NHS Gets $20k Grant For Marquee

by turfgrrl

July 2nd, 2008 · 160 Comments

Tags: Education · Norwalk

160 Responses so far ↓ “NHS Gets $20k Grant For Marquee”

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 » Show All

• 1 nwlknative // Jul 2, 2008 at 12:05 pm

  Putting up a lit marquee in a residential neighborhood does not improve my quality of life at all and how it could potentially become a life saver? Maybe someone can educate me.

• 2 Anonymous // Jul 2, 2008 at 12:12 pm

  This is an electronic marquee that will be outside the building? Despite what the article says, BMHS does not have an outdoor electronic marquee.

  Someone needs to check zoning regulations for placing that in a residential neighborhood.

• 3 Aunt Bertha // Jul 2, 2008 at 12:39 pm

  BMHS has a video bulletin board that the main office can broadcast through out the school on T V sets in homerooms. They do not have an outdoor electronic marquee. $20,000 wow.

• 4 Anonymous // Jul 2, 2008 at 1:20 pm

  While BMHS does not have a marquee, The one for NHS was aquired to use for security as well as daily announcement and can be used by the city, the BOE and the police I believe for public Service announcements. While I’m not sure of the size, I would imagine all of this has been approved by zoning prior to the final stages. I don’t think they will be able to place it just anywhere. I also don’t think it will be bothersome to the surrounding neighbors. But thats just my opinion. Hopefully the marquee will not be an eyesore. I do commend Mrs. Emro for her dedication to getting the funding etc. Hopefully she will be helping in future fundraising efforts for the schools since she obviously does it with a passion.

• 5 Anonymous // Jul 2, 2008 at 1:58 pm

  I have no idea what kind of public service announcements a high school bulletin board would display. In what way(s) could it enhance security?

  It has not gone before zoning. I think the neighbors need a voice in this.

• 6 Anonymous // Jul 2, 2008 at 2:57 pm

  What is the problem here? Why do you want to make a big thing out of this? Do you people go to board of ed meetings? You may recall a lock down at NHS a year or so ago and no one knew about it? not the students, not the teachers and not even some of the resource officers knew it. Maybe since Norwalk High had such inadequate security features due to the bungling of Opdhal and company this marquee will be able to let people know if there is a problem in the school or a lock down etc. it could also possibly be equiped with security cameras to deter break ins like Cranbury school just had and possibly reduce the amount of students leaving school grounds during the school day. The marquee was the brain child after the security problems that have occured over time at NHS so I am told. Thank Opdhall and others for the fear the parents have that their school is not secure and lacks feasable means for people to know that something is occuring inside the school. Also, Norwalk High is host to many sports and other programs that can high lite these events on this marquee. So again, whats the problem if they cross their t’s and dot their i’s? Sure the $20,000 could go towards other things but why should it. This was afundraising event hosted by parents of Norwalk High for a specific reason.

• 7 Anonymous // Jul 2, 2008 at 3:16 pm

  I hate to barge in but you all know me I will anyway the silvermine school was broken into

  Police found six Dell Inspiron 18200 laptop computers near the school door, another laptop computer inside a black leather case near the edge of the woods and three power supplies, the report

  Velez said they apparently entered through an unlocked door, which did not appear to have been forced.

  any thoughts?

  It probaly took thousands of dollars in resources to catch this one kid and then we paid an employee on overtime to come out for the police to secure the building.

  this was from John Nickersond article today on line with the Advocate.

• 8 nwlknative // Jul 2, 2008 at 4:30 pm

  Anonymous #6 - So they will broadcast lockdowns and security breeches on this marquee for all the passing cars to see. Interesting. From where it is proposed to be positioned, it certainly won’t be able to be read from inside the school. As far as detering breakins, I can’t see where this would go very far to help, even equipped with cameras. From where it is proposed to be positioned, it would only take care of the back side of the building and not the new wing or the front. People are really expecting too much from this “neon sign”. If security is what people are looking for, spend the money on motion detectors and cameras at all the corners of the building.

• 9 Anonymous // Jul 2, 2008 at 5:07 pm

  #8-if only Opdhall had thought of that and incorporated it in the plans for the renovations, I don’t know it was just a guess on my part because I heard the concerns voiced at that meeting and then was told the possibilities for the marquee. Nobody said anything was cast in stone but perhaps those responsible for the safety of the kids in the schools could have better planned for the renovations. I would imagine though that the school security camera’s could also be linked to the marquee couldn’t they? Oh heck, I’m sure someone has things figured out how best to use it besides what you call a neon sign. I just think its unfair of people to condemn something before having all the facts. Maybe there’s a bigger picture hear that we are not hearing or seeing. I just don’t see the problem with having a marquee at the school. I just googled school marquees and this was interesting “Birthday Marquee - WAIS PTA, Fundraising, Birthday MarqueePut their name on the school marquee! For just $25, you can have a friend … All proceeds go to the maintenance of the Westchester school grounds and other…..http://www.waispta.org/en/cms/?186

• 10 Anonymous // Jul 2, 2008 at 5:32 pm

  And why is this important for NHS, but not for BMHS?

• 11 Anonymous // Jul 2, 2008 at 5:39 pm

  This is silly. Just call it what it is. The sign will be used to broadcast school events, to announce games, etc. To think that it will be used to enhance security is dumb, and it’s just a way to try to justify a sign that violates zoning regulations.

• 12 Anonymous // Jul 2, 2008 at 5:42 pm

  #10 HUH! The BOE did not pay for this, the city did not pay for this it was the efforts of parents who wanted to do something for the school who went out and raised the money and solicited donations . They are the ones who wrote the letters to the state, they are the ones that did the background work and they are the ones who are putting this in place. I would say they did a pretty good job. Maybe if the BMHS parents want to do something like that for their school, they will contact those at NHS and find out what needs to be done.

• 13 WOW // Jul 2, 2008 at 5:48 pm

  Never have I seen anything like this. All over a sign? Come on whats the big deal? I’m sure that zoning will have plenty of input on the whereabouts of this sign so why are we having this discussion?

• 14 anonymous // Jul 2, 2008 at 6:31 pm

  McMahon has a sign near their entrance that they post events on.

• 15 Anonymous // Jul 2, 2008 at 6:42 pm

  Turfgrrl–time for The Marquis Chimps!! They could always put things into perspective for us!

• 16 turfgrrl // Jul 2, 2008 at 6:59 pm

  Anonymous 15: A trip to youtube says:

• 17 Anonymous // Jul 2, 2008 at 7:18 pm

  Now, Larry and Toni, if you can only get the chimps to perform for your next 20 grand giveaway (that needs to be justified with security concerns) Ah, politics…it’s a beautiful thing!

• 18 Anonymous // Jul 2, 2008 at 7:50 pm

  #12: Read the article. NHS did not raise the money for the sign. The money is from the State of CT.

  Whatever the source of the funding, $20,000 is an awful lot of money for a sign.

  For the record, the sign (not electronic, by the way) in front of BMHS was the result of student fundraising.

• 19 Anonymous // Jul 2, 2008 at 9:15 pm

  #18 #6 #17 and everyone else, according to the article no one said NHS raised the money, some of the parents did. They have been soliciting funds for months now and were able to get the attention of those upstate who knew where funds were available. I just don’t understand why everyone is so up in arms about this. I should think that as neighbors and kids from all over Norwalk attend NHS and BMHS that everyone would be happy to see so many people willing to do something for our schools. The BMHS students raised the funds for the sign outside their school and they should be praised for all their hard work. Its too bad they didn’t know about the availability of funds like the parents of NHS. Perhaps more funding is available to upgrade theirs, who knows. NHS has gone through some pretty rough times over the past couple of years with the way the renovations were handled. Imagine renovating a school without a bathroom in one whole wing? Now there’s perfect planning for you. So if they get something different than the other high school and nonne of the money is coming from city coffers is there really a need to begrudge them that? That marquee will I’m sure serve many purposes. #17 what does your statement mean (needs to be justified by security concerns)? Is it such a crime to want to do something for your school that will be used by many of Norwalks children? I’m willing to bet if it had been Bob Duff or Chris Perone who got the money these conversations would not be taking place. No ill feelings against either of them but it seems as if whenever they bring money to Norwalk for special projects everyone falls all over themselves to congratulate them. Whats the deal with that? So what if it is used for games and special events, thats the idea of having a marquee isn’t it? Did anyone tell the BMHS students that they could raise funds or seek funding from the state for a marquee? I highly doubt that. A grant is a grant and they are specified for certain things and not others so I am assuming there was a grant that covered such things that was available and they didn’t just make it up at the last minute.

• 20 Norwalker // Jul 2, 2008 at 9:43 pm

  Alot of the money came from parent donations. It would help parents if they could get information regarding a lockdown taking place. Hopefully it will prevent them from rushing to the front door to get info. It is not meant to be seen from within the school, only from the street. It would be a good idea to put a camera on it to record when there are students leaving the property when they shouldn’t be. Or maybe they should just reinstitute the old H policy.

• 21 Ethel Coochee // Jul 2, 2008 at 10:00 pm

  God Forbid Norwalk High School should miss out & not have what McMahon might have. If McMahon had golden pisspots, Norwalk High would want platinum ones, too. It’s been this way ever since McMahon was built. Norwalk high has to be the “Golden” school. Who cares what they have, where they received the money from. Will their test scores be better because they have a Marquis? Let them have a marquis. Maybe that side of town needs to HAVE a marquis to let them know that it’s a school and not a gang’s headquarters. Gang? Did I say gang with the same place as Norwalk High School? No…….WE don’t have Gangs at Norwalk High!!!!!!! Maybe that’s why they need a marquis - to inform people that there are no gangs!!! Just students. Yep, Yep, sure, sure……read all about it!!!!

• 22 anon // Jul 2, 2008 at 10:01 pm

  Parents gave money for the marquee. Much parent effort and time went into this. It’s also insulting to hear BMHS people asking for more or feeling left out—maybe they should take a stroll over to Norwalk High, look inside, and then go back to their school and be more thankful.

• 23 Van Gogh // Jul 2, 2008 at 10:05 pm

  Could we send the Literacy Coaches there so they could use the Marquis to teach reading skills to the students who never learned in elementary school? Norwalk High seems to be the launching school for where administrators move up, and since the Literacy “Coaches” are the mini administrators, they could use NHS aas the stepping stone to move on up, the way Tony did. Sounds like a great idea!

• 24 Ethel Coochee // Jul 2, 2008 at 10:09 pm

  I don’t think that BMHS parents NEED to see NHS. And you’re right - BMHS is SOOOO beautiful. It’s about time, too! Compared to the “prison” look of NHS, McMahon is truly a work of art. I, for one, am so proud. No wonder it’s got the “gang headquarters” feeling…..

• 25 Anonymous // Jul 2, 2008 at 11:43 pm

  #24: Why did BMHS turn out so much better than NHS did? It seems that “the high school” (NHS) was always favored by the city. They had a satellite dish, they had a pool, they had air conditioning, they had a television studio, they had a radio station, they had the artificial turf first, they had the greater seating capacity for their stadium. Who changed the situation?

• 26 Ethel Coochee // Jul 2, 2008 at 11:58 pm

  Who knows, but it’s nice, isn’t it? I always thought that NHS looked like a prison. I remember when they built it and I went into it for the first time to visit an old friend. YUK!

  And yes, folks, there ARE gangs in Norwalk.

  No, Charo’s not a leader (and neither is Ricky).

• 27 Anonymous // Jul 3, 2008 at 7:10 am

  Did someone say “Gangs” in Norwalk? Oh goodness no. What is Norwalk coming to? Next we’ll hear they are actually doing something to stem the violence! I think the rivalry between NHS and BMHS is a healthy bantering that goes along with having two high schools in the same town but the kids are all Norwalk kids and we must support them equally. However, the gang rivalry is neither healthy nor wanted in this town so maybe instead of worrying about a marquee we should focus or energies on what can be done about all the violence before there are no more kids left to attend these high schools!

• 28 Ethel Coochee // Jul 3, 2008 at 7:50 am

  The healthy bantering between the 2 schools, yes. It’s when our illustrious newspaper pits one against the OTHER that sheds the negative light.

• 29 Aunt Bertha // Jul 3, 2008 at 7:53 am

  I never want NHS and BMHS to be the same. NHS congratulations on your Marquee, use it in good health and times. The only equity I would like to see is the number of teaching staff to the number of student population to be the same. We would like to see that kind of equity across town- who really cares about a sign? All our kids do is text each other to know what is going on.

• 30 Ethel Coochee // Jul 3, 2008 at 8:08 am

  Good morning Aunt Bertha.

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 » Show All

Leave a Reply

Name

eMail (not required)

Website (not required)