A version of this story appears on TheDailyNorwalk.com
Students from Brookside Elementary School tilted their head upward toward the dome of the Roton Planetarium and watched a comet fly through the sky and — “BOOM” — hit the earth. The Norwalk students roared with excitement as director Ralph Mackenstein explained the “asteroid theory” for why dinosaurs became extinct 65 million years ago. (He also talked about volcanoes and disease as possible causes). This, however, could be the last year that Norwalk students get to experience the “boom" because the planetarium might close next year because of budget cuts.
The Robert B. Oliver Planetarium at Roton Middle School, named after a former mayor of Norwalk, was constructed in 1966, the same year the school was built. The 40-seat planetarium is one of six school planetariums in the state.
For the past 17 years, Mackenstein has presented programs for all of Norwalk’s first, second, third and fifth grade classes. He does 150 shows with more than 3,000 students visiting the planetarium each year. He hosts preschoolers and kindergartners, and the wider community for special astromonical events.
In addition to the third grade dinosaur show, Mackenstein has created shows about the day sky, the night sky and sun/earth/moon relationships. Mackenstein follows the planetarium presentations with classroom visits to reinforce his lessons.
“I created these shows. They are directly tied to our curriculum,” says Mackenstein, a certified teacher with master's level coursework in science. “Most elementary teachers are not scientists. I’m here to work with them.”
Mackenstein gave the hourlong multimedia presentation about rocks, fossils and dinosaurs on Friday morning. “I am astronomer, geologist and paleontologist,” he told the students. As he turned on his star projector, he said, “I have been watching the stars since I was 11. I know their names and the names of all the constellations.”
Closing the planetarium would save the district $95,000. Because of the teacher union’s seniority rules, Mackenstein won’t lose his job and will continue as a science teacher. On the superintendent’s proposed “cut list,” the planetarium is No. 23 out of 30, meaning that it’s not listed as a priority for reinstating if funds become available.
Mackenstein advocates for the planetarium program by saying that it is cost effective. “What other program with one teacher has an impact on 3,000 students?”
“It’s enrichment that’s free for our kids,” says Brookside third grade teacher Jeff Beckley. “It provides the kids with a special memory directly related to their lessons.”
Lisa Thomson, the Roton PTO president and founder of Red Apples, a local education reform advocacy group, suggested finding a community partner such as a local university that could make the planetarium a revenue generator. “We should get creative. Look at what is happening in this country, even NASA is being cut.”
In 1994, Roton Principal Joseph Velucci hired Mackenstein to revamp the fledgling planetarium program. “Ralph is a distinguished teacher that makes science come alive for students. The planetarium never made the cut list in previous years.”
“With America falling behind in science, it would be a great step backward if we were to lose this precious resource that inspires and motivates our future thinkers to reach for the stars,” says Daniel Lucia, a fifth grade teacher at Naramake Elementary School.
Roton sixth grader Brendan Murtha spoke to the Board of Education on Tuesday evening against the closing of the planetarium. “We should cherish the planetarium, it's totally unique," said Murtha who had visited the planetarium every year in elementary school. "It’s so much better than a textbook, to learn the wonders of science first hand."
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
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Susan Marks needs to listen to cuts that are suggested by the public. Other suggested cuts have far less impact on students. Look to central office administrators, Susan.You need to cut further there.
ReplyDeleteIt would be a disgrace to shut this down!! I am so sick of Norwalk's kids losing services and resources because of all the bickering at City Hall and endless "negotiation" with the Unions. Get with the program people and think of children - not yourselves or your egos.
ReplyDelete6.11, can you please outline the publics suggestions?
ReplyDeleteCut the elementary schools principals and make the principals actually WORK!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAs requested, from what I have read, there have been posts to:
ReplyDelete-eliminate the Director of Elem Ed position
-use 1/2 time subject area leaders; with the other 1/2 of their time as teachers
-eliminate more central office secretarial positions
-cut grant position to 1/2 time, with 1/2 time as teacher (shifting all the grant money to another administrator creates too much power for that administrator. But that is what is being proposed in this latest round of cuts)
-eliminate more literacy specialists
Anyone else remember any other proposed cuts?
Library aides and I think elementary classroom aides, too. Literary specialists have been discussed, also, but I don't know if they are the same as the library aides or the elementary aides.
ReplyDeleteOne of the problems is that when a union position is cut, if the staff member that occupies the slot has more seniority than the staff member in another position that is not being cut, the senior staff member can "bump" the other staff member. So, someone could cut a job with a salary of $50,000 (totally made up salary) that is occupied by a staff member who has 10 years seniority AND is being paid on Salary Step 3 (once again, this bears no relation to an actual situation). That staff member could then "bump" someone with less seniority and making a lower salary so the staff member making $35,000 on Step One is now out of a job. The staff member now occupying that "lower" position is still earning $50,000, so the net savings, if you would call it that, would be down to $35,000. However, remember, the District will still have to pay unemployment, which I think is now extended to two full years. So, deduct that salary percentage from the "savings", too, because you are still paying out from the operating budget.
Good grief... never did we ever think we'd lose Norwalk Public School's most treasured resource - Ralph Mackenstein's Planetarium. This man is a teacher's teacher. He instructs all grade levels in the sciences of astronomy and geology. He knows his fields inside and out (literally, speaking.) It is unfathomable that we would lose what this great teacher has to offer Norwalk. Ask the kids what they learn after they visit Mr. Mack! Witness the excitement, the wonder... the knowledge! This is a MAJOR mistake!!!
ReplyDelete