Were any of the extreme budget cuts ultimately good? Are elementary schools being forced to run more efficiently? Things seem to be o.k. (at my kids' school), but I don't know if that's just our principal putting on a happy face or if things aren't that bad.
Hoping to get some discussion (any discussion) going here, let me put in my two cents about the state of our schools. In the elementary schools (where one child attends) there is not enough staff. Sorry, but there had to be better things to cut to balance the budget. I don't think there is enough staff in the cafeteria and I have my worries about morning routines should there be an emergency at a school. My oldest child is in middle school and I think it's a disgrace that all clubs and sports were cut. So I guess I learned to fight even harder at budget time.
Same insomniac poster as above at 1:22. I don't know if the five people who always supported Marks learned anything because I don't think any of them consider that she was a failure. As for the next superintendent, if the current interim is doing a good job, I think it makes sense to keep him. Why? Because Marks proved that if you can't figure out how Norwalk works you can't succeed here.
I think you are right, Insomniac. It makes sense to keep the Interim, if he continues to do a great job. He knows how Norwalk works and he works with the community, staff and unions. Smooth sailing so far
@1:50, what you should have learned from our last 'disaster' of a superintendent is that a good superintendent works with all his/her constituents. Yes, the unions need to be worked with. The staff needs to be kept happy. It's not just about keeping happy a small group of people who hang on to power like a mad dog with a bone. Reality is that, if this superintendent is backed by the majority of his constituents, we have a winner!
While we're at it, we should be sure to keep every member of BOE as well. Since they've ALL been working so well for Norwalk. Why is this city so adverse to any kind of change?
I am a parent at NHMS and upset with a current bus situation. We have an overcrowded bus. Kids sit 3 or 4 to a seat. I can't even imagine. At times students sit on the floor on the bus. Can the driver legally drive a bus with so many kids? Parents have called the transportation department and the bus company. NHMS administration is aware of the issue and is also calling. No results are being seen. What should we do? I am worried that someone can seriously get hurt. Advice anyone?
How long have you given the principal to resolve this situation? If you know this situation is factual, and not just hearsay, and after giving the principal enough time to rectify it, go higher.
If you email me the bus number (or the streets from which it pick-ups), I will do my best to look into the situation. Steve Colarossi (colarossis@norwalkps.org)
Thank you so much Steve. I am so glad you are reading this and I am sure you will work on it for us. The bus comes from East Norwalk. Bus #423. My child gets on the last stop and has to squeeze on uncomfortablely. Maybe you can help. I just don't understand why nothing is being done. If another bus needs to be added then so be it. No matter what budget issues are going on, our childrens' safety needs to be our first priority. I just don't understand how with all these people bring aware of the problem for weeks, it is not resolved yet. Please keep us updated and thank you from all the parents who are concerned.
There is another issue as well. Winfield Street this year is being considered a walk zone. It is a dangerous street. Calling downtown as a concerned parent didn't get me far. How do we investigate this? Also, with so much construction going on in East Norwalk (Emerson Road is about to ripped up as well) is anyone monitoring safety for our kids? reading these posts makes me thing not. I neevr thought to post concerns here but I am happy someone did. Mr. Colarossi, we thank you for your help.
Aaah, being an insomniac, I have some extra time to try to respond to emails and read the blogs. The school bus issue is being looked into- a count is being conducted to determine how many children should be riding that bus. It may be some children are riding on courtesy passes who might not otherwise live far enough away to qualify for bus transportation. But, it is much too early to jump to any conclusions. As for sidewalk obstructions, that is a matter which the City's Department of Public Works should be monitoring. Regarding which parts of Winfield Street are considered walking distance to Marvin or Nathan Hale requires that the posters provide some additional information. You can either post it here or email me (colarossis@norwalkps.org).
If it's the same bus as my daughter's, they have know for at least 2 weeks. Who should we talk to? Can a board of ed member address this? Safety first please.
I haven't heard from any of the parents who had posted, so I am hopeful that the bus situation has been satisfactorily resolved. Please let me know if any other problems are on-going.
It sounds like they have split the bus up somehow. Much safer now. Hopefully it lasts. But I am upset to think that parents calling and saying there was an unsafe situation didn't yeild quick results. Why didn't they listen to parents concerns initially? That should be looked into. I applaud you Steve for helping ensure the safety of our children.
Also, Winfield as a whole is dangerous to walk. Speedying cars every where. That should be looked into.
The exchange about the school bus had me thinking about a new topic-- if you've ever contacted a Board of Education member, were you satisfied with the response?
For what it's worth, I wrote to the BOE about the budget. Colarossi and Kassimis wrote back and it wasn't a form letter. Haynie gave me a bizarre response (when I read it I thought the woman had sent me the wrong form letter). Jack wrote a nice response, but blamed the teachers union for everything. Lyons wrote back but didn't say much. Barbis was a nasty one- but he was the only one. I was impressed.
Different poster than the others. When I've written to Rosa, I get a courteous response thanking me for writing. However, when I see her at a school function and ask her stuff, she always gives thoughtful answers. I find that Heidi is pretty much the same way- courteous. I think all the members should try to respond to emails. But I think that all of us need to appreciate that they are volunteers and don't have secretaries. There are a few of them who always make the time- they deserve some extra credit.
Were any of the extreme budget cuts ultimately good? Are elementary schools being forced to run more efficiently?
ReplyDeleteThings seem to be o.k. (at my kids' school), but I don't know if that's just our principal putting on a happy face or if things aren't that bad.
Hoping to get some discussion (any discussion) going here, let me put in my two cents about the state of our schools. In the elementary schools (where one child attends) there is not enough staff. Sorry, but there had to be better things to cut to balance the budget. I don't think there is enough staff in the cafeteria and I have my worries about morning routines should there be an emergency at a school. My oldest child is in middle school and I think it's a disgrace that all clubs and sports were cut. So I guess I learned to fight even harder at budget time.
DeleteNot enough staff in the cafeteria? Are you expecting a prison riot? I don't get it.
DeleteCan we talk about what we want in a new superintendent? Did the Board of Education learn anything from the Susan Marks experience?
ReplyDeleteMarks proved that Norwalk needs someone with real experience as a superintendent. The city's schools definitely need someone who is a leader
DeleteSame insomniac poster as above at 1:22. I don't know if the five people who always supported Marks learned anything because I don't think any of them consider that she was a failure. As for the next superintendent, if the current interim is doing a good job, I think it makes sense to keep him. Why? Because Marks proved that if you can't figure out how Norwalk works you can't succeed here.
DeleteI think you are right, Insomniac. It makes sense to keep the Interim, if he continues to do a great job. He knows how Norwalk works and he works with the community, staff and unions. Smooth sailing so far
DeleteI agree with Insomniac. Keep the interim Superintendent, the NFT President and the NASA President. They've ALL been working so well for Norwalk.
Delete@1:50, what you should have learned from our last 'disaster' of a superintendent is that a good superintendent works with all his/her constituents. Yes, the unions need to be worked with. The staff needs to be kept happy. It's not just about keeping happy a small group of people who hang on to power like a mad dog with a bone. Reality is that, if this superintendent is backed by the majority of his constituents, we have a winner!
DeleteWhile we're at it, we should be sure to keep every member of BOE as well. Since they've ALL been working so well for Norwalk. Why is this city so adverse to any kind of change?
ReplyDeleteI am a parent at NHMS and upset with a current bus situation. We have an overcrowded bus. Kids sit 3 or 4 to a seat. I can't even imagine. At times students sit on the floor on the bus. Can the driver legally drive a bus with so many kids? Parents have called the transportation department and the bus company. NHMS administration is aware of the issue and is also calling. No results are being seen. What should we do? I am worried that someone can seriously get hurt. Advice anyone?
ReplyDeleteHow long have you given the principal to resolve this situation? If you know this situation is factual, and not just hearsay, and after giving the principal enough time to rectify it, go higher.
DeleteIf you email me the bus number (or the streets from which it pick-ups), I will do my best to look into the situation.
DeleteSteve Colarossi
(colarossis@norwalkps.org)
Thank you so much Steve. I am so glad you are reading this and I am sure you will work on it for us. The bus comes from East Norwalk. Bus #423. My child gets on the last stop and has to squeeze on uncomfortablely. Maybe you can help. I just don't understand why nothing is being done. If another bus needs to be added then so be it. No matter what budget issues are going on, our childrens' safety needs to be our first priority. I just don't understand how with all these people bring aware of the problem for weeks, it is not resolved yet. Please keep us updated and thank you from all the parents who are concerned.
DeleteI emailed the COO (who oversees the Transportation Dept.) and he assured me that he is looking into the issue.
DeleteThere is another issue as well. Winfield Street this year is being considered a walk zone. It is a dangerous street. Calling downtown as a concerned parent didn't get me far. How do we investigate this? Also, with so much construction going on in East Norwalk (Emerson Road is about to ripped up as well) is anyone monitoring safety for our kids? reading these posts makes me thing not. I neevr thought to post concerns here but I am happy someone did. Mr. Colarossi, we thank you for your help.
DeleteIsn't it up to the parents to see that the children get on the bus safely? I don't understand why it is the school system's responsibility.
DeleteAaah, being an insomniac, I have some extra time to try to respond to emails and read the blogs.
DeleteThe school bus issue is being looked into- a count is being conducted to determine how many children should be riding that bus. It may be some children are riding on courtesy passes who might not otherwise live far enough away to qualify for bus transportation. But, it is much too early to jump to any conclusions.
As for sidewalk obstructions, that is a matter which the City's Department of Public Works should be monitoring. Regarding which parts of Winfield Street are considered walking distance to Marvin or Nathan Hale requires that the posters provide some additional information. You can either post it here or email me (colarossis@norwalkps.org).
If it's the same bus as my daughter's, they have know for at least 2 weeks. Who should we talk to? Can a board of ed member address this? Safety first please.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard from any of the parents who had posted, so I am hopeful that the bus situation has been satisfactorily resolved. Please let me know if any other problems are on-going.
DeleteIt sounds like they have split the bus up somehow. Much safer now. Hopefully it lasts. But I am upset to think that parents calling and saying there was an unsafe situation didn't yeild quick results. Why didn't they listen to parents concerns initially? That should be looked into. I applaud you Steve for helping ensure the safety of our children.
DeleteAlso, Winfield as a whole is dangerous to walk. Speedying cars every where. That should be looked into.
The exchange about the school bus had me thinking about a new topic-- if you've ever contacted a Board of Education member, were you satisfied with the response?
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth, I wrote to the BOE about the budget. Colarossi and Kassimis wrote back and it wasn't a form letter. Haynie gave me a bizarre response (when I read it I thought the woman had sent me the wrong form letter). Jack wrote a nice response, but blamed the teachers union for everything. Lyons wrote back but didn't say much. Barbis was a nasty one- but he was the only one.
DeleteI was impressed.
What about the other 3 members?
DeleteDifferent poster than the others. When I've written to Rosa, I get a courteous response thanking me for writing. However, when I see her at a school function and ask her stuff, she always gives thoughtful answers. I find that Heidi is pretty much the same way- courteous.
ReplyDeleteI think all the members should try to respond to emails. But I think that all of us need to appreciate that they are volunteers and don't have secretaries. There are a few of them who always make the time- they deserve some extra credit.