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Norwalk: Back To School Special


by turfgrrl


August 25th, 2007 · 49 Comments

Monday morning teachers, staff and administration will be holding its “start the new year” convocation at Brien McMahon. Sal Corda shouldn’t be looking for a warm reception from his teachers though, rumors are flying that there’s much dissatisfaction with Dr. EvilCorda these days by the teachers. Some would say that, after years of central office dictates, the teachers are about to demonstrate a vote of no confidence with Corda in some fashion. Mondays seems as likely a day for it.

There’s another rumor that Dr. Corda’s contract has not been extended. This would be good news indeed. But better news would be that the BOE will recommend that Opdahl be fired immediately. There is nothing positive about his continued mismanagement of the tax dollars. Corda would be wise to to accept that the bamboozlement era of his administration is drawing to an end.

Tags: Education · In the News · Norwalk

49 Responses so far “Norwalk: Back To School Special”


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  • 1 Anonymous // Aug 25, 2007 at 11:39 pm

    I hope many join in with a silent protest to demonstrate a vote of no confidence in Dr. Corda.
    Time for a change.

  • 2 Slayer // Aug 26, 2007 at 8:21 am

    It is time to make our discontent known, especially because the press is always there. Teachers, for whatever reason, are hesitant to demonstrate their frustrations and disappointments. However, this kind of overt message of silence would be a perfect beginning to this school year. Central Office must get the message that we are not going to tolerate their stupidity anymore.

    The recent debacle with the school lunches, once again, confirms the outright abuse of their power. The b of e, techers, administrators, city fathers, and taxpayers must hold central office accountable.

    No applause for Corda or b of e members. Perhaps, this year, Corda will actually introduce the new teachers the way Sloan did. If Corda does, why not have a standing ovation for them.

    I can’t wait to see if the teachers will unite for this purpose. I heard that Bruce Mellion wanted the teachers to walk out. I like the silent treatment better, or perhaps, the teachers could talk through his pitiful speech, which is as uplifting as a root canal.

  • 3 Silence Dogood // Aug 26, 2007 at 8:34 am

    I hope that everyone, whether from the NFT, NFEP or the administrators’ union, has the courage to remain silent. King Corda will no doubt hear about this planned demonstration, and he will seem as cool as can be; he may even find some glib approach to discussing “how he is there for the kids” and “it’s not easy to be effective and popular at the same time.” (I could probably write the speech for him.) Whatever his speech, it will be dripping with false sincerity.

    NFT members (and others, I hope) won’t be fooled. The BOE has some good people, but they are making an incredibly bad mistake in supporting King Corda and Queen Karen. They are making an equally bad mistake in not insisting that the Duke of Opdahl pack his bags and get out of town.

  • 4 #13 of the Miserable 25 // Aug 26, 2007 at 8:53 am

    All that is needed for evil to triumph, is that good men SAY NOTHING.

    Get the point?

  • 5 Norwalk4Life // Aug 26, 2007 at 9:20 am

    speaking of schools. driving around town today I noticed that at various schools that there are DPW trucks and employees in the parking lots painting new lines. I am not suprised by this but can someone please explain to me why the public is paying these guys overtime to paint parking lots when it should have been done during the summer during normal hours?

  • 6 Charles the Hammer // Aug 26, 2007 at 11:41 am

    You know, ever since the BOE cut off Dr. Sloan at the knees by privately encouraging his reorganization efforts and then, publicly scourging him for going forward, our district has been on the ropes.

    We had the “Radical Republicans” like Konspore and Cullen who saw the schools as either a business opportunity or a whipping post. They brought in Victor Herbert and his evil sidekick Gregg Riccio to pillage us further. It was a heady time for the educational buccaneers. Does anybody remember Konspore and the big school purchase of Per Scholas computers or Cullen filing a false police report about the BOE holding Herbert hostage? Sheesh, did that really happen?

    Then, the public disgust with those antics “cleaned house” and we ended up with an all Democrat BOE. Somehow they decided Sal Corda would be solve our problems. After the prior debacle, we had to hang tough for a while, but the ensuing rubber stamp, blind eye attitude of the school board has brought us to the sorry state we’re in today.

    It’s time to make a stand for what’s right. I’m reminded of all the terrific people that contributed to making the Norwalk Public Schools excellent over the decades: the innovative ideas, the great teams and coaches, the memorable performances and plays, the art work hanging at city hall, the Science fair and the young astronauts, the legions of successful alumni, the support of businesses and mentors, the parent volunteers, and the teachers. As a teacher myself, I think of those who taught me and those who are my colleagues, who have poured their hearts into these schools like a priceless tonic. They will arrive on Monday to do it again and, sadly, to this crop of “leaders”, they are an afterthought. The teaching staff of the Norwalk Public Schools soldiers on despite having been disrespected, ignored, and consigned to the realm of lip service. There’s still a lot of terriific work going on, it’s just gotten much harder.

    What has happened to the nurturing of homegrown leadership of those who’ve proven their worth in the ranks?

    Where is the physical commitment in the investiture of our educational leadership? Are they from here? Are they involved in the life of the town? What about a home and family presence? Do they risk anything at all?

    Parents have their kids at stake. Some teachers fall in that category, but all put up the effort of a career, the work of a lifetime. Taxpayers are in for large property bets as well. I say it’s time to force Sal Corda and his crew to “ante up” by calling his bluff. Time to cut the losses.

    Let’s not forget this scenario when King Sal flops down a pair of jokers, scoops up his chips, and walks away.

  • 7 Aunt Bertha // Aug 26, 2007 at 12:38 pm

    I know that many people have not attended convacation in many years because it seems to be the same speach that Corda makes every year, you know like the one he makes at the High School Graduations about silence. Well, if the rumor is true and the BOE did not extend his contract then things are going in the right direction. No appearence in the schools, no support of the teachers and their positions, hiring of people without the proper credentials (Morris) and letting blundering idiots stay on after many mistakes is unforgivable. Teachers try to be there this year and show the BOE and Corda that we are stronger than they think we are! Our students need us to be. Parents- this is an open meeting if you want to see what is going on.;)

  • 8 Silence Dogood // Aug 26, 2007 at 12:53 pm

    We all need to be sure that we tell everyone about the plan for tomorrow, because not everyone checks email. For that matter, not everyone received that email.

    I’m sure he will attribute any display of opposition as the membership blindly following Bruce Mellion because the King just doesn’t get how unhappy staff and parents are with him, with the Queen and with the Duke of Opdahl.

    Bruce usually gets an enthusiastic greeting from the audience, but tomorrow I urge everyone to be even more enthusiastic for him.

  • 9 Aunt Bertha // Aug 26, 2007 at 5:53 pm

    Would it be okay if we just walked out when the King and Queen speak? I have a room to set up.

  • 10 parent // Aug 26, 2007 at 9:27 pm

    I support what the teachers decide to do.

  • 11 Silence Dogood // Aug 26, 2007 at 9:38 pm

    #9: It’s okay as long as you curtsey or genuflect as you pass them.

  • 12 Aunt Bertha // Aug 26, 2007 at 10:35 pm

    I’m so old when I genuflect it is not a good thing!Have a great year everyone!

  • 13 Bewildered // Aug 27, 2007 at 9:28 am

    DPW trucks and employees in the parking lots painting new lines. I am not suprised by this but can someone please explain to me why the public is paying these guys overtime to paint parking lots when it should have been done during the summer during normal hours?

    Renovations - that is the answer. The parking lots are done last so they don’t get ruined with the heavy eqyipment - it actually makes sense and saves problems. Can’t argue with this one. It would cost more to rework them (if they even bothered) after they were destroyed by renovation equipment.

  • 14 Silence Dogood // Aug 27, 2007 at 4:11 pm

    Bruce Mellion, thank you for your courage and for your directness. It could (should?) have been far worse for Sal, Karen, Stu and the BOE.

    BOE members, are you paying attention yet? I haven’t seen a posting from Bruce Kimmel in ages, but I haven’t lost hope that he is following this blog.

  • 15 Aunt Bertha // Aug 27, 2007 at 5:14 pm

    Thank you to the elementary teachers that hissed and booed at Corda’s false comment of how they all got together to meet on Wed. mornings…it is more like they were forced. And his BS about being evaluated made my skin crawl, I could hear others in the audience asking for down town to be evaluated. Bruce we are mostly all distiguished you are right, thank you for your observations. Silence Dogood Kimmel is following I know it in my heart more importantly, the PTO President understood what went on and Jody Bishop Pullan also saw what went on today. I hope they act on the information that they witnessed today. Also Bruce mentioned that Greg Illyn passed away, He was a really great teacher and inspired generations of fine new teachers. Thanks for mentioning him today he will be missed.

  • 16 Charles the Hammer // Aug 27, 2007 at 7:17 pm

    Dr. Corda demonstrated his inability to handle a contentious room. Today’s group was not the sycophantic claque to which he’s grown accustomed downtown. Although he managed his speech “okay” at first by praising various sub-groups within the district, he could not stop himself from mentioning the Wednesday Morning issue, even though he knew it was a sore spot. After the wood-shedding he took from Bruce Mellion, he was graciously given room to proceed unmolested, but he HAD to pick at the scab! His arrogance made him do it. After the elementary teachers gave him the Bronx cheer, he was off his pins and never recovered. He mumbled on and shrunk down to a skulking, pathetic end.

    Regardless of what the BOE does, Dr. Corda’s aloof disdain and hubris has finished him as an effective leader here. Just as he visibly “lost the room” today, he has irreparably severed his bond of respect with the teachers, parents, taxpayers, and elected officials of Norwalk. He may “stick around” and do some damage, but any real leadership is over.

    This same isolated and condescending air has become prevalent amongst his key subordinates. They know best. No explanations necessary. The theoretical reigns supreme over the pragmatic. Sweeping, radical “solutions” are flipped upon the table with a…”but of course!” Experienced critical opposition is labeled as emanating from “trouble makers.” Errors and malfeasance are dismissed with the wave of a hand.

    The budget fiasco in which Sal stubbornly protected administration above sports, student programs, and teachers is Exhibit A.

    Exhibit B is the magical discovery of all those “bonus bucks” at the eleventh hour.

    Remember the crazy plans to dumb down the grading policy so that there will be no more zero and students who do nothing will receive a 50? “…But of course, peasant! You know nothing of such things!”
    (Exhibit C)

    I could work all the way through to Z and start in again with AA, but you guys get the idea.

    Enough already with this high hat nonsense. We deserve better.

  • 17 Aunt Bertha // Aug 27, 2007 at 7:52 pm

    Charles you always have a way with words. What you have said in your posting is right on and said very well. I believe you are rught when you said he Lost the Room, it was tough to watch,like a train reck.

  • 18 Silence Dogood // Aug 27, 2007 at 8:29 pm

    Aunt Bertha,

    Please don’t tell me that you felt sorry for him. I do not.

  • 19 Watchdog // Aug 27, 2007 at 9:13 pm

    A huge thank you to Bruce Mellion for speaking on behalf of teachers today. Excellence in leadership is something worth fighting for, no matter how unpleasant it may be.

  • 20 Distinguished 2x Norwalk Teacher // Aug 27, 2007 at 10:36 pm

    If Bruce Mellion says the evaluation system for teachers is awful, then why doesn’t he do something about it. I have been distinguished twice in the past several years doing exactly what my colleague across the hall does. But do you know why she hasn’t gotten it? Because I have a great relationship with our adminstrators and she is on their #%*^list with personality conflicts and she is an awesome teacher. We all know it in our school and she is loved by our staff, parents, and students. And she knows she’s a great teacher. Who gives a crap about “Distinguished” anyway? Who cares if we are all called “Distinguished” when it doesn’t hold any meaning. One of our teachers received it in one year just like myself and repeated it several years later and we do the same thing as the teacher across the hall who hasn’t earned it yet according to her evaluations. It’s all about who is doing the evaluation, not your performance. It’s a typical big boobs evaluation…Who gets the best evaluations? The woman with the biggest boobs! Just like the blogger who wrote last week, “Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.” Pete Townsend did say it best. Bruce, hang up the phone, cut the BS and get something done for once abouth this awful evaluation system. Enough already! Domain 4 can kiss my butt. Smootchie smootch!

  • 21 Silence Dogood // Aug 27, 2007 at 10:50 pm

    Charles the Hammer:

    I love your flair for written expression. However, I take issue with your saying: “He may “stick around” and do some damage, but any real leadership is over,” because I don’t know when he ever led us.

    This is a man who:
    1. Is never in the schools
    2. Rarely (if ever) attends any extracurricular events
    3. Has a reputation of considering golf part of his professional responsibilities.
    4. Goes to conferences when he could be visiting the schools and talking to the people who do the real work in educating our kids on a daily basis
    5. Shelters Queen Karen, who is dismissive of the underlings. Does Greenwich miss her?
    6. Need I say more?

    King Corda hasn’t lost the respect of the administrators, teachers, parents and students. Why hasn’t he lost it? Sadly, it’s because he never had it.

  • 22 Anonymous // Aug 27, 2007 at 11:00 pm

    Charles the Hammer-You said it all for me and so many other teachers that I talked with today. Thanks.

  • 23 Watchingandlistening // Aug 27, 2007 at 11:27 pm

    While we “fiddle” (blog) Rome burns!!
    The agenda for Tuesday’s BOE meeting calls for approval of the Corda, Opdahl and Lang contracts.
    see
    http://www.norwalkpublicschools.org/show/announcement/898

  • 24 Aunt Bertha // Aug 28, 2007 at 1:07 am

    Silence Dogood,
    I do not feel bad for Corda, I feel bad for our community which has been short changed by his lack of committment. When I think of the worker bees that keep this city going I get furious at the inactivity at central office. Watching and Listening puts it right out there, go to the meeting and be vocal about the contracts up for renewal.

  • 25 Charles the Hammer // Aug 28, 2007 at 5:52 am

    Silence Dogood,

    What can I say? When you’re right, you’re right. But, I think that all concerned initially granted Sal Corda the respect that accompanies the office. We all longed for good leadership and gave the benefit of the doubt to the whole central office regime. Then, to great dismay, we witnessed the relentless squandering of that good will in so many instances. Now, all those who offered respect and cooperation are left feeling foolish and betrayed. Guys like Corda feed the cynics of the world. When there is no reciprocal of respect, the optimists are mocked. “Dog eat dog!” and “I told you so!” are emblazoned as mottoes.

    No new contracts please. Shifty and the Grifters need to move on.

  • 26 Anonymous One // Aug 28, 2007 at 8:17 am

    #23: Do you or does anyone believe that the BOE has the courage not to renew the contracts of the King and Queen? What about Opdahl? The list of complaints about these people is very long, and each of them had complaints in previous districts where they worked.

    Everyone should remember that Corda’s contract extension would give him another year on top of the two years he has remaining in his current contract, and so there is nothing urgent about extending the current contract. Also, when a more courageous BOE is elected, any extension to his contract will make firing him even more costly because the only way to rid Norwalk of this man is to buy his remaining contract years.

    However, his style is to threaten resignation if he doesn’t get his way. He will no doubt threaten resignation if Lang and Opdahl don’t get new contracts. All I can say to him is: “Go ahead and resign.” This district has done without quality leadership for the six or seven years of this administration. After his utter humiliation at yesterday’s convocation, he should offer to resign, as should the others.

    He pointed to Cranbury’s ability to close the achievement gap. Has anyone bothered to check the number of minority students at Cranbury? It is so small that using that school as an example is a joke, but he no doubt figures that no one will ask the challenging questions. More telling is to look at the overall district results and to look at the number of schools that are underperforming on NCLB.

    My bet is that the BOE will extend all contracts, with perhaps a couple of dissenting votes. Voters, remember this at election time.

  • 27 indythinker // Aug 28, 2007 at 10:24 am

    Aren’t you all glad that the elected officials brought this to our attention? Had they just approved more money and said nothing, we wouldn’t be this enlightened today! I say KUDO’S to the Republicans who stood their ground and the few Democrats that understood and took a stand. We were all ready to tar and feather them when the Corda and Gang threats started seeping in, but they didn’t back off and they held onto what they believed in and now we know so much more thaqn we ever did.

  • 28 Marg5150 // Aug 28, 2007 at 11:42 am

    How many people will be at the BOE meeting tonight? If all of us show up maybe they will get the message to NOT renew anyones contract. Has anyone talked to BOE & told them how you (we) feel?

  • 29 Norwalker // Aug 28, 2007 at 9:09 pm

    How many BOE members visit the schools?

  • 30 anon // Aug 28, 2007 at 9:51 pm

    There’s minorities at Cranbury? Are you sure? What does it mean to close the gap there? The two token minorities there raised their scores? Look at Jefferson and Kendall and then talk to me about monorities and closing the gap. Give me a break! Closing the gap at Cranbury is when you get a good deal at the liqour store on Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1996 at $250.00 a bottle! Please drive on James, and make it quick, I’ll miss afternoon tea!

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