This is the best and most responsible budget we have seen in 5 years. All parties were consulted and listened to. It took someone from Norwalk who understands what parents, administrators and teachers want to formulate a good budget. Our superintendent needs to come from Norwalk. Is anyone trying to convince the Interim to stay on?
Really? You think anyone's voice was heard, other than the vocal parents who want library aides? You are wrong. No full time elementary APs, even in the schools bigger than Roton and the same size as Nathan Hale and Ponus? No literacy teachers? Who is going to provide instructional leadership, provide or direct intervention for children having reading difficulties, or help get ready for the common core?
Children are being shortchanged, and they will continue to be shortchanged.
Thanks to Susan Marks and her lack of oversight on the budget deficit, this is true! All we can do now is to rebuild in a time of little money. It will take years to get back to pre-Susan Marks. Patience, my dear, patience! The Interim is doing the best job possible, given the circumstances!
Literacy Teachers do no TEACH childern, they develop plans and pass them on to the Admin. Literacy Teachers spend thir time writing grants and develop thier afterschool class, not help childern. They are the biggest waste in Norwalk
Library aides went back in because their absence was very visible, some smart principals refused to fix the situation by staffing the libraries with volunteers, so those dark rooms caught parents' attention and they spoke up. No one sees all the things that aren't being done, and the kids who aren't being serviced. Please know this is no criticism of Tony Daddona; he is playing the lousy hand he was dealt by Marks' incompetence.
We had hoped for more for our children and our schools. Look at the office in any middle school, multiple administrators, guidance counselors, office staff and guidance secretaries. Look at a big elementary school - not good, and not safe. One secretary, one administrator.
Unpopular ways to start the re-boot of the entire school system would be to develop a single plan for the elementary schools. They need to share staff- but they can't if the schools are all on different cycles. Then schools could share library aides. Every elementary school needs an Assistant Principal- too much work for 1 person 1/2 of every week. It's expensive, but needed.
Daddona knows he doesn't have much money. He knows the teachers get a big raise in 2014-2015, so he can't return jobs only to cut them in that budget. So I guess his budget is a "safe" one. But from what I read in the Minute, I wonder if the school department needs to spend all that money on the new state standards?
Anyone who works in an elementary school, especially a big one, knows the gap that has been created without a full-time Assistant Principal. If you want to make an impact on instruction, student achievement and discipline bring back the full time AP's.
Thank you, 4:10. From what I read, teachers said these positions need to be restored to full time status. Unfortunately, this lookalike it will be years away. Valuable time, student achievement, and instructional gains lost.
This is the best and most responsible budget we have seen in 5 years. All parties were consulted and listened to. It took someone from Norwalk who understands what parents, administrators and teachers want to formulate a good budget. Our superintendent needs to come from Norwalk. Is anyone trying to convince the Interim to stay on?
ReplyDeleteReally? You think anyone's voice was heard, other than the vocal parents who want library aides? You are wrong. No full time elementary APs, even in the schools bigger than Roton and the same size as Nathan Hale and Ponus? No literacy teachers? Who is going to provide instructional leadership, provide or direct intervention for children having reading difficulties, or help get ready for the common core?
ReplyDeleteChildren are being shortchanged, and they will continue to be shortchanged.
Thanks to Susan Marks and her lack of oversight on the budget deficit, this is true! All we can do now is to rebuild in a time of little money. It will take years to get back to pre-Susan Marks. Patience, my dear, patience! The Interim is doing the best job possible, given the circumstances!
DeleteLiteracy Teachers do no TEACH childern, they develop plans and pass them on to the Admin. Literacy Teachers spend thir time writing grants and develop thier afterschool class, not help childern. They are the biggest waste in Norwalk
DeleteTrue about literacy teachers.
DeleteIf principals wanted them to teach, they taught! Some for sure saw themselves as quasi administrators, but ours taught most of the day.
DeleteSome wanted to spend their time walking around and supervising teachers and aides. Some were a great support to children who needed it
Library aides went back in because their absence was very visible, some smart principals refused to fix the situation by staffing the libraries with volunteers, so those dark rooms caught parents' attention and they spoke up. No one sees all the things that aren't being done, and the kids who aren't being serviced. Please know this is no criticism of Tony Daddona; he is playing the lousy hand he was dealt by Marks' incompetence.
ReplyDeleteWe had hoped for more for our children and our schools. Look at the office in any middle school, multiple administrators, guidance counselors, office staff and guidance secretaries. Look at a big elementary school - not good, and not safe. One secretary, one administrator.
Unpopular ways to start the re-boot of the entire school system would be to develop a single plan for the elementary schools. They need to share staff- but they can't if the schools are all on different cycles. Then schools could share library aides.
ReplyDeleteEvery elementary school needs an Assistant Principal- too much work for 1 person 1/2 of every week. It's expensive, but needed.
Daddona knows he doesn't have much money. He knows the teachers get a big raise in 2014-2015, so he can't return jobs only to cut them in that budget. So I guess his budget is a "safe" one. But from what I read in the Minute, I wonder if the school department needs to spend all that money on the new state standards?
ReplyDeleteAnyone who works in an elementary school, especially a big one, knows the gap that has been created without a full-time Assistant Principal. If you want to make an impact on instruction, student achievement and discipline bring back the full time AP's.
ReplyDeleteThank you, 4:10. From what I read, teachers said these positions need to be restored to full time status. Unfortunately, this lookalike it will be years away. Valuable time, student achievement, and instructional gains lost.
ReplyDelete