NorwalkSpeaks

More and more...

2017-03-06T12:50:00.002-05:00

More and more there seems to be a need for an alternative site to the Hour, NON and especially the closed Facebook site for the Board of Education supporters. Please continue to post your questions, positive or negative thoughts, commendations or "shame on you" thoughts here. This is a transparent and open space to chat with each other. The topics are yours.......

NBE Salaries

2017-01-03T21:07:00.001-05:00

What do you think about the top Board of Education salaries?

'Retiring Kendall Elementary School Principal Tony Ditrio had a salary of $190,312 followed by schools Chief of Technology Ralph Valenzisi with $189,754. Brien McMahon High School Principal Suzanne Koroshetz and Norwalk High School Principal Reginald Roberts each were paid $184,963.' -Norwalk Hour

Taxes Anyone?

2016-12-07T22:45:00.001-05:00

The proposed pre-budget increase is enormous. Isn't Adamowski known for leaving districts nearly bankrupt?

Comments?

Trump Times

2016-11-24T22:40:00.002-05:00

President-elect Trump has appointed a woman to head education who does not support public schools. She has been known to support privatization of schools. What does all of this mean to you? Are you in favor of school choice, privatization of schools, charter schools? What are you thinking?

Board of Ed Vote from Home?

2016-11-01T21:05:00.000-04:00

Tonight the Board votes on whether the Board of Education can call in a Board vote from home. So if a Board member misses the information meeting and does not attend the voting meeting, it is fine for this Board member to call in a vote on the issue. How does that sound to you, taxpayers?

Will Mike Lyons be able to chair Board meetings from Rhode Island?

How many other cities allow Board members to vote by phone?

Superintendent Salary

2016-10-22T23:43:00.001-04:00

For the 2016-17 school year, a performance of at least 70 out of 100 points would earn the superintendent a salary adjustment equal to that received by unionized administrators. A score of 80 to 84 points would result in a bonus equal to 3 percent of the superintendent’s $250,000 base salary. A score of 85 to 89 would earn a bonus equal to 4 percent of his salary, and a score of 90 or higher would earn Adamowski a 6 percent bonus.This system of evaluation and compensation may also be applied to the seven members of senior management who directly report to the superintendent, as Adamowski requested.

KSchultz@thehour.com; 203- 354-1049; @kevinedschultz

Mike Lyons, BoE agreement, on hiring the superintendent:Your annual compensation, inclusive of salary and annuities, shall be $250,000, which shall be prorated for the initial year of July 15, 2015 through June 30, 2016, payable biweekly. The Definitive Agreement shall include provisions for adjustments in compensation in future years based on the Superintendent’s evaluation.

Potential 6% x 250,000 = $15,000 raise in one year

COMMENTS?

Yes, the Election

2016-10-14T10:01:00.001-04:00

The American Federation of Teachers posted the following:

"Donald Trump tried to explain away his boasts of assaulting women as "locker room banter." Coach Steve Reich explains how he holds young men to a higher standard of behavior in his locker room."

We need to know how our educators and leaders feel about Trump's "locker room banter."

How about Hillary?

This election will create a role model for our country. Who will be our role model? Can you justify your choice?

Silence

2016-10-02T09:30:00.000-04:00

The silence is deafening, as they say. Adamowski is busy doing what? Comments on this or anything else are welcome here.....

Welcome Back

2016-08-30T00:05:00.000-04:00

Welcome Back Norwalk students and teachers. We look forward to a successful year in the Norwalk Public Schools.

This site is open for any topic regarding the Norwalk Public Schools. Please feel free to ask questions and to comment anonymously. If you post anonymously, even we do not know who you are.

Let the questions and discussions begin!

Fensore vs. Lyons

2016-08-09T10:31:00.001-04:00

It appears that Mike Lyons did not inform other members of the Board of Education of his letter writing activities..... ' Lyons sent an email in August 2015 warning Region 14 to watch their Special Education expenses carefully, given that former Norwalk Special Education Director Christina Fensore was in charge there. “Ms. Fensore left us with undisclosed liabilities in our SPED department of between $1 million and $2 million upon her departure,” Lyons wrote.' (NON) What does this mean? I am assuming it means Lyons acted on his own without the vote of the Board. Does this mean the Chair of the Board will lose the lawsuit? Should the Board's attorney be defending Lyons as the Chairman of the Board if he acted alone? What do you think of this development?

What is on your mind?

2016-07-16T23:47:00.001-04:00

Open for sharing..........

Continuation Plus More

2016-06-15T09:44:00.001-04:00

We are continuing to monitor the situation with the Freedom of Information requests from Steve, but are also looking for comments regarding the middle school plan. Steve, please keep us posted on the FOI information.

All topics are welcome here that involve the Norwalk Public Schools.

Thank you for allowing us to provide a forum for your thoughts.

Know What is Happening!

2016-05-24T22:30:00.000-04:00

We are highlighting this post by Steve Colorossi because of a request. My suggestion is to follow the money. These expenditures need to be justified by someone sitting in an office on the third floor as well as by the chairman of the Board of Education.

Because it may be of interest to some of the readers of this site, I submitted a FOIA request to NPS requesting documentation relative to the efforts to expand the Stepping Stones/Literacy How, Inc. preschool at Fox Run to Brookside. Although the majority of documents have yet to be produced (which is the subject of a complaint to the state's Freedom of Information Commission) the documents which were provided are available by this link:

http://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B9zEmk3mJF92Q0tCQjJoYjd4ZFE&usp=sharing

What do you think?

The Pot Boils

2016-05-02T09:57:00.000-04:00

We are witnessing some unusual activities and speakers at the Board of Education meetings. What is going on in Norwalk?

Time to Review Adamowski, etc.

2016-04-03T11:31:00.000-04:00

By now you know there are no repercussions if you post anonymously. We hope that gives you the confidence to "tell it like it is."

What do you think about the new superintendent?

How do rate the Board of Education?

How are the unions doing without Bruce?

As always, other topics are also open for discussion.

Dalio Foundation, etc.

2016-03-07T16:50:00.000-05:00

Great news for Norwalk! The Dalio Foundation is making some positive initiatives regarding their return to Norwalk to fund programs.

Open for discussion - any topic!

What Are You Willing To Pay?

2016-01-15T22:05:00.001-05:00

It is no surprise to those who have been following the Norwalk Public School system's latest revelations regarding the CREC report on Special Education needs, as well as the necessity of removing salaries from grant funds, that a rather sizable amount of dollars will be needed for the next budget. The Chairperson for the Board of Education is asking for a 3.9% increase in funding. Readers, that's a major increase. Does anyone remember an increase of that magnitude EVER?

What do you think about 3.9%?

Merry Christmas! Holiday Greetings! Happy New Year

2015-12-24T14:27:00.001-05:00

Wishing everyone the best of the season! Whether you believe in Santa, Global Warming or the Tooth Fairy, may the year ahead bring peace, joy and good health.

Any comments regarding the Norwalk Public Schools are welcome here.

Back to you

2015-11-19T09:38:00.001-05:00

Now that the elections are over and the new Board of Education has been sworn in, the peace and quiet we have enjoyed will most likely come to an end. Time to open up comments and questions for you.

Chairman of the Board

2015-11-13T09:55:00.001-05:00

Will the Democrats unite and elect a Democrat as the new Chairperson of the Board of Education?

The time has come for a new Chair to take his/her place with our new Superintendent.

We are hearing about fake Democrats, however.

What are your thoughts?

Looking Good, finally!

2015-10-28T00:34:00.001-04:00

We are happy to report that Dr. Adamowski is a welcome change from those who came before him. He appears to be a real leader with true vision. We have had some seriously lacking superintendents, but that is past history. We look forward to new leadership and new changes.

Once again, comments are up to you.

All Yours

2015-10-08T15:11:00.001-04:00

Your topics, your thoughts....

Questions to Consider

2015-10-02T12:46:00.002-04:00

Some questions that will determine the future of the Norwalk Public Schools and the taxpayers' contributions.....

Adamowski has uncovered expenditures hidden in grants that require a shift to the local budget. Estimated cost, $3,000,000?

Adamowski has met with Special Education parents and has spoken of appointing a cabinet level administrator to oversee the department, adding other administrators to be sure Norwalk is in compliance with findings.
Estimated cost, $1,000,000?

Add these costs to union contract increases and what's the total?

The Board of Education faces an election where everyone who is elected will be subservient to Mike Lyons and his wishes. So far, we have seen Mike Lyons throw everyone under the bus who disagrees/challenges/differs from him. Is that an opinion or a fact? Recently Rivera, and the usual victims, were victims for the grants problem. Did we get to hear the victims' side of the story? Squelched!

Teachers are fed up with computer problems, but they are challenging an appointed administrator who is protected by Mike and his followers. Apparently the grants administrator is in the same category, unless there is another reason why she is not ever mentioned for grant-gate?

Remember Daddona, who was the whistleblower for the After the Bell illegal grant expenditures? He took quite a beating for exposing illegal expenditures from a grant. Does it make sense to you that Mike Lyons named Daddona first (in Mike's list) as in charge of determining how the grant-gate money was spent? Does that make sense to you?

Taxpayers, you were thrilled with the Rivera/Lyons budget for this school year. Don't you wonder how the Adamowski/Lyons budget will add up for next year? If 10% of you vote, you can be sure only those 10% get their way. They support the new administrators and all the costs. Do you?

Feel free to add any other concerns or comments.

The Good and The Bad

2015-09-23T11:04:00.001-04:00

Let's start with the good happenings in the Norwalk Public Schools. Would you like to contribute some positive initiatives that you see?

We have been hearing about some of the not so good, but you are welcome to add to the list.

Please feel free to add your comments. As always, your comments remain anonymous to me as well as to readers unless you choose to add your name.

All Yours...

2015-09-01T17:30:00.001-04:00

Your topics, your comments.......