Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Role of Board of Ed
Soccer Mom has asked for a topic regarding the role of the Board of Ed.
Specifically, do we want fighters? Do we want technocrats?
Do we expect the members support the superintendent, the taxpayers?
I think I got that right, Soccer Mom, bit feel free to add more questions or change it if I got it wrong.
Let the discussion begin........and, thanks, Soccer Mom for the suggestion!
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SoccerMom, taxpayers, parents, etc. Attend the debates noted below and then ask the questions...are these the people that will move the system ahead.....
ReplyDeleteCommon Council At-large Forum
7-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, Norwalk City Hall Community Room
. Common Council District C Forum
7-8 p.m., Monday, Oct. 24, Norwalk City Hall Common Council Chambers
. Board of Education District C Forum
8-9 p.m., Monday, Oct. 24, Norwalk City Hall Common Council Chambers
. Common Council District D Forum
7-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, Norwalk City Hall Common Council Chambers
. Board of Education District D Forum
8-9 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 26, Norwalk City Hall Common Council Chambers
. Mayoral Forum
7-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, Norwalk City Hall Community Room
. Common Council District E Forum
7-8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 2, Roton Middle School
. Board of Education District E Forum
8-9 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 2, Roton Middle School
. Common Council District A Forum
7-8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 3, Norwalk Public Library Community Room, Main Library, Belden Avenue
. Board of Education District A Forum
8-9 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 3, Norwalk Public Library Community Room, Main Library, Belden Avenue
It was heavily rumored that at the last set of debates the questions were already known by some of the candidates. Anyone know about that?
ReplyDelete"move the district ahead", huh? Well- if that's the criteria, time to remove the superintendent and all the principals she's been covering for and all the third-floor flunkies who come and go as they please. While you're at it, throw in the BoE members who are leaders of her fan club.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, 7:34!
ReplyDeleteAs for the BoE, I want more like Steve, that is members who support the students. If the superintendent is not doing a good job, the BoE shouldn't support her, get rid of her! And while I'm on a roll, down with the groupies.
Here's my 2 cents for what it's worth--
ReplyDeleteI want someone who knows the big picture-- someone who can get a handle on all the moving pieces. But I don't want someone who only has that info because he or she is such an insider that the loyalty is to the central office
and not the kids/tax payers.
I also want someone who won't take half-answers and who will press for info that's needed.
Finally, I want a BoE member to be able to work with the other members-- not a politician who's horsetrading all the time but someone who can disagree respectfully.
From what I've seen, Jody Bishop Pullan has a lot of the technical info in command and offers it to help move meetings along. Not a fierce debater, but she serves an important role. Midaglia Rivas asks the tough questions which is important-- she is a good yin-yang to Steve Colarossi. Would I want 9 of them-- nope. Do we need the 2 of them-- abso-freakin'-lutely.
Kassimis is filling a real void on the BoE as supporter of the students who knows how to ask probing questions.
I also know what we don't need on the BoE-- another member of the Fan Club.
Nice to see positive posts about the qualities we want.
ReplyDeleteA tireless fighter who is as fierce as Midaglie, as smart as Steve, as technically sharp as Jody, with as much history as Rosa, as kind as Heidi and as diplomatic as Artie-- yep, that'll be easy.
As long as we're not looking for someone who is "civil", we should be fine.
I want someone who has a professional background. Who knows how to conduct themselves in a meeting, whilst being productive. Someone who doesn't pretend to "know it all" and is willing to collaborate and learn from his/her peers. I don't believe the BOE is ready for hard core reformers yet. So, I guess you know who I'm not voting for - Just my opinion...
ReplyDeleteI'll be looking for someone who can come to the meetings ready to work.
ReplyDeleteMy kids are high school athletes, so I've been impressed by Artie Kassimis' work as the athletics liason. Seems like he knows how to work well with others.
I thought Steve Colarossi had a great command of the budget- loved that he had a plan that saved freshman sports!
Jody Bishop Pullan always seems prepared as does Heidi Keyes.
I have been totally underwhelmed by Sue Haynie-- still scratching my head about why she quit the curriculum committee and don't get her attack dog routine. She's probably the example of what I won't be looking for.
Maybe it's not fair, but I know she's a RedApple- so I wouldn't vote for Greg Burnett (he's an Apple too) and I certainly wouldn't vote for Mike Barbis (not only is he an Apple, but he's running for 2 different offices this election-- what's up with that?? :)-
I do live in D- so I am struggling with voting for Jack (as long as he is never Chairman again, he might be harmless enough and he might remember to support the kids over the superintendent) or just leaving a blank in that race.
Here is the role of the Board of Education: remember that you were elected to serve the CITIZENS of Norwalk.
ReplyDeleteYou are not a mindless shill to demand that taxes be increased to pay for every doo-dad and overpriced administrator "professional" educators demand. You are elected to create the best possible school system with the money you have available.
You owe your allegiance to ALL OF US and not to Education, Inc.
The Citizens are the boss of the Superintendent. We all can't tell her what to do, so we elect you to do it for us. You (BoE members) work for us-- you don't work for the superintendent. Please get that straight.
Simple enough?
Please make sure you all vote! I love the passion behind your comments and how right you are! Great discussion! I hope Board members read this.
ReplyDeleteREMEMBER---- APPLES FOR EATING, NOT VOTING.
ReplyDelete6:26 = Mindless comment.
ReplyDeleteI second the comment of 6:26. No Apples!
ReplyDeleteAah- a good apple v. rotten apple debate is brewing. Will we have cider or sour mash?
ReplyDeleteMaybe that's a debate the LMV should sponsor?????
Or maybe that'll be their next "community conversation"?
As you can read from my snarky comments, I want someone who is INDEPENDENT (not about political parties but about who they listen to) on the BoE-- maybe a bit unpredictable at times.
I am really sad to see Jody leaving the board. I think we finally have a few board members that can work well with one another regardless of political party. Jody, Heidi , Steve and Artie are getting a whole lot done on the policy committee. Thank you for living up to what we elected you for - our kids' education!
ReplyDelete