BOE Approves Budget and New Sup Contract

A version of this story appears on The Daily Norwalk.

It’s official--the BOE has a new budget and a new superintendent.   After more than six months of review, and just weeks before the start of the new fiscal year, the BOE unanimously approved the 2010-11 budget.  In addition, the Board unanimously approved incoming Superintendent Susan Marks' contact, which includes a $200,000 salary and $30,000 annuity.

In a statement, Marks writes: "I appreciate the confidence that the Board of Education, staff, community have shown in me. I pledge to work in collaboration with all stakeholders to make the Norwalk Public Schools an outstanding school system for all our students. I have met extraordinary people in Norwalk who are committed to working with me to increase student performance and ensuring that our students are prepared for college and the world of work."

In passing the $150 million budget the BOE capped a process that cut more than $5 million from its original request to the city in order to meet the number approved by the Board of Estimate and Taxation. Only a few members of the public attended last night's meeting that took place in a largely empty concert hall at City Hall.  There was little to protest in this budget that cut no programs or staff causing many parents to stay home.

Although this budget had no controversial cuts, Board Member Jodi-Bishop Pullan emphasized there will be fewer supplies and money in the schools.  ”The public has to know that this isn’t going to be easy,” Interim Superintendent Nast illustrated this with an example. “We’ll have our teachers, but we may have dirty floors,” he said.

Board member Migdalia Rivas dominated the discussion of the budget prior to approval, asking for clarifications on dozens of line items in the budget.  “Next time we this budget needs to clearer,” she said.  “I would really like to know the impact of each one of these cuts and which grants will be used to cover the cuts.”   Board Member Sue Haynie also said that it would helpful to have a department like Special Education disaggregated since the department’s line items are spread throughout the budget.

The budget did not include the reduction of an Assistant Principal Position from West Rocks that was going to be backfilled with grant funding as was previously recommended.

Board Member Steve Colarossi confirmed with Assistant Superintendent Tony Daddona that the reduction of five high school teaching positions through attrition would not increase the number of student study halls.  “We looked carefully at the scheduling and are making sure that the students are getting all their credits,” said Daddona.

Nast said that the Briggs Middle School program that currently employs three full time teachers for approximately a dozen students is going to “restructured and not eliminated” to be more efficient.  In order to give Briggs more resources, Rivas suggested eliminating the Director of Elementary Education position and combining it with the Grants position in Central office, a recommendation that has been brought up in previous meetings.  After the meeting, Nast said that “this district needs a person that does nothing but write grants.”  “I wouldn’t touch that,” he said.

Board Chair Glenn Iannaccone said the budget process was different this year than in past years.  “There was so much collaboration, We have a new team,” he said after the meeting referring largely to the interim Superintendent.  “The budget was not done in a vacuum, alone up in an office like before.  Many groups were involved, especially the unions.”