Comments on Norwalk Net: Draft Budget Online & Important Dates

Correction, the Board of Education meeting is Tues...

2010-01-01T21:33:52.870-08:00

Correction, the Board of Education meeting is Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at 7:45pm.

December 28 poster, the Race to the Top (RttT) wil...

2009-12-31T22:52:35.444-08:00

December 28 poster, the Race to the Top (RttT) will be discussed at the Board of Education Agenda Tuesday, December 5, 2010 at 7:45pm. It is listed on the Agenda for that meeting under 'Information and Reports'. The Board packet sent out yesterday did not contain available information regarding Race to the Top, Scope of Work, MOU, etc. A request has been made to do so.

For those interested in attending the Finance Comm...

2009-12-31T14:19:29.816-08:00

For those interested in attending the Finance Committee meeting on January 7th, please note that we have a presentation regarding the facilities study that will take us from 7:30 to 8:30. I expect the budget discussion to begin at 8:30.
If you can't make the meeting and you want to email your comments, I would encourage you all to use the Norwalk Public Schools website and click on the link to email the entire Board.
As always, I welcome your comments, insights and questions. And remember, it's your money and your children's educations, so don't hesitate for a second to ask the tough questions and demand the answers we all deserve.

The current teacher evaluation process is a joke, ...

2009-12-28T15:24:47.382-08:00

The current teacher evaluation process is a joke, and unfortunately, the joke is on the kids. Let's not even discuss disrict assessment methodology--it's pitiful. Many of the current crop of administrators, from top to bottom, will have to be replaced in order to do what has to be done. Those that make the cut will have a very different job, one that requires real educational leadership, not to mention a rude awakening for much of the teaching staff. The NFT will have little to say about any of this, as the state DOE will be calling the shots. Listen to poster 10:52, for all those things must take place to turn the tide. The new superintendent will have his/her hands full right from day one.

10:52: Yes, the principals and their assistants a...

2009-12-28T13:22:50.909-08:00

10:52: Yes, the principals and their assistants are primarily responsible for the supervision of instruction, but the superintendent you are describing is really no more than a manager. Norwalk needs an educational leader, not a manager. Look to the example of Bristol, which grew tremendously under a superintendent who was an educational leader. I shudder to think of more of the same.

The Superintendent shows leadership, but isn't...

2009-12-28T10:52:15.638-08:00

The Superintendent shows leadership, but isn't expected to model good instruction in the classroom. He/She does have to know how to evaluate if it is happening in the dstrict. Lipservice from principals is simply not enough. The Superintendent needs to (1) tell the staff that they should be expected to be observed (frequently) utilizing current best practices with announced and unannounced observations and lesson plan reviews and (2) then show his/her presence in the classrooms looking for best practices.
The key personnel for observations and evaluations in the classrooms are the principals and the asst. principals. The principals need to make sure they are not watching a 'one lesson wonder' in the classroom. All teachers can perform for one day. It takes informal and formal observations to determine if the teacher is following through in a meaningful way.
The Directors then have to be sure that their principals are walking the walk. The Directors have to be prepared to evaluate accordingly. If the director does not know what he/she is looking for, the visit to the school is pointless. BTW, workshops alone do not create a director who knows what he/she is doing. This person needs classroom experience at the different levels (especially K-3), and a REAL background in early literacy K-3, as well as literacy 4,5. (example given for Elem. Director only)
One last comment, the principals do wait for a directive from the Superintendent. If the Superintendent does not directly state to the principals that he/she wants to see (for example)running records utilized in every classroom lesson plan for individual instruction, group and flexible group instruction, the principals will not follow through.

So, Ms. Haynie, what's happening with the MOU?...

2009-12-28T09:58:30.217-08:00

So, Ms. Haynie, what's happening with the MOU? Is it going to be signed?

And by "dynamic," let's not settle f...

2009-12-28T09:22:34.297-08:00

And by "dynamic," let's not settle for someone who merely barks orders and holds people's feet to the fire. While the district does need someone who is decisive and who will hold people accountable (including central office people, who have NEVER accepted any of the responsibility for poor student outcomes, which makes me question the value of these people), the person has to walk the walk; he/she must understand instruction and even be able to model it. I don't expect a superintendent who will be doing all of the professional development, but there is the example of Bristol, where the (now retired) superintendent did provide that direct kind of leadership, and the district made major improvements. Now he consults for the state department of education.

Agreed poster 5:09 AM, the Race to the Top isn'...

2009-12-28T08:28:00.997-08:00

Agreed poster 5:09 AM, the Race to the Top isn't an entitlement, it is a competitive process and is intended for States, and districts, intent on making significant, timely improvements in student achievement and accountability. For Norwalk, it does require a dynamic Superintendent.

I agree that the supervision of instruction has no...

2009-12-28T08:24:54.190-08:00

I agree that the supervision of instruction has not been effective. How is this going to change? Have we taken that into consideration during the interviews already held? What is the plan beginning at the K-5 level? That is where reading begins, and let's face it, reading and real comprension is necessary for all subject areas. We have a new Director. I assume that was one of the questions asked of her during her interviews. Can you give us the specifics of her answers?

And this MOU means that the NFT has to sign on, ag...

2009-12-28T05:09:16.187-08:00

And this MOU means that the NFT has to sign on, agreeing that student performance will be a factor in the evaluation of teachers. Beyond that, the district needs to show what it is prepared to do with underperforming schools.

Right now, there is a reference to student outcomes in a teacher's summative evaluation when he/she is on Appraisal, but there are no consequences for low performance. Likewise, there are no consequences for schools that have been underperforming.

The bigger issue is that Norwalk doesn't have the leadership necessary for the state to give it any of the money, should the state be successful. Just look at the ConnCAN posting. What has the department of instruction done to improve student outcomes in the past ten years? five years? year? Don't show me curriculum documents because they are just pieces of paper with print on them. Show me how the department has structured the supervision of instruction because it isn't effective. Show me how the department has structured the support given to teachers who are not performing at expected levels because that, too, has not made enough difference.

The Race to the Top money isn't an entitlement; it is a competitive process. I don't see how Norwalk even qualifies for the race. Maybe a dynamic superintendent will begin to make the difference.

It is the State of Connecticut, not districts, tha...

2009-12-28T04:40:03.081-08:00

It is the State of Connecticut, not districts, that actually apply for the Federal Governments Race to the Top Grant. All indications are that the State of CT is prepared and plans to submit a grant by the due date; it was one of a number of states that received funding from the Gates Foundation specifically to help it submit the grant applicaton. The State has a 'Reform Plan' that is supported by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the state and a local district. It is this that Norwalk has to sign on to to be part of the Race to the Top. Norwalk needs to complete the MOU before January 19, 2010 to be considered a 'participating district' in the grant applicantion.

It's very clear that it is too late for Norwal...

2009-12-27T15:03:03.833-08:00

It's very clear that it is too late for Norwalk to apply for the Race to the Top grant. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/27/education/27educ.html?scp=1&sq=education%20grant&st=cse