Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Your topics....

Time again for you to choose the topics.....

47 comments:

  1. Another BOE meeting- another skirmish about the minutes . . .
    I recognize that as a lawyer, I’m expected to want to use rules as a general (but not-quite-so-mandatory) suggestion. However, rules do matter, especially when they are the rules governing how public boards conduct the public's business. Rules are indispensible to fairness, they assure equality of treatment and the expectation that rules will be followed is critical to earn the public trust.
    That’s why I keep insisting that Board of Education rules about what should and shouldn’t be included in meeting minutes be followed by everyone. If a member wants to memorialize her speeches, or put on the public record particular questions she asked, there are ways of doing that which comply with the rules. The member could use blogs and social media (as I do), as well as emails, to communicate with the public. The member could submit written communications to the entire Board (which become a part of the meeting record as a handout). But, you see, the danger in letting one member dictate her own rules for meeting minutes is that then the public has a very slanted view of what transpired at a meeting- at which point every member would need to submit his or her own written comments to be certain that meeting minutes reflected the wealth of viewpoints shared and the debates which ensued. Because secretarial service is a cost (and the longer the meetings, and the more changes that are made to the minutes, the more it costs us), and because every dime we spend on administrative expenses is ten cents less we have for education, we should be looking to save costs.
    As always with heated debates about seemingly innocuous issues, it’s never just a fight about a parking space. And the tactics of a certain cabal (who seem to be claiming that all is fair in love and “transparency”) are taking the approach that this debate isn’t about the rules, but is instead about promoting “transparency”. Yet, anyone who has ever attended a committee meeting I’ve chaired knows that I promote and encourage full public participation and strive to keep the public fully informed.
    It is ironic that the folks who claim to want “transparency” don’t seem to share my belief that following rules is critical to transparency. But then again, this is the same cabal who supported the past two years of budget secrecy- where impact statements of proposed cuts were kept from the BoE’s own Finance Committee until the last possible minute-- and where one member had secret meetings with the former Superintendent to compile budget documents in an attempt to steer votes away from the clear will of the public. The ancient Romans understood that by writing their rules on stone tablets displayed around the Forum, all citizens would know what was expected of them. And now, the members of the Norwalk Board of Education—whether plebian or patrician—should follow suit and abide by the rules that are posted for all to follow.

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  2. A reference to Roman history, A Bronx Tale and Norwalk politics . . . Dennis Miller meets Bruce Kimmel.

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  3. Steve, with all due respect. You need to chill out.

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  4. Steve is right. He isn't the one who has to chill out.

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  5. Steve, no one seems to be able to get rid of rotten apples. They will be around to destroy Norwalk. If the mayor wants to be re-elected he should shut this one up!

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  6. It's pretty obvious that Mellion Is pulling the strings of Mr. Colorossi. Haynie may have her faults, but she is on the right side of history when it comes to transparency. Taking to social media as a sort of campaign to conduct BOE business, as Mr Colorossi suggests is just wrong.
    The article in the Hour raises more questions than it answers. Now that the BOE meetings are not on TV it is very hard to figure out what is going on. Perhaps that is the point? I do not understand what the big deal is, other than to keep parents and frustrated tax payers in the dark. And as for the kids...nary a mention. How sad.

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    1. So if Haynie had secret meetings with Marks, why weren't the "transparency" team yelling then? All the people who screamed about civility during the Marks reign are pretty quiet now that Haynie and Barbis are the "uncivil" ones.

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    2. There are no "secret" meetings on the 3rd floor. EVERY BoE member or person of interest who graces the hallowed halls, whether it was for Marks or for Dadonna now is duly noted by working staff. Also, it would appear from the Hour article yesterday that Bruce Mellion could write the book on incivility. With a 5-4 board, it is pretty obvious that there is a battle going on. Gee, even Bridgeport seems to be getting their act together, voting to keep their reform superintendent on the payroll.

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    3. If you're meeting behind closed doors, what happens is a secret. At the budget meeting it was Ms. Rivas who was livid when they learned that Marks had worked alone with Haynie on budget documents.
      The current Board is hardly 5-4. On some things it appears that its Haynie and Barbis against everyone else.
      I think all of them (on the Board) want changes- they all want a better system (even Haynie and Barbis). I think the big difference is that some people know how to work with others. For what it's worth- can anyone tell me anything Haynie or Barbis got passed through the Board?

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    4. There were secret meetings. Marks aligned herself with the Apples and was attached at the hip to Haynie. That is a fact.

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    5. I remain in awe that some circles cannot fathom how someone like me-- a former high school teacher, attorney for pre-school programs (since 2002), active parent and school volunteer- can have no independent ideas about public education.
      The slash and burn mentality that would lay waste to anything connected to perceived enemies may have had short term success for Gen. Sherman but had long term impact on our nation. And, when that war tactic is applied to school budget matters, you end up with choices being made to punish certain factions despite the negative impact on students (such as happens when teachers are laid off, classrooms become crowded and children receive less individualized attention). So in keeping within our budget limits, I frequently have choices-- vote in favor of children's educational needs or pander to reactionary elements who have no practical teaching experience (to avoid the perception that I am a "stooge" as one BoE colleague so graciously referred to me in print), I will choose the children every time.

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  7. It's not just Apples that want to see change and improvement for our children in the district. This blog seems to suggest that the Apples invented reform? Hardly. So, the reform movement that is sweeping the nation, discussed on the cable channels, promoted by Obama, Arnie Duncan and Malloy, DOESN'T apply to Norwalk? It would be an outright miracle if everything else in Norwalk seems to be broken, corrupt or less than transparent, but not the school system?

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  8. I for one will vote for Haynie...and before you go there, no I'm not an apple. She is pressing buttons that no one else is pressing and really bringing things to lite. Call it as you will, but Haynie has my vote. Sue, if you are reading this...keep doing what you do best. Stick with what you believe and challenge those that want to remain quiet.
    I will vote for you in November.

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    1. If Haynie gets re-elected by people who refuse to see the truth, you will see the total destruction of the Norwalk Public Schools. Mark my word. She is only in this for power. She has no education, nor does she have any background to create meaningful change. Go ahead follow her, but you will need a good real estate agent.

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    2. Haynie voted to crowd classrooms and cut teachers in the last two budgets. This past year she voted to eliminate the Tech Ed program at Norwalk High and elementary school intervention aides.
      She has filed many Freedom of Information Act requests against school department administrators (they say they are afraid of her). What does she have to show for any it? What does she do with all her demands? The answer is easy- NOTHING. Can you think of anything she's accomplished?

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    3. Two years ago, I remember Haynie at the big budget vote. She kept jumping in to say that cuts were the same that Marks proposed. As if it mattered?
      To the person who said that Haynie is pushing all the right buttons- answer a simple question. If you believe the CREC report, then that department is broken, right? How can Haynie support the director and her former boss?

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  9. Haynie has her own agenda. She is full of vitriol and hides behind the statement that she is the only one who asks the questions that ruffle people's feathers....and that's a good thing. It's not. It's all about Haynie and her hate agenda. Don't be fooled. Haynie screams for transparency. Well, she headed the negotiations team. Did you hear that the teachers got a 4.3% raise for the next year? No. Why not? Haynie doesn't want it known that the teachers got a sizable increase under her watch. Transparency? Don't be fooled. There's lots more. This is a very vindictive woman who is not at all out for the betterment of all students.

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    1. A 0% next year, but 4.3% the year after . . . I'm no math whiz but that's like 2% per year. Wow- doesn't seem like such a great victory for us. How much did that "deal of the century" cost us? I wonder if Haynie will announce how much she spent on legal fees.
      P.S. By "us" I mean us taxpayers.

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  10. I don't get it. Haynie is responsible for the divisiveness on the BoE. It's not because what she does is for the good of the school system. It's because she is who she is. Are people that stupid that they can't see that she is evil? Open your eyes, Norwalk!

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  11. She has decimated the elementary schools, that's what she has done. She and her buddy, Susan Marks. From someone who knows, she has left them unsafe, and in a situation where earning will suffer.

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    1. Unfortunately, the comment above is a fact. I strongly urge the public to believe it.

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    2. I second that...in an age where we have had major devastation, it is scary to consider what may come in the future of our elementary schools if this trend continues. At the end of the day, our students should be our highest priority, yet we are putting them at the bottom, way below agendas, vendettas, and power.

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  12. How can people make comments like that without giving examples of how she has left schools unsafe. Who do we believe?

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    1. Can we work to tone down the rhetoric? Tough choices will always need to be made in our schools. Reasoned debate is needed for informed decisions.

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    2. Tone down the rhetoric? You mean stop blaming Haynie for ruining the district? Never!

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    3. 11:26 Never! LoL

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    4. I am here for the kids! That's why never. She destroys. She wants power over the good of the system. That's why never.

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    5. Oh so very glad you asked for proof . . .
      1. Pushed the Marks plan to cut out these services in the schools-- intervention aides, utility aides and library aides (only half time) and cut assistant principals to every other day. Why it's dangerous? Few adults who don't have students in their immediate custody to handle emergencies. Funny but people who create emergencies probably won't wait for the Assistant Principal to be in the school on the day of their mayhem.
      2. Eliminated middle school security- these people acted like intervention aides. They could spot problems with kids before they got to the crisis level. Eliminated half of the library aides. Again- fewer adults to respond to emergencies.
      3. Haynie is fighting to reduce the qualifications of school nurses-- that's right, she doesn't think that our medically fragile kids deserve registered nurses.
      4. Refuses to hold the Director of Student Personnel Services accountable. Parents complain about being denied services and get nowhere. Haynie's solution- praise the Director who claimed she doesn't understand her budget.

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    6. Here Haynie gets a hard time. On NancyonNorwalk, I think Haynie might get some votes for Pope.
      Any one have any odds if Haynie runs for re-election?

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    7. Huh? I just read the latest article on NancyonNorwalk.com. Haynie was blasted there too. The only supporter I could find was Lisa Thomson. Big surprise...She's a RedApple!

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    8. 6:33. Thank you, thank you, Thank you! Fewer adults to respond to emergencies. You cannot run a building, with all of the demands we have today, with no one to put out fires. Someone needs to manage the SRT process and special education at the building level, as well as deal without of control students. God knows we certainly have no mental health services to offer them. It can't wait til the next day

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    9. Watching this conversation. With all due respect, how many people are on the BoE? Where is Dadonna? Where is Dr. Moore? Where is Ditrio?

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    10. So happy that 5:00 AM wants to play the "blame game". If Haynie moves to cut services, she's responsible for those cuts. Daddona, Moore, Ditrio and Melion don't have votes on the Board of Education. You do know that Marks (Haynie's BFF) never went to the administrators to negotiate the changes in AP's and housemasters. Marks never went to the secretaries union to negotiate changes to hours and benefits for those people.
      Haynie brought the teachers contract to arbitration. She's responsible for that decision. The Board of Education didn't vote on the offers she made or the offers she rejected. So next year when cuts are made to pay for the raises she got from HER ARBITRATION, they'll be on her head too.

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    11. Very good, 10:49 AM. It really is the 'blame game.' If someone says something nasty about Haynie, the Haynie friends (or whoever is left in that group of 3 females) immediately counter by bringing up Daddona, Melion or whoever is a good candidate to throw into their pot. It's getting very tiresome. By the way, the NFEP is broke. Should we let them do the same to the school system? Same females!

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    12. So many problems--
      When will the Haynie fan club get it? When will they stop making excuses? She has never worked well with anyone. Did you know she is responsible for stopping the progress on the new administrator and teacher evaluation program? Seems like the busybody couldn't help herself- she wrote tons of emails to officials at the State Board of Education complaining about the parent surveys.

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    13. Parent surveys? What parent surveys? I am a aren't and have heard nothing about them?

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  13. Visit some schools, try to find an administrator who isn't afraid to tell you the truth. Putting in 27.5 hour aides in the library doesn't even approach rebuilding.

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  14. The biggest change from last year to this year is the Interim Supt. All the same people are still on the BoE. But why do all the politicians say that the big difference is the BoE chairman and not the interim superintendent? The budget season is drama free because of Tony Daddona. The guy needs to be considered for the top job.

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  15. There is no budget drama because it is an election year. Do you see anything being put back? If anything Dadonna and the mayor have struck a deal to keep peace. Benefits them both! Spin, spin spin!

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    1. Talk about spin! We have peace and harmony among all constituents. I suppose learning to work with parents, staff, unions and everyone (except Apples) is a bad thing according to you? Daddona listens to Norwalk. You want a superintendent who only listens to Apples? Then you want Marks back.

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  16. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a return of the Marks-era? Overspending. Cuts to the elementary schools. Letting Dick Moccia call all the shots! While we're at it, let's make Sue Haynie Board of Education chairperson, too.

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    1. Haynie for chairperson and Marks back? I'm gagging!

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  17. Just read this on Twitter-- Right on, Mike! Moccia is not being honest with parents.
    "‏@BarbisEducation
    The City pulls a fast one What Hartford gives, the city takes away: Schools to get more funding but less from city http://www.thehour.com/news/norwalk/what-hartford-gives-the-city-takes-away-schools-to-get . . ."
    PARENTS, WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR OUR KIDS.

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  18. Last year, the BET hit the school budget pretty hard. Supt Marks cut teachers and took lots of stuff away from the kids. Did anyone hear Mike Barbis complaining then? Does anyone else get it- it's an election year and he wants to help one of his buddies beat Moccia.
    Can the Rowayton Reprobate be any more transparent?

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    1. So it took him a year to see through Moccia's nonsense. He's calling Moccia a liar now. Better late than never. The guy's showing what he's made of.

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  19. Anyone else shocked by the silence of the Apples? The Transparency and Accountable Club has had nothing to say about the latest controversy with Haynie.

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