Board of Education

The Board of Education Curriculum meeting on February 8th will be discussing Hirsch's Core Knowledge. This is coming from the Board of Education, not the superintendent. One member of the Board appears to be leading nine on curriculum changes. Lyons seems to know quite a lot about curriculum without having the certification of a superintendent. What are your thoughts on Core Knowledge (a controversial issue at the very least), the process, and even the Board?

Budgets, People Who Love Power and What's Really Good for the System

There is a great deal to discuss. We have heard comments about the H.R. position possibly going to a former employee who allegedly walked away from his last position with severance pay after 6 months of employment. We have discussed, once again, the former Director of Elementary Education because it has been stated that she is applying for the principalship of NHS. A topic that keeps bobbing up is the Red Apples and their influence on this superintendent. There is a budget that needs to be sliced and a superintendent who may or may not wield the ax in the best interest of children. These are current and important issues that require our attention. Why? Because the public (We the people...) has a responsibility for not only being aware of this, but for having input into this process. The best venue to express these views is at the Board of Education. However, at the very least, you can express your views and opinions freely on this blog. (We are aware that some members of the Board do read the blog.)
It is very easy to down mouth our comments (which may be called denial); however this is the information that we have uncovered.Blog on!

The Superintendent's Supervisors

By request, a clever suggestion to speak to the groupies who rule the superintendent. (I believe this is the meaning of the request) What do you think about the three groupies? Are they working for the kids or for themselves? Are they having a negative effect on the system? Do they have too much influence in the schools? A reminder once again, your anonymity is even anonymous to me.

The GE Connection

By request, it seems our bloggers want to hear more about the GE meeting. So far we understand that some of the groupies are trying to create important jobs for themselves and that there is much commotion about the 'chutzpa' of the group promoting themselves. Please add to our base knowledge while I continue to ask questions from those in the know....

What's Your Pleasure?

We are talking about the Norwalk Public Schools and this is an open topic...
What would you like to discuss or let us know about?

The Superintendent's New Clothes

I am taking my lead from many of the comments posted here. It appears that the superintendent likes the title of her job, but isn't doing the job itself. It is a fact that the superintendent handed the Board of Ed a status quo budget and is letting these wonderful Board members spend their time coming up with the required cuts. Susan Marks, they don't get paid to do this. You are being paid as the superintendent. Let's see if Steve Colorassi should be paid $200,000 in salary (plus those annuities) or if you earn your salary. Let the comments on the budget continue here......

Posted Salaries

The top salaries have been posted in The Hour. This is not new to the public employees. What is new, I believe, is that the annuities that the superintendent collects were not included with her salary. She not only gets $200,000/yearly but also gets $30,000 in annuities on top of that. Confirmation of this would be appreciated.

A Certain Middle School...

A certain middle school has placed all low achieving students in one class, I am told. If this is true...What happened to heterogeneous grouping? What are the demographics of these low achieving students? I thought we didn't have homogeneous grouping in Norwalk. Does this mean that the Board of Education condones the practice of grouping minority students in one class? Does this mean Norwalk schools are now allowing homogeneous grouping at all levels? Would someone please educate us on what is going on?