Take over as Norwalk Reporters

Coming back to you again.....
This blog is different because you get to be the reporters. So take over......

Superintendent Summer Hires

The new superintendent has been given full permission by the Board of Education to hire for open positions ( this summer) without the Board's approval. What do you think of that decision?

Money, Money, Money

The new superintendent has a plan to reorganize central office. It's going to cost the taxpayers! I wonder how the Board feels a out his plans now?

According to an article on Nancy on Norwalk

• Changing the title of the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction to either deputy superintendent or assistant superintendent for schools. This is Tony Daddona’s position, and the change would carry no salary increase. It would, however, more aptly describe his reconfigured position as he would assume many of the day-to-day administrative duties currently landing on the superintendent’s desk. Rivera said that, as he needs to devote the majority of his time to major changes in the system that include the Core Curriculum implementation, Daddona would be called upon to handle day-to-day tasks along with “other major responsibilities.”

• Convert the chief operating officer position to chief business officer to oversee facilities, finance and accounting (including chief finance officer Rich Rudl), budget, transportation and food services. Information and technology and human resources would become direct reports to Rivera. The CBO would begin Nov. 1. This position would pay $160,000, down from $173,222.

• The chief human resource officer would report to the superintendent instead of the COO. The position would be enhanced “in keeping with new developments (i.e., professional standards, performance appraisal systems and other duties).” Start date would be Nov. 1. Salary would be $155,000, up from $144,776.

• Convert the current IT director position to chief for technology, innovation and partnerships, a direct-report to the superintendent. This is another significantly enhanced role, Rivera said, with responsibilities including partnership building and management, strategic planning and systems development, driving technology related to innovations and other duties. Start date would be ASAP. Salary $175,000, up from $162,590.

• A communication officer: This new position would assume multiple duties ranging from increasing and improving the quality of internal and external communications, public relations and marketing to conducting research and assisting with planning, administrative follow-up and other duties. This position would begin Nov.1 and is based on an $87,938 annual salary.

• Standards, quality control and assessment: Rivera termed this a “placeholder” in the agenda document. It is a position he would like to fill in the near future or possibly next year and is envisioned, he said, as akin to a chief academic officer, a dedicated lead person to assure the curriculum is rolled out and implemented “with fidelity” and that “we begin to instill district-wide standards of excellence and greater quality control.” The position would oversee Common Core implementation, professional development, assessment and relate initiatives “that will require undivided time and attention.” Not budgeted at this time.

Board of Education Candidate Website Request

A READER HAS REQUESTED THAT WE POST THE LINKS TO THE WEBSITES FOR ALL BOARD OF EDUCATION CANDIDATES. I AM ASKING THE CANDIDATES TO SUBMIT THEIR WEBSITE LINKS UNDER " COMMENTS."  IN THAT WAY, THE CANDIDATE MAY ADD ANYTHING HE/SHE WANTS US TO KNOW. THANK YOU, IN ADVANCE, TO THOSE CANDIDATES WHO CHOOSE TO  PARTICIPATE.

Thoughts, concerns, ideas and frustration....

There are many thoughts, concerns, ideas and concerns among our readers. Please take over and share them. The topics are yours.....

Reaction?

Taken from a letter by Carol Burris in the Washington Post:

Burris was named New York’s 2013 High School Principal of the Year by the School Administrators Association of New York and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, and in 2010,  tapped as the 2010 New York State Outstanding Educator by the School Administrators Association of New York State.

'The bottom line is that there are tremendous financial interests driving the agenda about our schools — from test makers, to publishers, to data management corporations — all making tremendous profits from the chaotic change. When the scores drop, they prosper. When the tests change, they prosper. When schools scramble to buy materials to raise scores, they prosper. There are curriculum developers earning millions to created scripted lessons to turn teachers into deliverers of modules in alignment with the Common Core (or to replace teachers with computer software carefully designed for such alignment). This is all to be enforced by their principals, who must attend “calibration events” run by “network teams.”

We who are inside schools have been sounding the alarm, although perhaps not as loudly as we should. But in the end, it will be parents, speaking with each other and with their local school boards and legislators, who will insist that sanity prevail and local control and reason be restored. It will be parents who insist that school not be a place of the continual measurement of deficits, instead standing as places that allow students to show what they know beyond a standardized test. Parents won’t “buy the bunk” and they will tire of data driven, rather than student driven, instruction. Then the “Hard Times for These Times” will end.

Bits and Pieces

Not much to report during the summer months, so here are some bits and pieces from 'As the School System Turns.' (Yes, I've resorted to a Soap Opera twist)

Sue Haynie was exceptionally quiet at the Board meeting Tuesday night. It might be the first time ever that she didn't demand a correction of the minutes. Oh right! It's election time in Norwalk! Maybe the Republicans think we all have no long term memory of what usually happens at Board meetings? Did they tell her to stay under the radar? In this election will she only have 'One BOE Life to Live?'

Who continues to rudely tweet at Board meetings? A Board member?

Question of the moment: Has our new superintendent met with principals yet? After all, they are 'All His Children.' Do you know your children yet, sir?


And so goes 'The days of our Norwalk Lives.'

Yes, I know this was corny! :)