Norwalk elementary schools were largely spared, but the district’s central office staffing took a big hit as the Board of Education passed its reconciled budget on Tuesday night. By 1:30 a.m., after more than 5 hours of public comment, back-and-forths and several tense moments, the school board adopted a budget of $154.8 million with a 5-4 vote, ending the night with a $55,000 surplus. Democratic Board members Jodi Bishop-Pullan, Heidi Keyes, Migdalia Rivas and Rosa Murray opposed the budget.
For the elementary schools, the board voted to keep the assistant principals, library aides, and the third grade strings program. Intervention aides, the Roton Planetarium program and first grade aides were also retained. However, three Columbus Magnet School aide positions were cut, as were nine elementary school teacher positions which will be determined primarily by class sizes next year.
At each of the high schools, one housemaster, and police and security positions were eliminated. One Norwalk High School physical education teacher's position was also eliminated. One of the two West Rocks assistant principal positions was cut as well. However, towards the end of the meeting, the superintendent and the board acknowledged that the housemaster and West Rocks assistant principal positions are priorities for restoration.
The ax fell on the Central Office too. Three top administrator positions were cut: Director of Elementary Education, Instructional Specialist for Grants, and Instructional Specialist for Social Studies/Grants.
“The Central office gave a lot to this budget,” said Superintendent Susan Marks, who had been criticized by some board members for suggesting too many program cuts on the elementary level.
About 150 people, mostly staff and smattering of parents attended the meeting. Although lists of cuts have been circulating in the public and at finance committee meetings, this was the first time that the entire school board went over, line by line, the cuts proposed by the superintendent and members of the board. Over the course of the evening, the Board eliminated $4.16 million from the budget. That number factored in approximately $600,000 in union concessions from the teachers, administrators and custodial unions combined. Several of the board members called the $130,000 concession from the teacher's union "disappointing" since it fell far short of the anticipated $350,000.
Procedurally, the meeting got off to a rocky start when board members couldn’t agree on which excel spreadsheet to work off of. Rivas said that a spreadsheet created by Board Member Sue Haynie that was on the projector should not be used because it was not circulated to the public, “My community has not seen this document,” she said. Haynie explained she had made it to make the list easier to understand. Murray, who was attending her first meeting after being reappointed after Susan Hamilton resigned, recommended that going forward the district's finance staff should prepare documents and that that they be distributed through the finance committee chair.
Audra Good, Brookside PTO president who is also a first grade aide the school, stayed for almost the entire meeting was also confused throughout the meeting. “It’s tedious, very confusing and seems disorganized,” she said. “I’m not sure how well they communicate among themselves and know procedures.”
First, the board tackled cuts that had the backing in the Finance Committee and Budget Committee. In support of Superintendent Susan Marks, Sue Haynie stated for the record after each applicable cut, “This cut was recommended by the superintendent.”
Board member and finance committee chair Steve Colarossi presented his own list of administrative cuts totaling approximately $100,000 to the board for its consideration. He proposed reducing items such as legal fees, conferences, travel, advertising, and furniture. The Board accepted all of the reductions with the exception of their $20,500 membership to the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education.
The board didn’t start addressing the most contentious cuts until after 11 p.m. On the issue of cutting two house masters at the highschools Bishop-Pullan spoke in favor of keeping the housemasters, “I don’t see how we can lose more adults in the high schools,” she said. Murray, Haynie and Keyes we in agreement, however Colarossi, Kassimis, Chiaramonte and Iannaconne voted in favor of the cut. Rivas abstained. Mayor Richard Moccia, an ex-officio member of the BOE, used his tie-breaking vote to endorse cutting the house masters .
Moccia also broke the tie on the proposal to cut two elementary assistant principals. However, this time he voted to keep them in the budget.
Several parents and staff spoke against the cut of six library aides during the public comment section of the meeting. The board voted 7-2, with Colarossi and Haynie in favor of the cut. The strings teacher was also retained after a 6-3 vote, Colarossi, Kassimis and Haynie voted in favor of the cut.
While the board voted not to eliminate Ponus’ second assistant principal, the board did vote 5-4 to eliminate the West Rocks assistant principal. Bishop-Pullan, Murray, Keyes and Rivas voted against the cut. Colarossi and Haynie stated that West Rocks did not have significantly more students than Nathan Hale, which only has one assistant principal.
The board voted 6-3 to cut the Director of Elementary Education in spite of the superintendent’s arguments to preserve the position. Haynie, Keyes, and Chiaramonte opposed the cut.
“We need someone to support and evaluate the principals,” Marks said. Colarossi, however, stated that there aren’t any good principal evaluation tools. “I don’t think the position works despite the good people who work in it,” he said. Murray suggested that the Superintendent evaluate the elementary principals directly. Haynie stated that some of the responsibilities of the eliminated grants and social studies specialist position were supposed to be taken over by the director of elementary education.
Here is the list of eliminated positions at meeting's end.
1. Nine elementary and one high school teaching position;
2. Two high school secretary positions
3. Three Columbus aides
4. Two Central Office instructional specialists
5. Director of Elementary Education
6. IT Staff developer
7. Librarian at Brien McMahon High School
8. Guitar teacher
9. One security position at Norwalk High School
10. 1.5 literacy coaches
11. One middle school guidance counselor
12. One finance/HR Department position
13. One secretary position
14. One Food service worker
15. Custodial vacancy position
16. 0.5 reserve nurse position
17. Head of security at Brien McMahon
18. 0.5 technician position
19. Four reserve teachers
20. Two reserve aide positions
21. Police security funds at high school
22. Two high school house masters
23. One West Rocks assistant principal position
Posts
The Numeracy Coaches were not cut.
ReplyDeleteThey should be! They don't even go into all of the schools!
ReplyDeleteI have a call in to Craig Drezek to confirm about the numeracy coaches.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that they were on the Superintendent's cut list, but then there work was emphasized in the Math Director's presentation and there was not plan for how that work would be picked up by anyone else.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, removing those positions probably would have resulted in two young teachers facing lay-offs.
Having lost jobs at various times in my life, I know that it can financially and emotionally challenging, so I tried to minimize the potential for layoffs whenever possible.
Ok, confirmed with Craig that numeracy coaches were not cut. They are crossed out in the list above.
ReplyDeleteSteve, with all due respect, your comment at 9:43 is a half-truth. The Numeracy Coaches were on ALL 3 cut lists, including your Finance Committee list of May 19th and the Budget Committee list of May 23rd. The Math Instructional Specialist presented in front of the Board of Ed on May 17th, prior to either of your meetings. It was at the May 17th Board meeting that the math instructional specialist advocated to keep the numeracy coaches.
ReplyDeleteSee attached link, posted on the NPS site, listing the Budget and Finance Committee recommended cuts:
http://portal.norwalkps.org/npsdepartments/finance/Documents/RECOMMENDED%2011-12%20BUDGET%20REDUCTIONS.pdf
I am surprised that they did not cut two elementary assistants. Seems like they took all the building level administrative positions from secondary schools. Also seems like all departments in CO except special education were cut in some way.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the typo of "there" for "their" . . . the dangers of typing on only a few hours of sleep.
ReplyDeleteI just hope that the board uses their $20,500 CABE membership to get some of the training they're entitled to.
ReplyDeleteboy you can say that again
ReplyDeleteDoes CABE promise to work miracles too?
ReplyDeleteWhat did SUE HAYNIE bring to the budget debate? Sure she suggested cutting teachers, eliminating intervention aides and doing whatever else the Superintendent wanted to save the Central Office. But did she bring anything (like an idea) to the table?
ReplyDeleteJust sayin . . .
If you're saying someone told a "half-truth", you're calling him a liar.
ReplyDeleteSue, please don't air your personal attacks here-- many of us parents want to learn about the "what" and "why" of these cuts. Anyway, I couldn't figure out anything you pointed out to make me doubt what Steve had said.
Congratulations on the cuts. It's not an easy task, but at least it was accomplished. I think the BOE did a fantastic job and they worked hard to keep cuts away from the schools. Central Office took cuts that were necessary. I agree with Steve completely that the position of the Director of Elementary Education was not working. The Superintendent needs to light the fire under the elementary principals. Good for Rosa Murray for suggesting that Susan Marks evaluate the principals! You go, Rosa!!!
ReplyDeleteIt will be difficult for everyone at Central Office to take over some of the job responsibilities of those positions no longer there, but it can be done. In some districts a consultant is called in to write the grants, when necessary. It's far cheaper than a 10 month salary with benefits. Full time people at central office are unnecessary...and quite honestly, without naming names, I know for a fact that you can look up one of the names, on the deleted list of administrators, on Facebook and find out that this person was playing games on Facebook during school time.
Thank you for your long, arduous hours and your good work, BOE! You really helped out the classroom teachers as much as you possibly could.
Moina, most respectfully, I was a bit confused.
ReplyDeleteHow could the following "6-3 vote, ending the night with a $55,000 surplus. Democratic Board members Jodi Bishop-Pullan, Heidi Keyes, Migdalia Rivas and Rosa Murray opposed the budget." I would think that would be four opposed, unless someone abstained. Just wondering.
A shout out to Steve and the finance committee for a tremendous job - well done!
ReplyDeleteDoes Sue Haynie ever think for herself? I got the impression last night that she is joined at the hip with the Superintendent.
ReplyDeleteHalf truth-A statement, especially one intended to deceive, that omits some of the facts necessary for a full description or account.
ReplyDeleteIf any of you out there thinks this budget was contentious, just wait 'til next year. The dilemma will be: Where do I go from here with a couple of kids and a house or condo "underwater"? Answer: Listen to the "half truths", 'cause it's all you got to go on now(or move to Westport like Ms. Hamilton!) Norwalk is now the poster child for all that can go wrong with an education budget(Bridgeport not included, for obvious reasons). Now that the honeymoon is over with Dr. Marks, one wonders how much longer this town can stomach the insanity of the Chiaramonte/Mellion show. Everyone here is an adult, correct? As for Ms. McDowell et. al., it appears there will always be a soft spot in our hearts for your kind of controversy.
ReplyDelete3:16. thanks for pointing out the mistake. it now reads 5-4.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Sue Haynie and Dr. Marks are attached at the hip from what I have seen and heard. They actually visited my school together and I was informed by friends who work in other schools they have been there together too. I think Sue Haynie is making all the decisions and for some insane reason Dr. Marks is listening to her. Does Sue H. have an education degree?????
ReplyDeleteI sincerely appreciate those who have supported the work that I was a part of as Chairperson of the Finance Committee. Last night's effort at finding reasonable reductions that preserved much of what we, as a community, value for our children's educations was a group effort by the overwhelming majority of the BOE, the Mayor and a very dedicated Finance Department who provided accurate information.
ReplyDeleteHowever, some budget issues continue-- so I hope we can put personality differences and some of the ad hominem attacks aside to focus on an important issue.
We might have the opportunity to transfer funds from some contingency accounts (on the operations side of the Distict) to fund some of the positions that were cut.
I would welcome your ideas of what our priority should be--- the housemasters at BMHS and NHS? some of the elementary teaching positions that were cut? the second assistant principal at WRMS?
Looking forward to an informed debate and health exchange of ideas on this issue.
Steve Colarossi
Steve, Thanks for doing such a great job coming up with reasonable cuts to the budger. However, it was a mistake to cut so many teachers from the elementary schools. Sue H. does not have the facts regarding the numbers of students in each class. In many schools classes are at or over the limit right now. Students suffer when the teacher can't spend as much time as necessary with each student individually. The money will have to come from somewhere to restore these positions in September. It makes sense to restore some of the positions now rather than scrambling to rehire teachers at the end of the summer.
ReplyDeleteSo are people on this blog out to get Norwalk's latest Superintendent, whose been here for less than one year? And to criticize Sue Haynie for supporting the only unbiased non-Norwalker at the BoE table? Good grief!
ReplyDeleteDr. Marks walked into our district with leadership and union heads that our papers gently refer to as 'veterans' and that I call 'players' that have been around for 30+ years. These folks are more interested in keeping the status quo and playing 'human chess' than educating our kids. It's all a game to them. And for you anonymous folks who don't have the courage to sign your name to the blog posts attacking the one person who is trying to clean up this town. Shame on you. The number of unholy alliances between NPS staff and the BoE would make you sick to your stomach. Backroom deals everywhere...and as for the kids.....
Please remember what got us to these horrible choice of cuts in the first place 1) a bad economy 2) rising healthcare costs and 3)the NFT that would not negotiate!
You want change...write to Bob Duff or your state representative. Better still write to your party representative Art or Marc as they pull the strings as well. Finally, if your really want to something for Norwalk, write to Gov. Malloy and show him how the legislature's failure to pass any education reform is KILLING OUR CITY!
The corruption and partisanship that has infected Norwalk education must come to an end.
thanks for the breath of fresh air Lisa
ReplyDeleteSteve,
ReplyDeleteYour list is a good one. School building personnel and programs first! No doubt about it! Thanks for listening and for fighting for what is right.
You are so wrong, Lisa, that it is pathetic. This superintendent is unwilling to listen to reason. This superintendent wanted to make cuts that affected the classroom and our students directly. Of course their are alliances working against her. Those years of experience of which you speak are years of understanding what is best for Norwalk. Don't be so naive. There are unholy alliances within the superintendent's circle. There are 'friends' of hers who seek power through the superintendent and 'teacher's pets' who have no knowledge of what is best for any school system, let alone ours. It is not an unwillingness for change that is destroying our system, it is this superintendent. She is not a leader. In the short time she has been here, I see a huge difference in what people are saying...and it's all negative...That's no way to lead.
ReplyDeleteone can assume this is one of the 'players' er 'veterans' Lisa referred to
ReplyDeleteWrong!
ReplyDeleteok, then friend of 'players' er 'veterans'
ReplyDeleteSay what you will about the Board of Ed, from what I read and heard about Tuesday's meeting, we had Murray, Rivas, Colarossi & Kassimis really cooperating.
ReplyDeleteIf these 4 can work together, it says a lot about how committed they are to the kids. Right? Maybe Susan Marks could learn a little something from BoE members who put election differences aside to move us forward.
I can't tell you how disappointing it is to see one board member attack another in a public forum such as this. Why would you do that Ms. Haynie? It is very unprofessional. Please keep the bickering amongst yourselves in a more private setting.
ReplyDelete- A very concerned parent and taxpayer!
8.29 Who knows, your friends may succeed in running this superintendent out of town...and then Norwalk can waste alot of money looking again, and again and the NPS cronies that sit both in central office and in the schools will win.
ReplyDeleteI mean what agenda could Dr. Marks possibly have aside from trying to clean NPS up? Sal Cordo was no good as well remember? He let the building Principals do whatever they wanted. I can only assume he gave up. That's how you have gotten the disparity across the schools that parents are so upset about.
Thankfully, parents have wised up in Norwalk and around this country and will no longer pit school against school. The push is to hold the educational establishment accountable. I pray that our state legislature takes action before Norwalk falls into the abyss and passes legislation that allows for actionable evaluations of administrative and teaching staff.
The scarry thing is...teachers will complain to me about this Principal or that Asst. Principal or whomever and then say nothing. Do you realize that the union heads Tony Ditrio and Bruce Mellion (who represent to two groups that have the most grievances against one another) have made deals with each other so as to maintain the status quo. One can witness the comraderie in the meetings first hand. So NOTHING will ever change for NPS staff. Those two have more power than the BoE or Dr. Marks. So any organizational frustration you might have is misdirected.
We're in tough ecomomic times now, central office staff has been reduced (and fair enough to protect the classroom) but be real clear it will be that much harder to clean things up as it will be every man for himself. That can't be good for Norwalk. Again until there are changes in Hartford, sadly this is how things will remain.
Finally, when you say that Dr. Marks doesn't listen. Is that from your first hand experience or someone telling you. If anything, I have found her to be too accomodating to the staff in this town. I'd have been much more ruthless...but then again, I'm not an educator.
Surely you know that most people in high positions have two faces? It just takes a lot longer for those that see the 'sweet, accommodating' face to see the darker, ruthless side. That's why it took so long for the public to see what Corda was all about. They were 'charmed' by him at first. There was nothing but charm behind the charm...
ReplyDeleteI am not a friend of a friend of a friend either....Sorry, you are on the wrong track, 9:16 AM.
Again, it is Marks who is taking NPS down the wrong track. Educators understand what is going on. There is no 'conspiracy' afoot. Paranoia is present, however.
Alliances form when leaderships fail.
ReplyDeleteAs an informed parent the alliances have been there for 40 years! How does 1 person change the status quo when the union cards are stacked against them and sadly MOST everybody else remains conveniently anonymous.
ReplyDeleteReally disappointed about cutting the guitar teacher in the middle schools. My kid was so pysched to take this class as a new middle schooler in Sept.
ReplyDeleteThen you know that these union leaders worked well with and respected Ralph Sloan. Unfortunately NPS has had some real characters ever since Sloan left. The alliances have strengthened considerably with this new superintendent - who, by the way, boasted how well she worked with unions. Why don't you ask the union leaders how they tried to work with her initially and why their working relationship deteriorated. Assume nothing. Ask for the facts.
ReplyDeleteJust one question, please. Can someone in authority PLEASE tell us why, as Jody Bishop-Pullam states, "the assistant principals are sacred cows?" It doesn't make sense that so many elementary teachers would be cut instead of the vp's at the smaller elementary schools - a move which directly affects the size of classrooms and ultimately impact upon students and teachers. Not even the suggestion to use one between two schools was suggested. Cutting teachers will create a void that will definitely be felt like ripples in a pond. Correct me if I am wrong, but it was Dr. Corda who mandated vice-principals to co-evaluate the teacher evaluation plan in his district improvement plan. As Steve Colarossi suggests, many believe that the current evaluation plan is "woefully inadequate." Well said, Steve. There needs to be a better, more efficient way to handle evaluations that fundamentally supports the accountability of the evaluators with greater input from all invested parties. The recent online evaluation is a step in the right direction in gathering input from parents and staff to gain a wider perspective of what is truly happening in a specific school. Why, then, did we make the move to enforce micromanagement over a decreasing work force at the elementary level with assistant VPS's? Also, it definitely seems as though the secondary level benefits from assistant principals more than the smaller elementary schools. There is a greater need for behavior management at the secondary level. If Dr. Moore can make this sacrifice, then it would stand to reason that the elementary schools could also. Can someone please tell me why it is wise to cut the teachers who directly impact upon the students, as well as the second VP at West Rocks, in order to keep the vice-principals full-time at the two smallest elementary schools?
ReplyDeleteMoina, what was the vote for elementary vp? This is all you say about it in this column "Moccia also broke the tie on the proposal to cut two elementary assistant principals. However, this time he voted to keep them in the budget."
ReplyDeleteMath coaches and strings teachers. Great, keep them, but the house is burning down around us. luxury imho.
ReplyDelete4:46. I didn't include who voted what way because I'm not sure of the vote. Things were happening fast. I do know that Bishop-Pullan and Haynie voted for cutting the two APs. Rivas abstained. I actually contacted a couple of people yesterday to find out but they didn't recall either. I'll try and see if the minute taker can tell me. Anyone who was there that remembers for sure, feel free to chime in.
ReplyDeleteAnyone know 'the process' for teaching leadership skills to a superintendent? I am hearing daily of the lowest morale ever in the Norwalk Public Schools. The budget process made things even worse. Parents and educators,what you have is the Titanic actually breaking up with no help in sight.
ReplyDeleteLots of ego, little understanding of how to be an effective leader. Says it all in a nutshell. Certainly has a high opinion of herself but is not able to put her money where her mouth is.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure where we go from here, but if this district is to improve, it has to start at the top. 3rd floor Administration must be reorganized and maybe the layoffs will aid in that effort. The principals need to properly reviewed and held accountable. There are a lot of good teachers who are working for some complacent building leaders. This city is crying for leadership!
ReplyDeleteAnyone else reaching the end of their rope with all the personal attacks?
ReplyDeleteTo Lisa Thompson and Sue Haynie-- you bash others in your defense of the Supt. How about giving us some facts:
1. Tell us one reform that Supt. Marks wanted and the unions blocked.
2. If union concessions were so important, what did she offer to get them (demanding them doesn't count)?
3. Central Office Supporters-- What has the current Director of Element. Ed done? What accomplishment exists to suggest that future great things will come?
4. What is Supt. Marks' vision? Be specific and give examples of actual proposals she's offered for that vision.
5. Has a majority of the Board of Ed ever blocked a reform Supt Marks wanted?
You already know what the answers will be-- she's for rigor (that's why she wanted to cut middle school academically talented). She's for transparency (that's why she had Sue Haynie try to prepare the budget doc that would be used). She wants to close the achievement gap (that's why she wanted to cut first grade aides). If we're lucky, Sue Haynie will throw in some meaningless reference to an Ed Weekly article, and Lisa Thompson will compare the price of gas in Fairfield County to the number of free lunch students in Hartford and blame the Unions.
Well said 9 PM!
ReplyDeleteLisa DR,
ReplyDeleteI apologize, but I have had to post my response to your questions on our Red Apples website, due to space limitations on Moina's blog. I tried several times to post.
My response is on the June 17th blog page of www.redapplesnorwalk.org.
Thanks,
Lisa
I have heard through reliable sources that Red Apples are not very friendly toward the minority community. And I'm restating the comment heard pretty mildly. I'm very curious. Feedback?
ReplyDelete9:00 PM, you are exactly right. Thanks for telling it exactly like it is.
I read your comments on the blog, Lisa. I only agree with you that the position of Director of Elementary Education was not working. There were no accomplishments there. Not one. My bet is that Dr. Marks can't do without her and she will be looking for a way to get her back. Watch and see. It should be interesting to see how she accomplishes this. If she does reinstate the position, it will be the final nail in the coffin, IMHO.
ReplyDelete6.01
ReplyDeleteRed Apples...not very minority friendly...ok I'll take the bait. Let's see:
1) Co founder - Emiley Aguilar is Hispanic
2) We supported Rev. Lindsay Curtis's application for the Charter School
3) We support Side By Side in South Norwalk
4) I personally run a Newspaper Program at the Norwalk Housing Authority. Speak with Curt Law or better yet speak to the 50+ children that I work with each week.
Red Apples is nearly 100 members strong from all racial backgrounds and boasts membership from people who care about Norwalk and a decent education for all.
Am I a minority? No. I'm a white, 51 year old, semi-retired corporate executive, breast cancer, leukemia and bone marrow tranplant survivor and single mother of 2 sons who voted for Barrack Obama. Have I provided enough "LABELS" for you.
Are their some minorities that don't like me in Norwalk? Yep. Just like there are some "whites" who equally despise my reform agenda. You can't please everybody.
Again, its not about me....its about the kids:)
and the future of our city and country.
Thanks,
Lisa
Interesting, Lisa. I see you do support minorities at Side by Side and a Charter School. If I may, how do you support the gap in learning by minorities in the public schools? I am not accusing, just asking.
ReplyDelete9am - I've seen the work Lisa is doing in the community, its much more than what is being done by the minority comminity. It is always easy to throw 'race' infact, I find it a cheap shot! She is about supporting all kids - no matter where they come from. Why not ask Dr. Marks and all the Principals how they support the gap in learning by minorities in the public school system - instead of her. The last time I have seen the African American Community in public was at the rally w/ NAACP, which I attended. Where is the community or what is their position on supporting the gap in learning by minorities in the public school system - ask that! Dig deep, don't take cheap shots.
ReplyDeleteCan we please debate the merits of how our taxes are used by the school department and not what's in the heart of one particular parent advocate?
ReplyDeleteI keep waiting for someone to tell me why the supt. would support cutting aides and teachers in the elementary schools but fight to keep her director of elementary ed.
Luckily enought BOE members knew to support the kids.
such a sad state of comments. many of which are untrue.
ReplyDeletemany positions were cut with very good professionals, but the boe has no understanding of the extent of responsibilities. truly a shame. if you think stripping central office was the right way to go, it wasn't.
why have an administration and supt. when you have two very self-centered union presidents, and a posse running the system?
There is a desperate desire to silence parents like Lisa Thompson because people fear their power, fear that the advocacy will catch on, fear that the tiger will wake.
ReplyDelete11:16, I agree that the board knew to support kids, not central office. I don't know why Susan Marks wanted so badly to keep her director of elementary education. She fought very hard for keeping her. It's not a position worth fighting for. It's easy to dole out the responsibilities of that position to others.
ReplyDeletePeople, get a grip. Dr. Marks lost the Directory of Elementary position, but you don't hear her crying about it. Let it go. I applaude Colorassi for listening to parents and for keeping as many cuts out of the classroom as he/his committee could. I also applaude Haynie. She knows that many teachers need to go. I don't think she was so much anti-teacher as she is anti-bad teachers. I like the fact that Haynie and Marks are visiting the schools. I think we need to hold Dr. Marks accountable, but we don't need to crucify her. I wouldn't say I know the woman personally, but she just got here and she got here just in time for a local election, union-BOE fights and budget cuts. That has to be very interesting. Do I think she is perfect. No, but neither are any of us. Colorassi and Haynie are two different people who come at things from different perspectives, but both of those perspectives are needed. They provide checks and balances even of each other.
ReplyDeleteWhat I am more concerned about is immature and racially prejudice teachers and admin. I am concerned that there is so much politics even in educating one's child that you can't even trust the grades they receive. I am very concerned that top grade earners are having to take remedial courses in college. I am concerned about the lack of an integrated curriculum. I am concerned about patronizing attitudes toward minority students and the low expectations of many of our students. If we as adults cannot get it together, how will the students fair? All this glam and media courting. JUST GET DOWN TO THE BASICS OF EDUCATING STUDENTS. Why is that so hard to do these days? And can someone please tell me what is going on with our magnet school. Is it doing the job it was intended to do? Is it thriving academically for all of its students. Instead of posturing and fighting each other for personal reasons, can we move away from each other's personal history or baggage. Instead, CAN WE GET AN INTEGRATED CURRICULUM? I think that would help students place their "academics" in their long-term memory and I think it would certainly help with the test scores.
How do you propose getting an integrated curriculum with a central office that is bare bones? School systems need the resource of a strong central office. Why do we have to look at things in Norwalk always in terms of us versus them? We are killing our school system with this simplistic, childish thinking.
ReplyDeleteTo 1:37PM:
ReplyDeletePlease tell me what Central Office did to better the curriculum when they had the staff? Don't get me wrong, I am not happy about anyone losing there jobs. It is just time to own up to the fact that people did what they wanted to do when there was a surplus of staff and the education didn't improve.
And to one of your points, perhaps dead weight needs to go in order to bring in people who will get the point that they have to work toward results and not sit lame when one thing doesn't work, but try something else and people who understand that Norwalk tax payers want their children educated properly. We need to talk a look at the folk who are appointing people and hiring people. Folk need to do away with the excuses that some students live in the wrong zip code, some have no fathers in the home, some aren't prepared for school. These are all excuses used to not have to help some students or to blame students because of situations "man" deemed as below standard and therefore not worthy. This is not a social club. This is education. We need an integrated curriculum. A couple of the board members are connected go-getters. They have the wherewithal to get the information needed to begin tackling the curriculum.
And, 1:37PM, I wholeheartely agree with you. Why do we have to look at things in terms of us versus them? A solid leader or leaders would not have allowed that spirit to infiltrate our systems. If we continue this way, we will never get anywhere. In 10 years we will still be talking about the same things.
http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/collective_impact
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/07/the-world-8217-s-schoolmaster/8532/
Ummm . . . Marks is asking Board members to restore the position of Dir. of Elem. Ed. with the insurance savings money. So much for accepting her loss.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget Sue Haynie, earlier in this thread, calling Colarossi a "half truth teller"---it looks like the super and her pit bull/BFF aren't good losers.
WHAT??????? Susan Marks is asking to restore the position of Director of Elementary Education? She has lost it. I hope the BOE doesn't let this happen. What is Marks afraid of? Perhaps she is afraid that she will have to evaluate the elementary principals herself?
ReplyDeleteThe position of Dir. of Elem. Ed. does not work, Susan. What don't you understand about that?
I am appalled at this news.
Please try to find the funds to restore housemasters and house secretaries at both high schools. If not, this means reconfiguring the schools which would be devastating to students and parents. House offices are EXTREMELY busy each day as it is and to add more students/parent phone calls,discipline problems, etc. to 3 houses would not be beneficial to all involved.
ReplyDelete10:15: You actually made me laugh, but think about this. What is the difference in Sue calling Colarassi a half truth-teller and you calling her a pit bull? Come on folks, let us not go there. We don't know if it is fact that Marks asked to restore the Director of Elementary Ed. position.
ReplyDeleteWhat each of us can do is put together a list of positions we'd like to see restored and in the order we'd like to see them restored (and perhaps a short reason why). This should give the board and Dr. Marks something concrete to consider.
From: 3:51
Piqued Livid!
As Cee-lo Greene would say, "Forget you, and forget her, too." That's the most I can say for the mess this super-intendent has created. Norwalk was too badly in need of repair to hire an inexperienced leader to take the reins. What was the committee thinking? Sorry but maybe we should have gone with her most recent experience on her resume and could have hired her for Fay Rotolo's position instead of for the top job.
ReplyDeleteWhy NPS staff on this blog can't see the bigger economic and educational picture is beyond me as a parent. The annonymous personal attacks show how unprofessional some folks have become.
ReplyDeleteTo the annonymous poster June 17 @ 9.00 am who asked me what I was doing to support minorities in the public school system:
ReplyDeleteAside from the advocacy that Red Apples does for ALL children in NPS (details outlined on website) I personally running several After School Newspaper Programs, in the district, as part of my PERSONAL agenda to drive more rigor in our children's writing skills. With over 100 kids across NPS in the program (over the past 4 years)50% are low-income minority students.
As a professional/parent/activist I have chosen to pursue the route of educational policy change through Red Apples and to directly help kids through after school programming. It does take a village.
Thanks,
Lisa
CUT THE 100k+ DO-NOTHINGS IN THE CENTRAL ORIFICE!
ReplyDelete