Comments on: Unions Blast Norwalk Public Schools Central Office Leaders http://www.yourct.com/2010/01/unions-blast-norwalk-public-schools-central-office-leaders/ Connecticut Political Commentary, News and Analysis Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:05:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: turfgrrl http://www.yourct.com/2010/01/unions-blast-norwalk-public-schools-central-office-leaders/comment-page-1/#comment-165349 turfgrrl Tue, 26 Jan 2010 04:26:17 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/?p=6063#comment-165349 Bruce Kimmel: Thanks for reminding us all about the curriculum, literacy, autism and special education issues too. It really isn't one issue, it really isn't a new issue, as you also reminded, it's in several reports. Bruce Kimmel: Thanks for reminding us all about the curriculum, literacy, autism and special education issues too. It really isn’t one issue, it really isn’t a new issue, as you also reminded, it’s in several reports.

]]> By: Bruce Kimmel http://www.yourct.com/2010/01/unions-blast-norwalk-public-schools-central-office-leaders/comment-page-1/#comment-165348 Bruce Kimmel Tue, 26 Jan 2010 02:08:41 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/?p=6063#comment-165348 A close reading of various reports -- Cambridge, CREC, the review of the finance department, and even the legal summaries related to the autism mess --clearly indicates there are indeed major inefficiencies in Central Office. (This, of course, does not preclude the likilihood that there are also major problems in the operation of our schools.) From what I have read and heard, Central Office staff members were not completely up to speed on various issues related to the Race to the Top application. Something like that should be impossible in this day and age; such things as the Internet, cell phones, email, you name it, make it inexcusable to walk into meetings without the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions. The question that should be asked more often is, "What do you mean you don't know?" Moreover, some of the issues go beyond plain old inefficiencies. It is clearly disconcerted when Central Office personnel are not familiar with the latest advances in curriculum and the delivery of education -- from general literacy development, to the latest advances in math education, to the proper ways to assess and work with English Language Learners, to our Special Needs students. Mr. Colorossi said publicly what other board members have been saying privately for a number of years. A close reading of various reports — Cambridge, CREC, the review of the finance department, and even the legal summaries related to the autism mess –clearly indicates there are indeed major inefficiencies in Central Office. (This, of course, does not preclude the likilihood that there are also major problems in the operation of our schools.)

From what I have read and heard, Central Office staff members were not completely up to speed on various issues related to the Race to the Top application. Something like that should be impossible in this day and age; such things as the Internet, cell phones, email, you name it, make it inexcusable to walk into meetings without the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions. The question that should be asked more often is, “What do you mean you don’t know?”

Moreover, some of the issues go beyond plain old inefficiencies. It is clearly disconcerted when Central Office personnel are not familiar with the latest advances in curriculum and the delivery of education — from general literacy development, to the latest advances in math education, to the proper ways to assess and work with English Language Learners, to our Special Needs students.

Mr. Colorossi said publicly what other board members have been saying privately for a number of years.

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