March 4, 2010 4:48 pm

Candidate Revealed, BOE Done Good

Yes, it’s officially Dr. Susan Marks, a finalist for the position of Superintendent. And we can all officially meet her on Monday March 8th, in the Community Room with Professor Plum and all our favorite characters from Clue at 7 p.m..

What is intriguing about Dr. Marks is her background in information technology. What makes this exciting is that under leadership in her resum�, she wrote:

Uses data to assess the effectiveness of strategies and makes adjustments as�the analysis dictates and empowers staff to develop strategic process�improvement plans to focus their work.

You’ll note that she was a finalist in the superintendent search in Newtown, Ma.

There on a blog of wickedlocal, KarenN,�a commenter wrote:

Crackerjack with peanuts and a prize — and nothing candy-coated!

Susan Marks is cut from the same cloth as Jim Marini. No Ivy League thesis. Instead, real life experience gained as being a special educator, a building principal, a technology chief, chief info officer, h.r. head and every other facet of a superintendent’s position — in a system that has things that Newton doesn’t, such as an International Baccalaureate program, full day K and totally electronic communication with parents. Can I mention that she went through a lot of building projects and cutting a budget by 5% ? All this, and she’s also the mother of a special needs child and has been through the process of shepherding another child into college. She also oozes integrity and immediately inspired my trust. She would be a change agent, the harbinger of a new era�.the breaking of a chain of sameness in the Newton superintendency.

Viva Susan!

Dr. Marks has spent most of her career in Montgomery County Maryland, a career than has spanned the start �as a special education speech pathologist and led to becoming a principal of two schools. She landed �a position as community superintendent, which put her �in charge of the county’s 30 schools and 26,000 students. In short, a bit bigger than Norwalk.

In an interview,

Marks said Montgomery County uses a zero-based budgeting process � a program that at least in name is similar to the budgeting process Mayor Setti Warren championed during his campaign last year. In the county, they based budgeting on the success of programs and how well specific duties benefited local schools, such as a high school-level SAT advisor, she said.

“I think you have to look at hard decisions. The most important thing to do is not take away resources from the schools,” said Marks. “You have to look at all parts of the school system to see if cuts can be made.”

She said that in Montgomery County, officials have worked to not trim back on professional development for teachers, including staff members who offer on-the-job training to teachers.

“We made a decision over the last couple of years not to cut that position, and we may have had to cut other positions, because one of the things you have to do is make sure your teachers are well trained” with professional development, she said.

Zero-based budgeting! Be-still my beating fiscally conservative heart. Introduce that concept here and we’ll have more dollars to the classroom on effective programs instead of the turf protection budgets of years past. read more about Montgomery County schools, $2 billion in budget, and demographics here. And more about Dr. Marks here.

Fear not Norwalk nativists, Dr. Marks hails from Jersey so she’s a northeasterner at heart. As for BOE member Migdalia Rivas, who apparently was pushing for a return of a former Norwalk High Hispanic principal, a blast from the past was certainly not the way to go.

OLD TIMER

Certainly sounds like a good choice. Now let’s see if the BOE and the staff support her. It will take a while before anybody should expect to see much.
C in the Hood

She sounds very 21st century! Hopefully, she’ll encourage the district to better utilize their technology.

As for the BOE member who wants a different NHS principal–phooey on her! I love Principal Mecca. He loves those kids & sets a great example for them.
longtimer

The comments regarding this candidate from another blog are interesting. I’ll withhold comments on Dr. Marks at this time but I hope that many show up on Monday.
Norwalk taxpayer

It’s interesting that Turffie has more info about Dr Marks than any of our dedicated media. Is the Hour planning to close? I hear they want to sell the building.
In the know

The building has been up for sale since late 2008. The presses were sold a couple years ago and the paper has been and is being printed in Westchester. There was an article in The Hour not more than a month or so ago in which they announced that they are actively looking for a new site to move to. One which will be, of course, much smaller than where they are now, since all it will be is an office with a few cubicles. No need for 2nd and 3rd floors, no need to store paper and ink. And far as I’ve ever heard (what they used to tell us employees, that is) is that the paper cannot be sold, it can only be dissolved.
Teacher

This looks promising.
Stop Stealing

Jackie you have stolen someone else’s picture to illustrate this article. It doesn’t matter that you have given credit to the photographer. You did not have the right to use this picture and you should stop using it before you are sued.

turfgrrl

Stop Stealing: Apparently you haven’t looked into the issue very carefully because it is quite obvious that the image is not “stolen.”

Stop Stealing

Unless you have paid for or obtained the permission of the site owner it is. You simply can’t copy the HTML or incorporate it into your own site.

turfgrrl

Stop Stealing: Really? You have the ability to read my email now? Tsk, next thing you’ll be writing is that I haven’t cleaned out my spam box.

Done Good? Do we have our hammer?

Montgomery County Maryland is located north of Washington D.C. encompassing the affluent areas of Bethesda, Germantown and Silver Springs.

Dr. Marks budget, directly under her responsibility and authority was 7.5 million with 65 employees in comparison to Norwalks 09/10 budget of 150 million and a staff of nearly 1,000,

Is that not quite a leap, in responsibility.

Is Dr. Marks fully aware of what she is jumping into, the substantial challenges and not only focused on what she is leaving?

Dr. Marks on a personal level has two daughters that are of college age and her husband is also employed by the Montgomery County Public School District as a teacher.

Nepotism? In Norwalk? Oh that will play well.

One question that looms large: Why is everyone bailing from the Montgomery district?

Many of Dr. Marks associates at the Montgomery district also have their feelers out for superintendent positions and in fact, are competing with Dr Marks.

What does that tell us?

What questions should we be asking?

With a drop out rate of 3% in Montgomery County this is encouraging, however it may be misleading, that district does not have anywhere near the challenges as Norwalk, D.C.itself or Baltimore does.

Montgomery County is an affluent community and does not have the difficulties and hardships that we have here in Norwalk. One could argue the lunch numbers are similar but what is the integration policy for that district? Are students bussed in to Montgomery to meet legislation mandates and funding requirements?

The meat and potatoes is that, Norwalk, has a supreme need for leadership in our struggling community.

Dr Marks certainly looks good on paper, but there is little out there about her accomplishments and demonstrated ability to lead, no less lead in an economic catastrophe and in a diverse struggling community searching to find its identity, maintain its hometown atmosphere and make a clear footprint for future growth, while preparing tomorrows leaders.

Leadership skills, which is one of the priority criteria that has been made crystal clear by the community is not readily apparent for Dr Marks.

(Demonstrated, leadership skills).

Sitting in on a contact negotiation is a bit of a stretch to present as an example of leadership abilities.

In fact, one could possibly perceive a firm was commissioned to clear her presence from cyberspace, nearly entirely.

May be a little bright, of a spot light but we can not afford any further misjudgements of competence and character with personnel that have our children’s future in their hands.

Light em up, PTO, citizen journalists and education activists.

If Dr Marks is right for us, she will stand tall, and shine bright if she isn’t a good fit we need to know immediately so does she.

We need to dig deep. Cant get this one wrong.

Does Marks have the backbone like Gallo in R.I.? The vision of Rhee? Sure cant see it on paper, or cyberspace.

Many have repeatedly pointed out that way too many folks are making way too much money for the extremely disappointing results.

We have coaches and basically secretaries all racking in well over 100 G.s

Let’s repeat that, well over “One Hundred Thousand Dollars” for basically 8 months of attendance.

Our students are not just getting left behind, they have been getting kicked in the groin and resident taxpayers have been getting royally and completely screwed.

We had a 2 million dollar raise last budget, it has been attributed to maintaining pensions and insurance premium rate hikes.

Is it wise to have such an abundance of very well paid administrators while the teachers on the front lines have to use their own salaries to purchase supplies for their classes?

That pretty, framed, stamped certificate on that wall, ain’t worth doodley squat in the real world.

We have learned that lesson, haven’t we?
Worried parent

Here is a question to ponder.
Would you take a small pay (cut) and quintriple your work load?
Something isn’t balancing here.
CT Taxpayer

Done Good? Do We Have Our Hammer — It looks like the forces who typically look for dirt are doing their work. While it may not (or may) be true of you, too often these people have been supportive of a candidate who has worked for the school district. Some people in Norwalk wants only people who fit the Norwalk mold, and then they wonder why nothing changes for the better. They want someone who makes them feel comfortable, someone they know, someone whose behavior they can predict.

They did it with the requirement for central office experience because they wanted to eliminate Mr. McCain. Now they will continue their work, trying in every way to discredit the finalist so that there will eventually be no one left other than the insider.

Auntie Mae

Ct Tax hell yes, I wanna know what we are buying.

The stakes are far beyond the comprehension of most and our elected officials have no reason to and, should not think there is confidence out here in the boards judgements. If this choice is not what we have waited so long for, hold the damn phone!

Everyone, has every right and a duty to question what the heck is going on as well as who we give authority to.

The only agenda should be the best person for the challenge. In many circumstances going in house is not the best choice and may create more issues than resolving. But we have come too far, endured too much, lets not feel intimidated nor rushed. The kids are counting on us to get it right, so is, the survival of our community.

Lets make the right choice.

Can we get a warranty, kick the tires, run a couple thousand miles see if the marks meets our mark?

For some reason, it would appear that the decision has been made already with or without community support. Thats unfortunate, any questions or doubts need to be addressed promptly, properly and not attacked, to ensure that there is the critically needed community support for the success of any canadate.

Another Taxpayer

Let’s put aside the consipiracy theories– maybe, just maybe, if there’s a consensus candidate that the newbies and the old timers agree on, there’s hope for us.
Being a superintendent is a big promotion– if you don’t have a ton of bills, and you know you can work in a new state for ten years and retire on two pensions, it’s worth a small paycut. Maybe, money isn’t everything if you think you can really make a difference for a community that is desperate for leadership. Who doesn’t want to feel needed?
Plus, doesn’t this woman seem like someone who will thrive on the challenge????
Let’s hear what she has to say and hope for the best.
CT Taxpayer

Before anyone passes judgment based upon a newspaper article and some internet research, let’s let people visit her district and let’s give her the opportunity to interview with different constituent groups in Norwalk. Let’s get quality information before we leap to conclusions — whether positive or negative.

I don’t know why people are bailing out of her current district, but that would be a fair question to ask her.
A sentient Norwalk

Some of the claims made here are ridiculous, so let’s take them on.
Montgomery County is a huge district— Dr. Marks and one of her fellow upper level people were finalists in Netwon. That’s hardly evidence of lots of people bailing.
Her experience is a lot more than “sitting in on contract negotiations”. The size of her district, especially when she was a community superintendent dwarfs Norwalk.
Come on people– we need an outsider with some fresh ideas. If she’s a consensus candidate, unless Calorossi and Haynie have suddenly starting drinking the kool-aid, I think that the fact that the overwhelming majority of the BOE supports her says alot.
ROCKSTAR WANTED

Bring the kids, grandparents, questions , concerns, suggestions and bring the recorders. We need digital documentation. Dr Marks may not be what we need. And we may not be what Dr Marks expects. Regardless, the board has not garnered any satifactory results. They hire a tech guy that flys in when he can but mostly telecommuntes and his new web site is worse and lees informative and user friendly than the N.P.S. site that was just replaced. I have looked it up the poster is correct Dr, Marks was only in charge of a 7 million dollar budget with 65 employees. Norwalks has 150 million budget with nearly 1000 staff. It is correct that Dr Marks is emolyed by a much larger district but she is not the suoerintedent for the county school sysytem she is meerly an administrator with a tittle of asst superintendent, or to be precise. superintendent of human resources. Her experince, job interviewing. Look she may be a perfect fit, but just dont see it. Does Dr. Marks understand the challenges. Its only fair she be informed off the hornets nest she is jumping into. It may be more than she is prepared or even trained for. Just doesnt feel right and the gut is never wrong. We desperately need a rock star and the board is handing us a music teacher. The job pays very handsomely and we should extremely carefully choose a person that is in tune, not out of touch. I look at our board, I look at Cabe, I look at the candidate they have shoved to us. Cabe has been paid, lets not let ourselves burned again lets get our moneys woth from CABE. The communiy would feel much more comforatble if a selection of three or four cadidates were properly introduced to the community and seek the communitys feed back.

Telling us, Hey we did it!!

We found “The One”.

Its not in the spirit of the campaigned platform of looking out for the kids and drawing back that cloak.

This wont work, not the way it is being orchestrated. Leadership skills, rockstar that connects with the community. We need a leader, a rockstar to unite everyone, and cabe hands the board a dud, and since most of the board is lost in a time warp, hey looks good to them, anything to get this over with so the board hands us another cube head. We want a wider selection of cadidates.
Handing us a cube head and telling us to (trust) the boards judgment. How many Norwalkers want to invest in this once in a lifetime never before offered derivative stock split short option on the hottest property in the world. Call now and get a box of tissue free with your order of 200,000 or more unit purchases of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Rockstar, public motivational speaker, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, nope we get a cube head. Cmon you guys, put some elbo grease into it. You guys on the board can really have a huge impact and bring Norwalk into tomorrow. But dont you dare cop out because its too much work, you guys wanted the job. Find us, a rock star, we have enough stuffy overeducated watercooler heads.

We need a person with ambition and dertimination and passion. Take all that experinced and toss it out the window with the books. Old school is deceaed, we are reconstructing tomorrows school in a digital age.

Does this Dr Marks have some hidden whipping stick because she is in for some heavy battles. Stick is needed but what we really need is carrots.
Just from reading Dr Marks cv alone, she should be in the “thank you for considering us” – out box.

Prejudging, unproductive, negativity you may say, hey call it what you want but the students are getting the short stick for far too long and we are going to get this right, we have to get this right. Dr. Marks has none of the individual main criterium that was clearly spelled out.

Demonstrated leadership skills.

Nope, Up goes the red flag.

Kids have had it with us adults blundering for far too long and we have lost far too many.

This lady is right for a smaller district with less turmoil. She is not the right pick, right now, for Norwalk.

Daddonna already does the paperwork, we need a LEADER that will connect with the teachers, the students and effectively communicate to parents as well as being a very clear voice that can be heard in clear to Hartford.

Havent we fumbled the ball enough, embarassed and hunilted ourselves, enough?

Dr Marks is an administrative professional, we already have way too many of them and some we have to seriously reevaluate the job descriptions and performance and whether those 150 thousand annual compesated employees are worth the money.

To the teachers, that are dedicate, passionate, as well as aids, the layoffs will come first from administration, every teacher and aid job will be not surrendered without a fierce battle. Board be forwarned. Terminate, four, third floor 150,000 flunkies, hire one professional admistrator that is motivated and competent and you will have money for 6 teachers and 3 aids.

No matter which way you spin slice or dice it, as a member of the community, it feels like we are being kept out of the loop, quid pro quo and force fed something that will make us even sicker.

WE NEED A ROCKSTAR

Cube heads need not apply in NORWALK.
CT Taxpayer

For too long, we have seen people looking at candidates for the sole purpose of determining how they might not be qualified for a job. Let me know if there are more:

1. He/She has never had experience in a city as big as Norwalk.
2. He/She has never had experience in a city as small as Norwalk.
3. He/She has never had experience in a city as racially diverse as Norwalk.
4. He/She has never had experience in a city with as large a White population as Norwalk’s.
5. He/She is too old, and so he/she won’t stay long enough.
6. He/She is too young, and so Norwalk would be only a steppingstone; therefore, he/she won’t stay long enough.
7. He/She doesn’t have a “real” doctorate.
8. He/She has a “real” doctorate, but that makes him/her an educational theorist who has no grasp of reality.
I could go on, but you get the picture.

I don’t know enough about Dr. Marks to make a judgment about her. Why don’t we all stop analyzing her solely on the basis of how we interpret her resume? Let’s reserve judgment until after the interviews.
Yellow Flag has been raised.

Tonight is the one and only chance your elected board of education members are permiting you, the parent, the student, the employee, a itty bittty peak behind their curtian.

Turn out and in force, ask the hard questions get real answers and be heard, or, for your childrens sake, start looking to relocate our residences and employment, out of Norwalk. It is that crucial of an issue for our entire community.

Stop whatever your doing, pick up the phone, do mass emails but lets get everyone out there and participating.

7 pm Tonight Monday March 8 at the community room in city hall.

Enter the building turn right at the desk, end of hall on left. parking is free.

Citywide attendence is STRONGLY encouraged.
FULL STOP

Hold it. HOLD IT, HOLD IT!!
It’s definetly in the water.
Norwalk, wake up, WAKE UP!!
You are about to get fleeced, AGAIN.
Are we really this easily hoodwinked?
Are there no neurons firing in this town at all?
Keep On

Todays musical connotation for your listening ears;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQccK0F1_iY

Rock On.
We’re in Trouble

Dr. Marks feels there isn’t enough staffing in the Central Orifice.
Mr B.

Actually she is correct, they are understaffed and overworked, no one in the know can logically dispute that.

Think its the leadership and decisions making coming out of that office and the board is the center of the coconut and we must crack that shell to get to the center.
CT Taxpayer

It is rarely good to paint with a broad brush. Some people at central office are overworked, and others are not. For those who are overworked, I ask only if they are consistently working to make principals and teachers more effective in providing educational opportunities and support services for Norwalk’s students. Some are.
Norwalk Teacher

It seems as if we are once again closing the barn door without any first-hand knowledge of this person. The trip to her district is planned for next week. Why wasn’t this trip taken before she was selected to be the “anointed one” by this board? Her compensation appears to be similar to Corda’s at about 250,000 or so. Are you kidding me??????

It is unfortunate that the bank of candidates for superintendencies are staying far away from Norwalk. It is no secret that all of them talk at their CABE meetings about the disfunctionality of Norwalk. The board is difficult, there are always problems with the budget, the achievement gap is impossible to addresses….. and on and on. No one appreciates the potential greatness of the district. It so saddens me that we are once again going to settle for a candidate that DOES NOT MEET THE CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY SO MANY FOCUS GROUPS. The process is a sham just like the one we endured for Rosenfeld, Herbert, Corda, and now Marks.

Don’t the students, parents, and teachers deserve better.

Shame on you board–what a bunch of hypocrites. Where is the transparency? She is a retiree from Maryland. What’s her game plan? Ten years and then another pension? Everyone and I mean everyone DID NOT WANT A RETIREE. How is it possible that she has never taught and yet will guide us through the minefields of closing the gap, reaching safe harbor, and raising the bar of achievement.

I am begging the board–repost before it is too late. I cannot endure another ten years of bad management with a high salary. Norwalk needs a leader who will guide us, not someone who is in the twilight of her career with no loyalty to the district. Didn’t we just experience someone like that for the past nine years? It’s not too late. Do the right thing. NOW!!!!!!!!!!
http://YourCT.com Anonymouse

There ARE people at Central Office who are overworked, but they aren’t the ones making six figures for the most part. They’re the members of the NFEP, which is referred to as the “secretaries’ union”, although it isn’t just secretaries, they do 90% of the work and suffer because some of their colleagues end up losing their positions and then they are expected to take up the slack. At their same old salary of course.