80°
NORWALK, Conn. — Norwalk.DailyVoice.com accepts signed, original letters to the editor. Letters may be emailed to letters@dailyvoice.com.
To the Editor,
Were your ears burning Thursday night, fellow Norwalkers? At Thursday's Educational Cost Sharing Task Force meeting in Bridgeport, we received a compliment that made me deeply proud of my hometown. A Stamford woman joked that, upon witnessing so many people advocating for Norwalk, she felt "embarrassed" by Stamford's low turnout.
Norwalk's impact wasn't simply a function of attendance; something about our community resonated with our Fairfield County neighbors. Speakers from other towns started recounting their connections to Norwalk, such as having been born here, or having friends who live here. Some commiserated with our plight. Others, intent on advocating for their own communities, somehow found themselves talking about Norwalk. In Hollywood parlance, Norwalk was Thursday's "It Girl."
By 6:30 p.m., everybody in the room knew Norwalk's superintendent and Board of Education members would be leaving early to attend the BOE meeting in Norwalk. Well after 9 p.m., everybody in the room learned the results of that BOE meeting, via a text read by a Wolfpit parent. During the intervening hours, Norwalk parents, teachers, principals, and seniors described the challenges facing Norwalk's schoolchildren.
As Common Council Minority Leader, I am proud that Norwalk's elected officials expressed bipartisan solidarity. Three of our state representatives stood together to address the ECS Task Force; they submitted a letter signed by our state senator and all our Norwalk state reps. We squeezed half the Common Council in front of that podium – Democrats, Republicans, and Unaffiliated.
Like several others, I urged task force members to hold a meeting in Norwalk. Based on the turnout at public hearings and rallies, they can expect a packed house. To request an ECS Task Force meeting in Norwalk or learn about the education cost-sharing formula, please visit http://www.cga.ct.gov/ed/CostSharing/taskforce.asp or call 860-240-0420. Let's keep this momentum going!
Comments (4)
If we could get the ECS Task Force to Norwalk before Dr. Marks last day I guarantee that she will at the very least attend the meeting. And if we need to start making a phone call committee to start making phone calls we will do that. Trust me we have the momentum on our side and we made a huge showing Thursday night and truly feel that my comment about the budget vote after 3 hours of great Norwalker's and elected officials speaking really reinstated with them. When I had mentioned that we just passed a reconciled and had to cut $6 Million Dollars from our schools..The task force looked like deer’s in headlights and had this look like they really didn't think that was at all possible and it was. I feel they got the message but if you thing a phone or letting writing campaign is needed then sign me up and the 1000 other parents!
Thank you, Councilwoman Duleep, for working together in tripartisan fashion for the betterment of Norwalk and its citizens. Those attending the ECS Task Force meeting are to be commended for uniting behind this very worthwhile cause.
Anna
Will the fact that Dr Marks just quit have much effect on the effort to get more state funding ?
@Old Timer:
I'm not sure how it will affect the process. I was sorry to hear of Dr. Marks' resignation. We will have to deal with losing her as an advocate. The BOE will have to conduct a search on top of their efforts to lobby Hartford. The news itself could cut both ways. It might make some curious and thus more inclined to learn about Norwalk. Others might want to hold off on investing more money until our situation stabilizes. I know (at least by anecdote) that some in Hartford join us in wanting the results of an independent forensic audit of NPS books. If Commissioner Pryor responds to Lisa's letter in a positive manner, that can be good for Norwalk. But there's always the chance legislators who don't want us to get more funding at the expense of their districts will use our turmoil as a reason to vote against us.
The main thing is to draw the attention of Hartford decision-makers to Norwalk's plight. We don't have to convince our Hartford delegation; we've got to convince the people who don't live here to look beyond our grand list. That's why I want to focus on inviting the ECS Task Force to meet in Norwalk. Requesting a meeting (or submitting testimony to the ECS Task Force) is one way we can help while events unfold in Central Office/BOE. Imagine the impact of a SRO crowd in our Concert Hall. Perhaps it would be easier for Stamford residents to turn out in force. Even if they choose not to hold a meeting in Norwalk, every request puts Norwalk on their radar. Maybe we could arrange a "virtual tour" of Norwalk's schools/neighborhoods like realtors do with houses for sale. At the very least, we can demonstrate passion, commitment, and momentum on the ECS issue in Norwalk - regardless of changes in leadership or differences of opinion.