Many questions have been floating in the air in Norwalk. Rather than let the rumors grow roots, I thought this might be a good place to find out what is rumor only and what is factual. If you know, please separate fact from fiction. Here are the questions being circulated:
(1) It appears that there are many consultants in the public school system making decisions. Why are we paying Manny Rivera a large salary if he is not capable of making these decisions on his own?
(2) Manny Rivera continues to work in his consultant capacity per his contract. Are any of the consultants hired by Norwalk a part of his firm?
(3) The newly hired Human Resource person is being paid $155,000 with an opportunity to work an additional 11 days. So what does that make the real salary of this new hire?
(4) Did the Board interview the new HR hire?
(5) Why is Mike Lyons always on Nancy on Norwalk? Does he answer Board members questions there? Is it his role to answer questions in the media or should Manny Rivera be answering these questions?
Yes, those are questions many people have asked. Do you have answers, or will these questions continue to be heard at dinners and around town?
So pathetic , change is sooo hard. I thought that the NFT was quietly supporting Dr. Rivera- yeah right!
ReplyDeleteFrom what I have heard, the NFT is supporting Manny Rivera. Why do these questions bother you? They are questions people are asking. Are taxpayers not allowed to ask? I, for one, do not understand your complaint.
ReplyDeleteDon't know about dinner but the conversation around the water cooler:
ReplyDelete(1) Hear the consultants are experts in their field and would expect Rivera to listen and then make decisions.
(2) Don't know,doubtful.
(3) Time we had a permanent HR person. Rumor is Ditrio and Mellion not happy.
(4) That's why Norwalk pays Rivera the big bucks to make changes. Let him hire HIS team.
(5) Nice to see Lyons responding with facts and data.
Regarding #1: Is it typical of superintendents to spend large amounts of money to hire consultants to advise them (the superintendent) on decisions? This is news to me.
ReplyDeleteWhen you do not have the expertise in curriculum at the C.O. level you need to do what is necessary to get the job done.
ReplyDeleteThe culture here must change from one of casting negative aspirtions to one of professionalism or our students will suffer.
I don't agree. There is enough research out there to make a decision. In addition, a committee already made a recommendation.
ReplyDelete@4:17, Professionalism? Professionals DO question all the time! What do you think we are? Puppets who sit back and don't think for ourselves? Rivera has professionals who work right in Norwalk. He doesn't need consultants. Who do you think the Language Arts PROFESSIONALS were who recommended the K-5 LA program? Highly-educated professionals who keep current with research and practices.
ReplyDeleteAs for casting negative aspersions, you just did! Note: " When you don't have the expertise in curriculum at C.O...." What do you think that was supposed to mean? Yes, you just cast an ASPERSION! You contradicted what you stated! Guess no one will be following your advice!
Central Office does not have expertise in language arts curriculum and instruction. Plain and simple. Even 11:36 cannot dispute that.
ReplyDelete6:16 you are stating that the Language Arts Specialist in Central Office is not an expert. She was considered an expert when she worked as a consultant for the State of CT. and as a college professor. If Dr. Rivera does not value her opinion, why is she still in that position?
ReplyDeleteThe most vociferous malcontents on this blog "assume" anyone in Norwalk who works for the public schools "must not" be qualified to do anything but clean bathroom floors. Isn't it a shame that those who bash teachers and administrators do so without knowledge of the teachers'/administrators' backgrounds and/or accomplishments? I wonder if any other professionals get so egregiously attacked?
ReplyDeleteHow utterly igonorant, your statemet "...but clean bathroom floors..." I have a BA in Science.I can't find a job and I CLEAN BATHROOM FLOORS. The economy sucks and the job market is in the toilet. Just because you have a guaranteed union position doesn't make me, a bathroom floor cleaner, any less intelligent than you. Actually, at this moment, I wonder how intelligent you are.
DeleteHa! You certainly are bitter. Now I understand your comments. AND I said ".....must not be able to do anything BUT clean bathroom floors." I assume you are able to do more than clean bathroom floors. I was saying some people on this blog think educators in Norwalk are ONLY able to clean bathroom floors. You read what you wanted to read into that statement. I do hope you find a job soon. The economy is growing at a slow rate, which is sustainable for the long run.
DeleteWhat makes you think that the poster(s) here do so with no knowledge?
ReplyDeleteWhat makes the posters think they have the expertise to judge a professional's credentials? Our Language Arts' administrator appears to have sterling credentials.
DeleteThe same expertise you use to judge the expertise of a surgeon, a hospital, a trial lawyer, a plumber, a baker, etc. namely, record of achievement, level of respect by peers, level of respect by other professionals in a given field, professionalism, desirability, certifications and, last by not least, results on the ground. Education is no different than any other profession. You don't have to do the job to recognize a quality product.
DeleteAre you saying you did a survey of the teachers, other professionals on her level and have studied her curriculum vitae? Amazing! Are you the new HR Director?
ReplyDeleteIt's come down to cheap insults by the Core Knowledge brigade to derail those who stand in the way of the best possible 1950's style reading program for our kids. Kudos to the ELA Director for standing up to political pressure.
ReplyDeleteShe knows what will reach all of our children. The Deputy Supt. could learn from her profile in courage.
You have to chuckle reading the constant charm offensive by the Out of Towner. If a few blogposts are all it takes to make people forget the two years of deals that put him in the chairman's seat, then he deserves the political tribute he gets.
Was anyone else as confused as I was about the teachers' contract? If the arbitrator made the final decision about the contract, why was anyone grousing about word choice?
About cleaning bathroom floors- if you have kids at Norwalk High School they will let you know how bad the bathrooms are. I guess that cleaning bathroom floors is tougher than it looks.
It's not just Norwalk High. The custodians aren't given proper cleaning products, are short staffed and have had their hours cut. In addition, Central Office is trying to make them look bad by these tactics so that they can privatize. Like anywhere else there are a few bad apples, but no one seems to do anything about them.
ReplyDeleteHave to agree about Core Knowledge. Teaching ancient civilizations to six and seven year olds, no allowance for children with special needs, limited English, or below level, the perpetuation of ethnic stereotypes - not good. Lack of authentic literature, 50s style contrived decodable student books, whole class passages contrived by the publishers..... all certain to quash any love of reading,
ReplyDeleteThere are excellent programs out there, and the district has had multiple presentations by the vendors. This choice has become totally political, not educational. And that is a shame.
Teachers do have power, but rarely use it except as a union. If the teachers, the experts in the field, know what they want in the k-5 classrooms for language arts learning, fight for it! Don't depend on others. Elementary teachers have always been wimps. Don't stand behind the administrators and expect them to fight for you. High school teachers would never do that. Band together and make your demands if you know you are right!
ReplyDelete