Comments on: Norwalk: The BOE Finance Meeting

By: Anon432

Anon432 — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 02:15:23 +0000

Fuller is not what he used to be. He used to be for the town. He used to be for the kids. He used to be working for solutions. Now he is not even awake at most meetings.#1,4,&8 should be listened to.

By: Sara Sikes, former PTO Council Prez

Sara Sikes, former PTO Council Prez — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 18:11:25 +0000

Mike,
Thanks for the good news, I hope that you’re right. It will make for better government and a simpler process.

By: Mike Lyons

Mike Lyons — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:36:38 +0000

#11 — Correct. Although the BoE is a state agency, several State Supreme Court cases have noted that BoEs are “hybrids” of local and state agencies, and that they are subject to local charter requirements that do not impact directly on their school policy-making functions. The 2000 Charter Amendment that made the BoE freely electable also included an amendment subjecting the BoE to the City Ethics Code, in Charter Section 1-225.1: “All employees and officers of the City of Norwalk, salaried and unsalaried, including the members of all boards, agencies and commissions elected or appointed in the City of Norwalk, shall be subject to the Code of Ethics contained in Chapter 32 of the Norwalk Code, as it may be amended from time to time.” The BoE, being a “board … elected … in the City of Norwalk”, WILL be subject to the new Ethics Code.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 15:36:08 +0000

Sara, I believe the ethics code would apply to BOE members as well.

By: Sara Sikes, former PTO Council Prez

Sara Sikes, former PTO Council Prez — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 14:34:47 +0000

Congrats to Bruce and Greg for bringing some healthy, open discussion to the budget process. Keep it up and let’s hope the new BOE members elected in the fall will join them.
This will motivate the superintendent to make sure he presents a budget next year that is understood and supported by the BOE and will gain more public support.
Regarding the new ethics policy, it sounds like a big improvement but unfortunately will not cover BOE, which is a state agency. They need to pass their own ethics policy.

By: ENrwlker

ENrwlker — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 13:08:05 +0000

Let’s get the new, revised Ethics Code adopted as quickly as possible; it would prohibit Fuller (or any other BoE member) from taking a job with the schools for at least 18 months after leaving office. Time to shut that revolving door.

By: rick fuller should be investigated

rick fuller should be investigated — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 10:24:34 +0000

Rick Fuller’s wife works for the BOE, it is rumored he is looking to resign from the BOE to take a job with the BOE, several of his children work for the BOE. Can you spell conflict.

He is conflicted and should be investigated. Sounds and smells like a conflict of interest. Figures he is a ward leader of one of the local political parties.

By: Charles the Hammer

Charles the Hammer — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 08:59:25 +0000

To turfgrrl:

Is there any info out there about discussion that followed the BOE finance segment regarding revision to district matriculation, grading, homework, and testing policies? I’m up to my neck in year-end grading and correcting and could not attend the meeting.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 03:41:25 +0000

Again the nickle and dime BS…But no cuts to his precious central office. Lets see, Morris still being paid, Opdhal still employed and 75 positions in central office and so many out of town students getting off the Milford bus and the train stations to go to our schools that we are paying for and he’s talking nickel and diming? Come on Sal, do we all look stupid? I dare anyone to sit in Marshals parking lot and document the kids getting off the Milford bus and walk to the high schools, I dare anyone to sit outside Fox run and see the kids being dropped off on the side road that don’t belong here. I dare anyone to sit at both the East Norwalk and the South Norwalk train stations and document the kids getting off the trains and taking Wheels buses to the schools. When is one of those 75 employees in central office going to start doing their job. Taxpayers money is going to kids from other towns and no one is doing a thing about it. Anyone want to touch on the subject of 80% minority enrollment at Jefferson School? Isn’t that a violation of state policies? WHO IS GOING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE TRAVESTIES? Our teachers not only have the task of educating our kids but also with having to deal with the problems brought into the system by those who have no right to be in our schools. And still we are nickel and diming?

By: anon

anon — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 03:27:21 +0000

He’s there because the people in his district keep electing him.