BOE Candidates Actually Debate

Wow. An actual debate occurred in Norwalk last night, and for those who chose to watch the World Series over spending some time hearing from the candidates vying for Board of Education seats, well you missed the live from Norwalk it’s Thursday night performance. Let’s sum up the reasons this debate clicked; great moderator, solid questions, and prepared and informed candidates. The only knock, and it’s directed at the residents of Norwalk, is that the ratio of flunkie to people was still rather high. I thought it more 60-40, but others thought it more 70-30.

Let’s put it in perspective, most as in 60+%, (70% if you include capital expenditures) of Norwalk’s budget goes to the BOE. And everything in a local economy hinges on the quality of education these days, from who your workforce is, to who your customer/employees are. The candidates who are running for these seats all reflect a diverse philosophy on where Norwalk is and where Norwalk should go. Exactly what should come out of a debate. The Hour did tape the debate. I couldn’t find the clips, but Lauren Mylo’s report is here, and Moina Noor’s report is here.

I attempted to capture the debate on video, but alas, green does not mean that the video camera battery was charged, and thus only some clips taken from my photo camera where the audio turned out to be really hard to hear. So back to the old fashioned way of meeting coverage:

The first question is not here. It was about communication and that’s about the point where the video stuff was failing on me.

Q. On the question of standards, should be high for all involved, how do you define high standards and what measures to improve.

Keyes: We need to raise the bar on test scores, early childhood education, getting the standards raised to improve the school system. Identifies that first language that is not English and that more bilingual teachers should be hired.

Haynie:  Compliance is not raising a standard. We need to look for compliance but it shouldn’t be used as the basis for “good enough” but have to go beyond that.

Colarossi: Only way to have every child succeed, expand the scope of early child hood education. Thinks schools are an extension of the family and that this is where work on the glaring achievement gap can be closed. Says a system of communication and collaboration amongst our best schools to help ones that struggle.

Kassimis:  Teachers need to be engaged more, they are the ones who know which children are struggling and succeeding.

Halsey: Says we should explore what works in other school systems and that we need to build relationships between schools. Teachers here are fabulous., help them communicate and work on the same page a nd be a part of the same team.

Murray: All schools need to be on the same page, and says that district data teams and school plans demonstrate a growth of our students. Says that after school programs are in place and should be expanded.

Jimenez: This board has been deeply involved in raising the bar, and that the performance plans are in place and that the schools are on a improvement plan. Says that NCLB requires a growth plan, that standards have to be increases year to year. Says we are making progress, not change course, and continue the accountability in doing that.

Mosby: Says that Kendall and Brookside are failing on NCLB and that they are working on that. The instrument is already there and they are starting to see progress. Compliance is a big issue, and says that if we lose our federal or state money, taxpayers will foot the bill.

Colarossi: Rebuts—says that there is no model for assessments and that we should raise the standard for the superintendent.

Kassimis:  Says the teachers would be engaged in the school growth plan to close the gap.

Jimenez: There is tremendous dialog between teachers and administrators and other teachers and that it is important communication.

Q. Over years a shift in school population in some nieghbourhoods, how do you address the imbalance?

Haynie: Says that trends in data collected in the PTO council, and that after school and before school care had a correlation between student performance. Suggests that the schools decide who the providers are in stead of the BOE.

Colarrosi: Says that people choose where they move to based on property values and education. Says that Briggs is doing amazing things, but that the funding decisions are not always apparent. Spending priorities need to be made on performance and that school construction need to be better managed.

Kassimis: There is population data out there and it is unfortunate that kids are in portable classrooms. Says that it is planning and foresight that is needed and that data and conversation needs to happen more.

Halsey: Maintaining class size is important, it is currently acceptable, but needs to be maintained and that the teachers have dealt with the over crowding. Says that the BOE needs to be proactive.

Murrary: Says that the schools individually do enrollment projections. Claims that the development of the city comes out of the Mayor’s office that they do look at the data and that they use a 5 year projection. Says that racial imbalance also brings a divide. Says that Jefferson is an example of reacting to the racial imbalance.

Jimenez: Says that are 8 classrooms in 1 portable building, says that planning was careful and was important. Says that they own the capital budget but the city owns it and they make requests of it. Says that the current capital budget may not be working for the BOE.

Mosby:  Says that neighbourhood schools weren’t providing quality education and that was on the back of minority students. Says that the BET meetings are where the improvements to individual schools should be advocated. Says that the neighborhoods schools didn’t provide and equal education.

Keyes: Schools needs to reflect the diversity of all of Norwalk and that we need to plan ahead, however the room and capacity are needed to accommodate those plans. Portables should only be used short term.

Colarrossi: Says Rowayton and Namarake requests for portables came from the schools in June.

Mosby: The superintendent provides the board with those numbers and at this time they are looking for a new superintendent.

Kassimis: Says that there 8 portables at Jefferson, when is that going to be enough.

Jimenez: Says that board did evaluate the data.

Describe the ideal superintendent:

Colarossi: has to believe in the amazing potential in Norwalk, Respect the parents, teachers, administrators. Says it should be someone is an educator someone who can guide principals bad motivate teachers. Someone who would love working with our children and teachers. That the superintendent is not the chair of the BOE, but that the superintendent works for the BOE who takes direction from the public.

Kasmissi: We don’t need a another Sal Corda. We need someone who is going to hold, teachers, students and administrators accountable. This is the most important decision the BOE can do.  Says that 70% of the public wants someone from Norwalk, says that someone needs to respect the Hispanic community in Norwalk.

Halsey:  A strong leader and a good communicator and visible in the schools. That person has to possesses a strong work ethic and that it is okay to have someone from outside of Norwalk as long as they are committed to Norwalk and its students.

Murray: Says they have already established focus groups and that the city is sizable and the makeup of the city and that the superintendent is sensitive to all of the community. Says that someone needs to have to heart of Norwalk and that visibility is important. Says they are in process on that search for the next superintendent.

Jimenez: Urge everyone to be involved in the process of the search with surveys that are apparently available. Says a proven leader, great communicator and that this is an exciting endeavor and that she hopes the public joins in that process.

Mosby: Problem solving, communication skills, and the ability to work with the stakeholders of the entire community and that they should implement policy and manage day to day activities and work in all areas of diversity.

Keyes: Really strong leadership skills are needed and someone with a vested interest in Norwalk and someone who wants to be in Norwalk and doesn’t treat it as a 9 to 5 job.

Haynie: It’s a huge decision, differene between where we are now and where we want to be. Says that there should be no excuses in this district. Respects tax dollars and uses them wisely, and manages results not outcomes and the difference between being good and being great.

Halsey: Points out that most of the current BOE picked Sal Corda. That Corda resigned in June and they are just getting to selecting a new one.

Mosby: Says she wasn’t on the BOE for the Corda selection, and said he did his job to improve the schools.

Colarrossi: Says forget when he [Corda] was hired, look at 2007 when his contract was renewed at the last minute. Says that the consultant will have meetings.

Kassimis: Says we can’t just have studies we need actions, Corda’s performance should have been addressed before.

Jimenez: Says that they have worked quickly and have picked the search from after evaluating four.

Q. How can Special Ed funding be equitably distributed between schools.

Kassimis:  Says that he knows how much money is needed to keep special ed kids involved and engaged. Says that the Spectrum Ed fiasco is an example of how the system is not working.

Halsey:  Special ed kids need to be identified early on, and that the teachers identify the problem and communicate to the parents.

Murray: says there’s an outside and inside experience. Says that there are state mandates and compliance that says we cant lose funding. Says that we need to separate the board and the administration.

Jimenez: Spectrum Kids was a surprise to the board. Was not on the board at the time and that board members read about it in the newspaper. Faults the administration for it. Says that the administrators are paid full time and they are not. Says that this board did hold the superintendent accountable that this board voted not to renew Corda’s contract.

Mosby: Says that focus groups and surveys are important and that the community needs to be involved with this.

Keyes: Agrees with the community groups and focus groups are important to happen and to get the public involved. Says that the board and the community does need to know who is teaching our special ed children.

Haynie: Says the question was about funding equitablity. Says that reading disabilities are something that can be addressed, and says that special ed funding has been poorly used and that we submit a proposal to get more federal funding on programs that are available.

Colarossi: Says that we need to identify children earlier in the process. Says that the culture that has a lack of urgency and diligence in the system. Says that some schools have more knowledgeable and aggressive staffs. Says that administrators that managed the special ed used undue delays.

Mosby: CREC report was commanded by this BOE and that many of the solutions in that report are already being implemented, they are trying to fix it.

Q. Budget items (name 2) to fight for and (name 2) advocate reduction

Halsey: Looks to capital investments for each school

Murray: Says that these are difficult economic times, needs a budget document that everyone understands. Board doesn’t need to receive surprises on the eve of the budget presentation.

Jimenez: Doesn’t know and that they are starting the budget process, and that she will being to study the budget document to determine that.  A priority to protect the classroom, the last place to look for cuts.

Mosby: Needs clear concise and accurate data to make an informed decision. Doesn’t want to affect children’s’ academic learning. Really wants accurate information. Says come out in the beginning.

Keyes: Doesn’t want to see cuts in the classroom. Thinks that classroom aides are needed.

Haynie: Would assume a great superintendent and a great BOE. Says keeping teachers in the classroom is important. Look for cost savings in special education, it accounts for 20% of the budget but is in many places in the budget. Look at literacy specialists too.

Colarossi:  Says that the first budget needs to be looked at. Says the cuts out of the classroom. Says recently mailroom consolidation is a good example, Increase recycling in the schools. Administrators need to be held accountable. Stop the litigation on special ed services.

Kassimis: Says that technology can do things more efficiently, says that someone works all summer long calculating salaries and steps by hand. The MNIS system is not being used and could be done instantly. If we had consolidated the mail room years ago, the closing of the pool issue would never have happened.

Murray: Says she served on the joint committee with the Common Council and the BET. MUNIS system is not compatible with the third floor.

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  • Sue Haynie

    Letter to the Editor/Hour Newspaper:

    I am running for the Norwalk Board of Education and was a participant in the Board of Education Debate held at City Hall on October 29th. The Hour Newspaper misquoted my answer to a Debate question in the Friday, October 30th edition. What has been written is not to the point of my response and is the exact opposite of all I would mean to accomplish on the Board of Education.

    The question the Debate moderator asked the eight Board of Education candidates was about how they thought the Board of Education would set and define ‘high standards’ for the Norwalk school district. My answer was that State and Federal standards of ‘compliance’ were not a high enough standard and that we needed to raise the bar.

    I wrote about ‘compliance’ in detail on
    NorwalkNET.com which is Norwalk’s education blog. I wrote about ‘compliance’ prior to the Thursday night debate and in response to five questions posed by NorwalkNET to all eight of the Board of Education candidates. To set the record straight, I would greatly appreciate it if you would post what I have said, in print and prior to the Debate, about ‘compliance’.

    “…This Board of Education is comfortable with reaching ‘compliance’. ‘Compliance’ means that a district has ‘complied’ with State and/or Federal requirements whereas ‘non-compliance’ can mean sanctions, fines, delays in funding, etc. In other words, compliance is not failing; it’s like getting a C. I’m not happy when my kids get a C; I won’t be happy if my district gets a C. If elected to the Board of Education, compliance will not be how I will measure success…For instance–? ‘Proficiency’ in reading is in compliance. But, a child who is only ‘proficient’ is not reading at grade level. ?A black child in Norwalk is almost 4 times as likely as their non-black peers to be identified with Emotional Disturbance—in compliance (but to me, unacceptable).?Response to Intervention (RTI/SRBI) is a State-mandated general ed initiative mentioned in CREC to catch kids before they fail in reading or math. It has begun in 3 Norwalk schools but will not begin in the District until 2010 because the District wasn’t prepared and needed a waiver—in compliance…There are schools in Norwalk rising above ‘compliance’ in spite of school demographics that say they shouldn’t be—Brookside and Kendall are great examples. We need to raise the bar.”

    Note: see the article above regarding the debate and my response to the question ‘defining high standards’ and my ‘compliance’ response as recorded by http://www.yourct.com.
    See http://www.norwalknet.com regarding the same question and my response as recorded by http://www.norwalknet.com

  • http://www.parentsforcolarossi.com Steve Colarossi

    Thanks for your transcribed summary.
    I hope that people reading the coverage of the debate get the full sense of the deep divide between incumbents who feel that they’ve done a good enough job and that they shouldn’t be held responsible for the superintendent they’ve recruited and re-appointed, and those of us parents who are perfectly willing to be fully engaged in demanding that our next superintendent appreciates that he works for the people of Norwalk.
    One of the points I was hoping to see clarified was the contention that these incumbents somehow “fired” Supt. Corda– admittedly they didn’t give him the extension of his sweetheart deal that he wanted (unlike what they did in 2007 as you reported here: http://www.yourct.com/new/2007/08/norwalk-corda-gets-huge-rubber-stamped-contract-extension/ ) , but last I checked, Supt. Corda resigned.

  • Secondhand Rose

    In looking back at my own school days and then forward to my child’s, it seems apparent to me that the key to a child’s understanding and ability to absorb information is A) ability to read well and B) ability to do math well. Without excellent grounding in reading comprehension and basic math skills, as they move into adulthood kids will not be able to get paying jobs or become assets to their employers.

    Frankly, I think that, nationwide, if elementary schools simply focused the major part of their attention on these two aspects of education UNTIL EVERY CHILD can read well and do math well (and here I mean WELL, not “acceptable”), the problems that have cropped up later in their educational life would vanish. Attention also should be paid to teaching (and making sure ALL children absorb and have learned) good study skills, so that when children are assigned homework they not only understand it, but are motivated to actually DO it.

    I also think teachers need to be required to find out why children in their classrooms are NOT succeeding. Instead of forcing them to try harder or to meet certain requirements according to a test, teachers should be given the time and opportunity to sit with these kids and find out what is keeping them from absorbing the necessary information to go on to have a successful school career. Figure out why they’re not motivated and find a way to MAKE them motivated – whether it takes old-fashioned teaching methods, or thinking outside of the box. Excusing the unsuccessful or unmotivated student should not be acceptable, but neither should forcing or coercing them. Ways need to be found to interest and motivate even the unsuccessful student to make them a partner in their own educational success.

    • Mikey

      Oh thats funny Rosie HAHAHA

  • OLD TIMER

    Funny ? Mikey, you have a weird sense of humor. While we might not all say it exactly the same way, few would argue with Rose’s premise. Focus on the basics, reading and math, early in the process and most children will not have major problems in higher grades. As for motivating the unmotivated or bored, that can be a real challenge. Read Frank McCourt’s “Teacher Man” and then we can talk about the miracles that happen in classrooms when a good teacher hits the right note, sometimes by accident. The education process, including motivation, starts at home. Good teachers are able to take advantage of what the families have done and enlarge on that basis.

  • Time is now
  • Non Fiction

    Steve, yes, technically, the former super resigned.

    So its out in the open, so its clear to all, (it wasn’t a choice). Sue me.

    The man was given ample opportunity to do something, anything or save face, he and others choose to play down and dirty, on our nickel.

    And yes Steve, no one on the board past, present or running had any hand in it and it wasn’t political it was personal, very personal.

    The childrens future is as personal as it gets.

    .

  • Barnstorm

    I’ve been out of the educational market for a while now, and have no kids in the schools. As an outsider I can see Rose’s points have some validity, but I think one of the biggest differences between “then” and “now” is the fact that in my school days, the teachers and the curriculum were designed to teach the student how to think, and how to prepare for life. Now we are consumed with just teaching them how to pass mastery tests. The students leave school with no life skills or real understanding of the basics.
    The problem goes way beyond our local BOE, although they haven’t helped much in that regard either. Federal and State mandated tests do NOTHING for the actual student but are only used as a measurement of how much funding a school district can recieve. If the kids do well, they get more funds. If they don’t do as well then obviously it’s the school’s fault and we need to further hamstring them by cutting back on funding. It’s a formula for failure and until we put some much-needed common sense into the whole process, there isn’t much that’s going to happen by criticizing an individual Board of Education or it’s members.
    As always, I’m willing to be educated if I’m misreading anything here.

    I’d also like to know if this “Parents Not Politicians” group has members from both major parties, or if this is just another disingenuous ploy on the part of the republicans to be “fair and balanced” like Faux News.

  • NorwalkSpectator

    As far as I know, up until Steve Colorassi was passed over for nomination to the Board of Education, he was a registered Democrat. (And, Steve, if you read this, please feel free to correct any misunderstanding on my part.) In order to run, one needs to be nominated by either the Democratic or Republican Town Committee. As for the others, I haven’t the faintest idea of their political affiliations, and quite frankly, I don’t care. The formation of Parents Not Politicians was not a ploy of any sort having to do with “fair and balanced” as far as I’ve heard. Nor is it a smoke screen to hide political affiliations. It has to do with providing the best education possible for the students in the Norwalk Public School system.

    After hearing Mr. Coloarossi speak at several Board meetings, the moment I heard he was running, he had my vote as long as he wasn’t running on the National Anarchrist platform. Finding out that Sue Haynie was also part of the team was just the icing on the cake. I’ve not met or had contact with Artie or Erin, so I have to trust that they are both of the same mindset as Steve and Sue.

    The key point is not the party affiliation, it’s whether or not the members of the Board can work together to make the District the best it can be. We’ve got tough financial times ahead. It’s not going to be a fun ride in any way or shape. The major mess with the appointment of the Naramake principal, Spectrum Kids, the debacle with the NHS pool, the hemming and hawing over selecting a search committee for a new superintendent and a bunch of other things really convinced me that it’s time for a change.

  • turfgrrl

    Barnstorm: The short answer to your question is no, but it does have at least one unaffiliated, who is Steve Colarossi. The longer answer is that each candidate deserves to be judged on their educational/boe philosophies, not some party label. This debate worked out well in that regard, because each candidate came across distinctly.

    Some candidates, Murray, Jimenez, Mosby think that they don’t have to respond to emails. Jimenez said that they must speak as one voice. The premise, is absurd. That policy originated with Rosa Murray, who has held the chairmanship position for many years.

    Considering that communication, or rather the lack of it, was singled out by the Cambridge report, by the CREC report and by the NCC/NEF meeting participants, you’d think that the incumbents would be more open to better communication. This issue btw, was the raised as an an answer to the first question about communication.

  • Bruce Kimmel

    I was not able to attend the debate. However, from what I have heard and read about it, the Democratic incumbents — after all the reports, all the criticism, all the pleas from members of their own party — are still defending their practice of not responding to communications from constituents.

    I spent three and a half years on the BOE. I still can’t figure out why they subscribe to the ridiculous notion that because the board “makes policy,” it — as if it had a life of its own — must speak with “one voice.” When pressed, that voice becomes the chairperson. But the last four chairs rarely responded to the press or communications from the public.

    (An issue that may have to be discussed at some point: This policy of non-communication with constituents runs counter to the spirit of the Charter Reform that created district seats for Board members.)

    What they really mean, and I believe Murray said this at the debate, is that the superintendent is the person responsible for communications between the public and the school system. Talk about an abdication of responsibility.

    Imagine Common Council members arguing that they will not respond to communications from their constitutents because the Council makes policy (non-educational) and thus must speak with one voice. People would laugh.

    • turfgrrl

      Bruce Kimmel: The more I think about it, it’s even crazier that they announce this position.

  • http://www.parentsforcolarossi.com Steve Colarossi

    Thank you to the many kind souls who have expressed their opinions about the need for change. And many thanks to Bruce Kimmel who has been kind enough to place my sign and Sue Haynie’s sign in front of his home).
    For those who might think, as Barnstorm does, that “Parents Not Politicians” is a ploy, I would just ask you to drive around the city– see the diverse group of families who are supporting us with signs on their front lawns and recognize that concerned parents and citizens cross party lines.
    Recognize that we are united in our mission to improve the education that is afforded all children and that we understand that healthy and respectful debate is critical to achieving this mission. Look at our website (parentsnotpoliticians.com) and look at my own website (www.parentsforcolarossi.com) and ask yourself if the positions we are taking are “political” positions or simply the expectations that all parents have for the schools all of our kids deserve.
    Ask yourself if the incumbents were truly dedicated to open and honest communication, and for keeping politics out of the schools, why would they have kicked Greg Burnett off of their ticket- who had been the lone vote against the misguided budget they passed and who had broken with them over the vote for the Naramake principal.
    And then ask yourself if the incumbents, who take no responsibility for giving the former superintendent free reign to control the entire budget process, who provided no oversight despite loud and clear warnings of gross mismanagement by various department heads, and who excuse their neglect by claiming that they are merely a “policy-making” body, deserve our continued support.
    They didn’t earn my support, which is why I left the local Democratic Party.
    I hope that the members of the Parents Not Politicians slate have earned your support. My kids– all of our kids— deserve much more than the incumbents have provided.

  • Bruce Kimmel

    I, too, was saddened when the Democratic Town Committee did not renominate Greg Burnet for another term on the Board of Education. This, of course, was because Greg had been rejected by the Democratic incumbents of the Board for not abiding by their sill rules.

    While I was on the Board, Greg and I disagreed on a number of issues. But what’s important is that we knew where each other stood because neither of us was afraid to articulate our views in full public view.

    Also, Greg was the only Board member who ever responded to my many questions about communication with the public, FOI compliance, caucusing, and the operating budget. He clearly understood the need for Board members to communicate not only with the public, but with each other.

    • NorwalkSpectator

      I’m not arguing here, Bruce, but wasn’t it your decision to speak independently which prompted your resignation?? Once again, not looking for an argument, but simple clarification. Seems to me that was a perfect illustration of the current Board’s unwillingness to speak independently.

  • Fred Wilms

    I attended the debate and was stunned to hear the comments of “speaking with one voice”. I hope this philosophy is ripped out from its roots and thrown over board after the election. It goes completely against any notions of good government.

  • Secondhand Rose

    The biggest problem with the BOE as it stands right now has been the complete lack of communication between the BOE and the taxpayers of Norwalk. The members of this board seem to forget that they work for US, and not the other way around – it is our tax dollars that they are spending, and therefore they must be required to communicate, either together or separately, with any Norwalk taxpayer who asks a question of them.

    Since this policy of “one voice” has been going on for at least the past 8 years, it is obvious that it is far beyond time to review the rules governing the Board of Education and make the changes necessary to reflect the fact that the members MUST be required to be available for comment — at any time, and on any school-related issue that any taxpaying resident of Norwalk demands.

    As many people have noted here and on other boards and blogs, this policy seems to have begun under the direction of Ms. Murray’s chairmanship, although Ms. Murray herself may be following a precedent set by others before her. However, this policy has also been followed by those who’ve chaired the BOE in between Ms. Murray’s time in that position, as she has not held it exclusively, and it appears that the other members of the BOE acknowledge and approve of it. Thus, it is those members who believe that this is the way that the BOE should be run who have proven by their actions to be no longer necessary for the effective operation of the BOE. We need a BOE who can communicate openly and transparently with the citizens who fund their budgets and trust their children to their care. It is long past time to end their domination of the Norwalk Board of Education once and for all.

  • anonymous

    turfgrrl, Thank you for reinforcing on here the lack of communication did not fall solely on central office. These Board of Education members have a lot to do with the failure of this district over the last several years. The turmoil the board and central office staff had been in was unhealthy for the district. And the negativity went beyond their distaste for Corda. To remind people, when the state stepped in, these board members, who know nothing of education, yelled at the most educated people we have in the state of CT about how to run the district.
    People have to remember, you are not voting for someone you may like as a friend. You are voting for the work they have done while in office or the work you think they can do. The people running for re-election have been unavailable and difficult, and certainly do not act as if they have the best interests of the children, the district or the taxpayers in mind. It is time for change in education.

    • NorwalkSpectator

      Anonymous, I was at that meeting, too! Wasn’t it absolutely priceless to watch the Board treat the Superintendent of Education for the State of Connecticut rudely and watch them alienate this man who had only been in office since late June? There’s nothing like the spirit of cooperation and understanding, is there??? Open lines of communication, I always say!!! The Board got their message across loud and clear — and unless I miss my guess — it was something along the lines of “Stuff it!” Yes, oh yes, it was a meeting to remember and probably one that the Superintendent of Education remembers fondly too, don’t you think?

      • Board to parents, We can’t hear you!

        I dont think Mark McQuinlan has much of a future himself. He and the entire state board of education including the appointed commish, suddenly now a candidate, Linda McMahon embarassed and exposed themselves on Wright Tech.

        Far as our board telling Mark to go take a leap, hey thats spirit, thats exactly what has been absent. No disagreement that our distircts board has sat on their thumbs for sometime, but somebody, lit a fire under their rears and they have been making dramatic and significant progress.

        That said, one voice is not the message that should have come out of the board and Bruce, Fred and both Steves as well as many others that have an inkling of what occured are correct. The Board of Education is not a dictatorship ( charter revisions, as Bruce suggested should be revisited at some appropiate time).

        It took a whole lot of fight from some battle proven parents to get the turtles moving. Why? Why are parents forced into battle with the district to even establish no less maintain commnuications?

        Haven’t we progressed farther than two cans and a loop of string?

        Or have we?

        The chairmanship is rotated, Ms. Murray has not been chairman for but what a year or so. Hamilton and Pullman have also held the gavel.
        There is enough faullt on all to go around – the board for not paying attention, the teachers for allowing fear to cloud common sense and yes the parents who at times behave like fish in the sea, just keep swallowing the bs. – hook, line and sinker and have not been involved with their childrens education.

        It never would have gotten this bad if we were all doing our parts as parents, teachers, counselors, citizens, admisistrators, elected and appointed officials. What we have is a circle of unaccountability. A perfected system of passing the buck. We must hold everyone accountable, begining with ourselves. One voice? Ya wanna here a very loud chorus of discource?
        C minor miestro, please. No microphones needed. Tap, tap, tap, everyone -
        let it rip. and a one, and a two……….

        • The children know

  • Failed leadership

    It is all about community involvement and participation. It is clear that Rosa, Shirley and Amy don’t believe they are doing a poor job. They won’t change it is up to us to vote for change. If you believe in Obama you will vote to change our representation on the board.

  • Secondhand Rose

    It has nothing to do with “believing in Obama”. It has EVERYTHING to do with making those who are working FOR the Norwalk taxpayers – the people who fund their budgets and whose children are under their care and control – do the job we put them in office to do. And require that these BOE members, whether they like it or not, become ACCOUNTABLE, TRANSPARENT, and COMMUNICATIVE to us, the Norwalk taxpayers, the people whose money the BOE sees fit to use and abuse.

    • Mikey

      Secondhand Rose a republican such as yourselves hates everything that Obama stands for….All can say is he is doing a fantastic job cleaning up after the disaster Bush..I am sure you would agree..

  • Another Stevie

  • NorwalkNet Fan

    Take a look at how NorwalkNet has taken Murray and Mosby’s supporters to task for their stand that they have to vote for candidates based on race.

    http://www.norwalknet.com/2009/11/analysis-track-record-v-race.html

  • For the Kids

    I’ve been at those BOE meetings and I was at the debate. At this point, I’m optimistic that the people of Norwalk are fed up with the status quo at BOE and are ready for some real change. We need hard working people who want the best for all the kids of Norwalk – regardless of their race (gosh, the front page of The Hour on Saturday just sickened me…)
    Let’s make sure we all leave Blog world tomorrow long enough to make our vote count – then call 10 friends and have them do the same.