Case

The following statement was issued by NPS yesterday:

The Norwalk Public Schools issues this press release to clarify the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Tanya McDowell and her son's enrollment and attendance in the Norwalk Public Schools.  Ms. McDowell's son was enrolled in Brookside Elementary School from September 21010 through January 2011, based on Ms. McDowell's registration and residency affidavit, which stated that Ms. McDowell and her son resided in Norwalk.

On January 11, 2011, Ms. McDowell testified in the Norwalk Housing Court that she and her son actually lived at 66 Priscilla Circle in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She did not testify at that time that she was homeless.

Sometime prior to January 19, 2011, Ms. McDowell registered her son in a a public school in Bridgeport.  That school sent the Brookside Elementary School a request for "Previous School Information," which had been signed by Ms. McDowell.  Attendance record indicate that her son's last day at Brookside was January 14, 2011.

The Norwalk Public Schools enrolled Ms. McDowell's son in September 2010, based on residence information provided by Ms. McDowell.  The Norwalk Public schools did not initiate the proceeding in the Housing Court at which Ms. McDowell testified.  The Norwalk Public Schools did not initiate a residency proceeding to remove Ms. McDowell son from Brookside Elementary School.  Finally, the Norwalk Public Schools did not initiate any action for tuition reimbursement against Ms. McDowell. 
 
The Norwalk Public Schools fully complies with the McKinney-Vento Act, which requires public schools to provide schools for the homeless.  In this case, according to her own testimony, Ms. McDowell and her son reside in Bridgeport, and we are aware of no evidence that she or her son are homeless.

Case May Turn on "Homeless" Definition of McDowell

Was Tanya McDowell homeless? Was she a drug dealer?

The answers may determine the outcome of the charges against the 33-year-old woman accused of stealing education services from Norwalk after she enrolled her 5-year old son at Brookside.  Mayor Moccia claims in an article in Norwalk Patch that McDowell wasn't homeless because she's lived in Bridgeport at a friend's house and because she hasn't stayed at the Open Door Shelter since 2009.

However under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act school districts must admit homeless kids to their schools. The act specifically defines a homeless child as one who lacks a "fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime address." Included in the definition are situations in which a parent and child share the housing of other people or who live in cars.

This definition seems to encompasse the varied situations McDowell told the CT Post that  she has  found herself in over the past two years:

Am I homeless?" McDowell asks, rhetorically. "I don't have keys to any place. I have a friend who often lets me sleep at his place at night with my child. But I'm not allowed to stay there during the day when he's at work. That's the way it is. For a while we lived in a homeless shelter in Norwalk, but that didn't work out for my son. So now I split my time between a friend's place in Bridgeport and sleeping in my minivan when my son goes to his grandmother's up in Wallingford some weekends. When I sleep in my minivan I keep it parked right on Merritt Street, by the shelter.

The Act also lays out a procedure that Norwalk Public Schools have to follow if they dispute McDowell's right to send her son to Norwalk schools. Her son had the right to be "immediately admitted to the school...pending resolution of the dispute." Ms McDowell had to be provided with a written explanation of the school's decision regarding school selection or enrollment, including the rights of the parent...to appeal the decision."

McDowell told me in an interview that all she she received was a voice mail message in January from a social worker stating that she had to take her son out of Brookside.

I spoke to Superintendent Susan Marks by phone on Friday. "The school system didn't initiate this arrest," says Marks. "We have homeless children in our school system and the schools support them." Marks says she was not given any information prior to McDowell's arrest and that she needs to sit down with her staff to figure out the sequence of events. Marks will also meet with Norwalk Police Chief Harry Rilling to discuss the arrest.

McDowell was already known to Norwalk Police. According The Hour's news blog, she had been arrested in November 2010 for possessing multiple bags of marijuana and of crack cocaine. Should her alleged drug dealing have any impact on her school case? Are the Norwalk authorities piling-on charges to ensure that she gets a significant prison sentence?

Some Norwalk officials claim they want to make an example out of McDowell. Depending on how her "homeless" status is resolved this move may backfire. McDowell's case is becoming a cause celebre amongst some in the civil rights community. In an article on the Huffington Post on Sunday, Boyce Watkins, a professor of Syracuse University, says:

Perhaps local officials should also be prosecuted for unconstitutionally denying Ms. McDowell's child his educational opportunities...I'd be remiss not to find the Mayor of Norwalk, Richard Moccia, guilty of abducting the infinite value of this child's life by perpetuating academic apartheid in the state of Connecticut.

 Those are fighting words.

Haynie Supports Bill to Close Achievement Gap

MAKING A CASE FOR SB929—AN ACT CONCERNING CLOSING THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAP

by Sue Haynie, Member of the Board of Education

Connecticut has the largest Achievement Gap in reading among low income children and their more affluent peers in the nation.  Between 1998 and 2009, Connecticut’s neediest children showed no improvement on the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), a test that compares the reading and math achievement in all 50 states.  Here in Norwalk and based on 5 years of our own Connecticut CMT data, 50% of Norwalk 3^rd graders, from all socio-economic levels, were not reading at grade level. Brain research informs us that reading is teachable to 95% of our students. So what happens to kids who are not reading at the level they should be, when they should be? For one, a child who hasn’t learned to read by the end of 1^st grade has only a 1 in 8 chance of ever catching up with his peers. And, without grade level reading skills by 3rd grade, 1 in 6 children will drop out of school or fail to graduate on time. We live in a global and demanding economy; sub-par reading skills are simply no longer an option.

SB929—An Act Concerning Closing the Achievement Gap  was discussed at the April 5^th Legislative Reading Forum in Hartford.  Act SB929 stresses the need for better university level pre-service reading instruction for teachers, better tools for classroom reading assessments, better professional development for classroom reading instruction and better communication with parents about effective reading strategies to use at home.

Childhood illiteracy to the degree that we are experiencing it is a detriment to the long-term health of our nation and has negative consequences for everyone—and not just the child who has not been taught to read. The repercussions of illiteracy at this scale impact you, your children, your neighborhood, your property values, your taxes, your schools, your city, and your country. Let’s hope the Connecticut General Assembly adopts a sense of urgency in regard to this reading crisis in Connecticut and acts on Act SB 929.

Bridgeport Mom Arrested for Sending Kid to Norwalk School

A  homeless woman was arrested yesterday for allegedly enrolling her son in Brookside Elementary when she actually lived in Bridgeport according to stories today in The Hour and CT Post.  She's been charged with first-degree larceny because police estimate the education  services she "stole" cost taxpayers $15, 866.

Tonya McDowell, 33, apparently has no fixed address. A man she knew in Bridgeport let her spend nights at  his house, but she had to leave each morning. Sometimes she stayed at the Open Door Shelter in South Norwalk. She paid a babysitter who lived in South Norwalk's Rodner Court project $100 a week to look after her son between 3 pm and 6 pm. She allegedly gave the babysitter's address as her permanent address when enrolling her son.  

This situation has really been troubling me. I understand that it's wrong to send children to schools that they are not eligible to attend, but I wonder whether criminalizing the activity is the right way to address this situation and ones like it? 

It looks like this is a case of a poor woman trying to do the right thing by her child by ensuring that he/she attended a school and had a place to go to afterwards. Instead of referring the matter to the police for criminal investigation, could  social services have gotten involved instead? 

From initial reports it doesn't seem that NPS was involved. Superintendent Susan Marks tells The Hour that she was not aware of the arrest, and Board Chairman Jack Chiaramonte tells the CT  Post:

"I don't get that at all. Usually when they find a kid out of district they send him back. I have never heard of people being arrested for it, but I am not sure of the law. For my understanding, whenever we find someone from another district we send them back.

From the city side it seems that Mayor Richard Moccia  knew of the situation.  The article says, "Moccia said as budgets get tighter efforts to identify out-of-district students will intensify.  He says,  "This now sends a message to other parents that may have been living in other towns and registering their kids with phony addresses."

What do you think? Should parents who send their children to schools in other districts be arrested? Is there something wrong with making an example out of a poor woman?

I know that this topic of out of district students has been brought up on the blog before. I'm curious, though about how the district has been addressing this issue.  What does a teacher or a principal do if they find out a student doesn't live in Norwalk?

SoNo Library Screens Education Films, Hosts Talks

The South Norwalk Branch Library is screening "Waiting for Superman" on Saturday, the first in a series of films about education, to be followed by a discussion with community leaders. The screening/discussion takes place from 1 to 5 p.m.

Children's librarian Sherelle Harris says education is a "hot topic" these days. "I hope this film and the panel will encourage an honest dialogue about education in Norwalk from many segments of the community, in particular the underserved communities," she says.

Panelists will include Susan Marks, superintendent of Norwalk Public Schools; Emiley Aguilar, parent advocate; Lauriston Avery, Five Mile River Nursery School director; Lauren Rosato, Norwalk Education Foundation president; and Anita Schmidt, Norwalk Branch NAACP president. Greg Burnett, a former Norwalk school board member, will moderate the discussion.

"Waiting for Superman" is an award-winning 2010 documentary that shows the plight of the American public education by following students who are desperately hoping to be selected by lottery for charter schools.

Mark your calendars for upcoming screenings/discussions:
• “Race to Nowhere,” on Saturday, May 21, 1 to 5 p.m.
• “Two Million Minutes,” on Saturday, June 11, 1 to 5 p.m.

The South Norwalk Branch Library is located at 10 Washington St., Norwalk. The screening takes place in the community room on the top level of the library. The library’s events are free and open to the public. Arrive early to allow time to park. Registration is necessary. Call 203 899-2790 Ext. 2 for more information or to register. Do not register via voicemail.

Norwalk Has a New Calendar, Last Day and Graduation Dates

For the first time next year, Norwalk students will have school on Veterans Day and the second day of Rosh Hashana and February break will be shorter. The last day of school (barring snow days) will be June 12, well before the late June end dates the district has had in recent years.

On Tuesday evening, the Board of Education voted 5-2 to adopt a new school calendar for 2011-12 that breaks from tradition. Over the last several months, Superintendent Susan Marks worked with a calendar committee made up of parents, teachers, administrators and union representatives to create a calendar that has more instruction time for students, was family and employee friendly and was similar to other districts.

Because the committee did not reach a consensus, Marks had presented three calendar options at the last school board meeting. She, herself, supported the one that passed Tuesday. The other options were a “status quo” calendar and one that had Veterans Day and the second of Rosh Hashanah off but kept February vacation intact.

Board member Glenn Iannaccone, who voted for the new calendar, said, “It is great idea to have kids in school on Veterans Day. Not enough is done now to honor the veterans.” Marks said she has already reached out to veterans’ groups to participate in school activities that day.

About the second day of Rosh Hashana, Marks said, “Students would be able to take appropriate leave and have excused absences.” Board member Sue Haynie added that one day of Rosh Hashana was “respectful and adequate” and reminded the board that Norwalk students come from a variety of religious backgrounds and should be able to take off their holidays as needed.

Haynie also reminded her colleagues that this year’s make-up snow days during February vacation cost the board $50,000. The new calendar allows for ample make-up days at the end of the year.

Board member Jodi Bishop-Pullan, who also voted in favor of the calendar, expressed concern that the end date was too early for some parents because many camps do not start until the end of June. She said many field trips, especially overseas ones, occurred during February break and wanted to make sure that the board would still support these trips. Marks said that she would work with the district’s after-school programs to make accommodations for working parents.

At the request of board member Steve Colarossi, Marks added a fourth option that kept the second day of Rosh Hashana as a holiday but shortened February break. Colarossi voted for that option.  Board member Migdalia Rivas voted against the winning calendar but did not explain her vote. Erin Halsey and Heidi Keyes were not present for the vote.

During public comments, Bruce Mellion, president of the teachers’ union, reminded the board that the Norwalk teachers he polled favored the “status quo” calendar by 60 percent. He offered an alternative option to the board, which kept the second day of Rosh Hashana and had five days off for February break.

“This is a big change,” said Bishop-Pullan.  “We’ll need a good assessment, attendance information and feedback next year.”

****

The last day of school in Norwalk is set for June 22, according to Superintendent Susan Marks, who announced important end-of-year dates at Tuesday night’s Board of Education meeting. Marks also said graduation dates have been confirmed. Briggs High School will graduate June 20, Brien McMahon's graduation takes place June 21, and Norwalk High seniors graduate June 22. Middle school graduations are scheduled for June 16.

Ponus Ridge Middle School’s last date, however, will be June 23. Its later end date is tied to the extra day off its students had in January when a water pipe accident caused extensive damage to the school.  The superintendent said that she applied for a waiver from the state to not make up that day, but it was denied.  Before the school year ends, the high schools still have five early dismissal days and the elementary schools have three early dismissal days.

Back-to-back snowstorms this winter caused the cancellation of several days of school. Six days needed to be made up to comply with the state’s 180-day school year requirement. As a result, the Board of Education scheduled three of the makeups during what was supposed to be a weeklong February vacation. It also eliminated the March 25 professional development day and added two days in June.

Teacher of the Year Promotes Norwalk Program

A version of this story appears in TheDailyNorwalk.com

The Connecticut State Teacher of the Year doesn’t believe she is necessarily the “best” teacher in the state. “I was selected to represent all teachers,” Kristen Record said at a meeting with Naramake Elementary School teachers Monday afternoon.

Record, a Stratford physics teacher who came out on top after a rigorous selection process by the state, was invited by Superintendent Susan Marks to meet with Norwalk teachers and students to promote the importance of teaching, as well as to promote Norwalk’s own newly initiated Teacher of the Year program.

“One way to encourage the best and brightest to enter and stay in this profession is to find ways to recognize high quality teaching,” said Record, 33, who has been a teacher for the past 11 years. She received her undergraduate degree in physics from Fairfield University and master’s degree in science education from Harvard University.

During the day, Record visited Rowayton Elementary School, Brien McMahon High School, Ponus Ridge Middle School, Nathan Hale Middle School and Naramake Elementary School. “I sat on a carpet with first-graders and talked about the stars,” she said charmed by the young students.

As teacher of the year, Record said she’s become an advocate for her profession. “We are the professionals in the classroom. Decisions and policies that affect us are not always made by people in the classroom.” Since she was selected in October, Record been traveling around the state to schools, universities, the legislature and education conferences to talk about importance of supporting public education, teacher recruitment and retention, and “why experience matters.” She’s met with Arne Duncan, federal education secretary, and will meet with President Obama next month.

Record also said that she’s become a source of pride for her school and community.  “A lot of time the headlines are dominated by budget cuts and test scores. We have to celebrate not only student achievement, but teacher excellence.”

Record, who stood by Marks, encouraged staff, parents and students to participate in Norwalk’s Teacher of the Year program.  “It’s great for students especially to have a voice about the adults in their building.”

The Teacher of the Year program has not received the support of Norwalk’s teachers union. “We don’t believe in singling out one person. We take the holistic approach and believe that we have 900 exemplary teachers,” said Bruce Mellion president of the Norwalk Federation of Teachers. He says he holds the same position as his national union, the Federation of Teachers.

Mellion said that instead of a “Teacher of the Year” he’d like to see the district “beef up” Teacher Appreciation Week in early May. “Recognitions is always good, so what is the district going to do to recognize teachers during Teacher Appreciation Day or Week?”

Marks says that she “regrets” that the teachers’ union in not supporting the Norwalk Teacher of the Year Program but said she is committed to moving it forward. “We need to recognize teachers and the best of teaching now more than ever. In a school system, it’s the people that make it great.”

In Norwalk, each school will select its own teacher of the year. From those, a district “Teacher of the Year” will be selected and go in the running for the state recognition. The deadline for nominations is April 15. Nomination forms are available on the district website or through your principal’s office. Contact Joan Glass, academically talented instructional specialist at glassj@norwalkps.org or 203-854-4111, for more information.

NASA Leadership in Question

Tony Ditrio is facing an unexpected challenge to his leadership of Norwalk’s school administrators’ union. Last Tuesday, the Norwalk Association of School Administrators (NASA) held closed door officer elections. Ditro and Silvermine Principal Ivette Ellis tied with 24 votes each for the top job. A run-off election is scheduled for the end of April. Three of the other four officer positions also up for re-election went to new candidates.

The challenge against the incumbents was led by Nathan Hale Principal Bob McCain who nominated the slate of new candidates. A turnover in union leadership means that a new team might be in charge of the administrator’s contract negotiations which begin this summer.

“Many of us felt like it was time for a change,” said one administrator on condition of anonymity. “We feel we don’t need to be so oppositional with the BOE. We’re willing to come around a table and talk.”

There have been grumblings within NASA for more that a year over the union’s confrontational attitude with district's Central Office. In January 2010, Ditrio put forth a” no confidence letter” to the Board of Education about central office signed by all six union heads. The purpose of the letter was to express “the high level of frustration and concern” regarding cabinet level central office leadership. A week later 30 administrators wrote their own letter countering the union leaders' no confidence letter.

Tony Ditrio, Ivette Ellis, Bob McCain and several officers/candidates were contacted, but had no comment. 

Here are the results of the NASA elections:

President: Tony Ditrio, Principal Kendall tied with Ivette Ellis, Principal Silvermine

Vice President of Administration:  Bob Polselli, Director of Information Technology defeats incumbent Sue O’Shea, Asst. Principal Kendall

Vice President of Negotiation: Incumbent Mike McGrath, Special Education Administrator, defeats Roslynne McCarthy, Center for Global Studies Director.

Treasurer: Susan Koroshetz, Brien McMahon Principal defeats Incumbent Alene LaMendola, Asst. Principal Tracey

Secretary: Incumbent Joan Glass stepped down. Marie Allen, Asst. Principal Ponus defeats Lynne Moore, Principal West Rocks

Elementary Programs Relocate

Preschool and special education programs at Norwalk elementary schools will be shuffled around next year. On Thursday evening, schools Chief Operating Officer Craig Drezek presented the plan at the end of the meeting of the Board of Education's finance committee. The moves were prompted, in part, by the need to make more room availble in Naramake and Rowayton elementary schools without having to purchase portable classrooms. At the meeting, Superintendent Susan Marks said all the principals of the affected schools agreed to the plan.


Here are the changes as presented at the finance committee:

Rowayton

Two emotionally disturbed special education classes to relocate to Tracey

Two special education classes to remain at Rowayton

Tracey

Two emotionally disturbed special education classes from Rowayton (use pre-k room plus one other)

One pre-k to relocate to Silvermine

English Language Learners Welcome Center from Brookside to Lower Level of Tracey

Wolfpit

Two pre-k classes to condense to one and move to Silvermine

Silvermine

Two pre-k classes moving in: one from Tracey and one from Wolfpit

Brookside

ELL Welcome Center to Tracey

Naramake

Family Resource Center and preschool to Norwalk High child development center (Center's administration offices to remain at Naramake)