en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/622823 Comments by NorwalkCoach http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/duff-says-public-meeting-educational-meeting-is-public/#IDComment34924334 Why is this taking place at NCC, instead of at one of the much larger venues in Norwalk? The NEF should grant admission to anyone who wants to attend, but NCC doesn't have the capacity for the number of people, including teenagers, who will want to attend. Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:04:00 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/duff-says-public-meeting-educational-meeting-is-public/#IDComment34924334 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/norwalk-ballot-for-municipal-elections-revealed/#IDComment34911301 SteveColarossi, I hope you can find the time to work even harder at communicating your message because there are so many uninformed people who will vote for people only on the basis of name recognition within the community. I wish you the best because I am certain that you would raise the level of conversation on the board of education to new heights. Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:21:25 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/norwalk-ballot-for-municipal-elections-revealed/#IDComment34911301 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-musical-the-search-continues/#IDComment34867465 Let us not forget that this game of musical chairs is being played on the deck of the Titanic -- after hitting the iceberg. My instinct tells me that this stated concern about confidentiality is a smokescreen for some hidden board agenda. Anyone who applies for a key administrative job in any community does so with the understanding that there is the chance that people will find out; the search committee's due diligence requires checking into a person's record with his/her current school district, and such reference checks require talking to people. There is no way that this process can be kept secret. The water is up to my ankles now. Did the orchestra playing the music for this game of musical chairs just begin playing "Nearer my God to Thee"? Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:23:36 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-musical-the-search-continues/#IDComment34867465 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-spends-money-filing-complaint-against-nft/#IDComment34680066 It is a sad commentary on the dysfunction of this board of education that it quickly moved to file a complaint against the NFT for what may or may not have been a breach of the contract negotiations agreement (although not one that will make any difference to the outcome), but the same board of education has still taken no action in even planning a search for a new superintendent. At the eleventh hour, i.e., just before the deadline for Dr. Papallo's departure at the end of the year, the board will make hasty and politically-motivated decisions that will lead to yet another major mistake. For further information on this story, go to norwalknet.com. The woman who runs that site has already become critical of the board. Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:45:39 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-spends-money-filing-complaint-against-nft/#IDComment34680066 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-spends-money-filing-complaint-against-nft/#IDComment34118355 No problem, NwlkSpectator. You are someone who is paying attention, and you didn't know about Mr. McCain. I worry about all of the voters who aren't at all aware of much that is going on with the board of education because they will go along their merry way, voting back into office the people who have been causing such dysfunction for years. Mrs. Jimenez concerns me because of her arrogance but there are others who concern me because they are just plain stupid. Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:29:41 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-spends-money-filing-complaint-against-nft/#IDComment34118355 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-spends-money-filing-complaint-against-nft/#IDComment33929823 No argument, NwlkSpectator. I don't know the political affiliations of some of the board members, but I don't even care what they are. Both parties have blundered badly, some of them for longer (and more often) than others. The Naramake issue is the least of my concerns about Mrs. Jimenez. She is not a nice person and she doesn't respect others' views. The Republicans you mentioned were among those who denied a highly qualified man, Bob McCain, the assistant superintendency. They are also part of a board that continues to allow some administrators to run wild. Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:20:44 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-spends-money-filing-complaint-against-nft/#IDComment33929823 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-spends-money-filing-complaint-against-nft/#IDComment33862106 The Democrats may be in the majority on the board of education, but they don't have a solid lock on stupidity. They share that very nicely with the Republicans. I would vote for almost anyone other than one of the board of education incumbents. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:11:05 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-spends-money-filing-complaint-against-nft/#IDComment33862106 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-spends-money-filing-complaint-against-nft/#IDComment33699800 NwlkSpectator, just to clarify, Karen Ocaski is principal of Naramake, not Nathan Hale. Wed, 9 Sep 2009 02:33:38 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-spends-money-filing-complaint-against-nft/#IDComment33699800 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-spends-money-filing-complaint-against-nft/#IDComment33676251 NwlkSpectator, we can only hope that the majority of voters are paying attention and that the new candidates will educate those who are not. Tue, 8 Sep 2009 22:12:16 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-spends-money-filing-complaint-against-nft/#IDComment33676251 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-spends-money-filing-complaint-against-nft/#IDComment33601032 Will they even go into negotiations with the lawsuit on the horizon? Under the binding arbitration law, there is no choice in the matter. All negotiations, mediation and arbitration must conform to a timeline that is imposed on the board and the bargaining unit. The loss of a superintendent and the complaint by the board don't matter. Tue, 8 Sep 2009 02:23:01 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-spends-money-filing-complaint-against-nft/#IDComment33601032 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-spends-money-filing-complaint-against-nft/#IDComment33583893 I disagree, AuntBertha. The board looked like a bunch of clowns LONG before this lawsuit. Mon, 7 Sep 2009 22:14:22 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-spends-money-filing-complaint-against-nft/#IDComment33583893 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-spends-money-filing-complaint-against-nft/#IDComment33500731 OldTimer11 asked: Where do you look to find an attorney willing to be used like this? The board had no trouble finding an attorney willing to empty its deep pockets. I don't see how the attorney is being used, since he/she is doing it of his/her own volition and for compensation. It is the taxpayer who is being used. Mon, 7 Sep 2009 01:49:19 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-spends-money-filing-complaint-against-nft/#IDComment33500731 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-spends-money-filing-complaint-against-nft/#IDComment33322462 Steve, this is one of the reasons the voters must vote out of office all incumbents on Election Day. Sun, 6 Sep 2009 10:29:40 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-spends-money-filing-complaint-against-nft/#IDComment33322462 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-claims-it-can-find-next-superintendent/#IDComment33260776 NwlkSpectator, it may be a grueling process but when one considers some of the antics of a number of the administrators the board has hired, it begs the questions: Are they asking the right questions? Do they know the answers that good candidates would give? There is so little about this board that instills confidence in me. Vote out all incumbent candidates this fall. Sat, 5 Sep 2009 23:05:00 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-claims-it-can-find-next-superintendent/#IDComment33260776 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-claims-it-can-find-next-superintendent/#IDComment33235860 It is not only wise, but it is also necessary for the board to use a consultant to find candidates for the superintendency, as long as they don't resort to a consultant like the one Sal Corda hired, a man who had been an associate of his. The man didn't seem to have a clue about the school district or about the two high schools that were in need of new principals. I don't know anyone other than Sal and Stu who was impressed by the man. The board needs a consulting firm that has national exposure and significant experience in hiring for urban districts. Given the salary paid in Norwalk, there should be enough qualified individuals who will apply -- unless this board of education scares them off. Sat, 5 Sep 2009 15:52:27 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-claims-it-can-find-next-superintendent/#IDComment33235860 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-claims-it-can-find-next-superintendent/#IDComment33083341 I don't see how the board can find another superintendent by Election Day, especially if they allow the various constituent groups to meet the candidates and ask questions. It will be an unforgivable act if the board gives Norwalk anything other than a superlative superintendent. It may take time to find him/her but it is far better to do this slowly and deliberately than it is to make another mistake. Norwalk cannot afford that. Fri, 4 Sep 2009 02:36:11 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/boe-claims-it-can-find-next-superintendent/#IDComment33083341 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/latest-on-state-budget/#IDComment32890503 Not to take sides with the legislators who were playing computer games, but we have to put this into the context of a budget struggle that began a long time ago, and there have no doubt been hundreds of speeches, many of them thinly disguised political campaigning. I don't know what Larry Cafero was saying at the time the picture was taken, and so I can't judge that the legislators were (or were not) missing anything of substance. How many of us have sat at meetings, distracted by something, but half-listening for something of substance to be said, at which time we have paid appropriate attention? Wed, 2 Sep 2009 12:51:53 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/latest-on-state-budget/#IDComment32890503 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/spending-money-smartly-the-boe-fails-again/#IDComment32806099 Maybe because there is neither student representation on the board, nor teacher representation on the board. Students are represented on the boards of education as non-voting members in some districts. As employees of the board of education who would be affected by board votes, I know that teachers are not allowed to serve on the boards of education in the towns where they work, but perhaps they, too, could be represented as non-voting members. I can't see this happening, although a progressive board might eventually include students. Tue, 1 Sep 2009 19:45:54 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/09/spending-money-smartly-the-boe-fails-again/#IDComment32806099 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/08/boe-issues-on-assistants-and-what-theyre-doing/#IDComment32466447 I don't disagree with your comments about Bruce Morris, but please don't absolve the board of education of major responsibility for this. The board should have insisted upon accountability by Mr. Morris, i.e., accountability for the credentials needed for the job, as well as accountability for doing the job and doing it with integrity. The board could also have eliminated the position in the recent budget cuts, but it opted to retain a job that is held by someone who does little good for the Norwalk Public Schools. Sat, 29 Aug 2009 13:46:00 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/08/boe-issues-on-assistants-and-what-theyre-doing/#IDComment32466447 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/08/pto-council-meeting-with-interim-superintendent-dr-william-papallo/#IDComment31573992 Good morning, NwlkSpectator, The issue with Dr. Papallo is a CT State Teachers' Retirement Board (CTR B) matter because CTRB establishes limits on the pay a person who is collecting a CTRB pension can earn in any job requiring certification in Connecticut's public school systems. While there are temporary exceptions made for certain teaching and administrative shortage areas, the shortage areas specifically exclude the position of superintendent of schools, even if employed on an interim basis. I don't know the particulars of Dr. Papallo's contract, but I would guess that the Norwalk BoE is deferring some of his compensation to the 2010 - 2011 school year; otherwise, he would have the choice of stopping work once he had been paid 45% of the maximum salary for Norwalk's superintendent of schools position, or he could have his state pension stopped until he ended his employment. Like you, I don't know everything there is to know about this, so if anyone has corrective information, please post here. Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:31:39 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/2009/08/pto-council-meeting-with-interim-superintendent-dr-william-papallo/#IDComment31573992