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NORWALK, Conn. – The Norwalk Board of Education on Tuesday will begin reviewing the results of the superintendent search outreach meetings, which were held with parents and residents last month.
According to Chairman Michael Lyons, the school board will discuss the results and possibly vote on the profile of what type of superintendent the city hopes to hire.
Additionally, the board will review the schedule in the hopes that a new superintendent is in place before summer.
The profile created by the results of the outreach meetings will be used by PROACT Search, an Illinois-based consulting firm the board hired to help with the search, to screen candidates.
The board established a 10-member search committee in January, led by Norwalk Community College President David Levinson. That group held seven meetings to gather input on what characteristics the community wants in a new superintendent.
Norwalk’s superintendent search became a necessity after the resignation last summer of Susan Marks, who stepped down after a $4 million shortfall was discovered in the budget. She was replaced on an interim basis by Tony Daddona, who was the city’s head of curriculum.
Tuesday’s board meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the Common Council Chambers in City Hall, 125 East Ave.
Comments (4)
I was a teacher during the Sloan years. He showed up to preach a sermon at the church I attended, he would be at the concerts or shows around town, and I can remember him way back at the Silvermine School pancake breakfast. One day, I was at a workshop in Stamford. He recognized me as a Norwalk teacher, and made a point of saying hello. He didn't know my name, but he knew I belonged to the system.
The personal touch meant a lot.
And ... can someone tell us how long the post for the search will be open? I heard rumors that the post closes on April 5th. Can that be true?
When people talk about the standard for what we need they always refer to Ralph Sloan. Let's hope we get someone who is as good and lasts as long and does as much for Norwalk as he did.
My dad, Ralph Sloan, ran the norwalk schools for 15 years over a decade ago. When he left, people were looking forward to change. i am just not sure we have ever agreed what kind I change we wanted. But what surprises me (and him) is that I still have teachers and other staff tell me how much they enjoyed working for him and what a great leader he was. Funny that it isn't the books, or programs or test scores people remember him for
... I know for every exciting program he was able to initiate in good times, there were hard times where he had to cut back and eliminate all the gains he was able to make... but what people remember my dad for was "the human connection" he made... He wrote short personal notes - like great job on winning contest, congratulations on a new achievement, sorry your wife is ill, my condolences on the death of your mother. Just a few lines but these notes seem to really matter years and year later.
He also lived on East Avenue and made a huge effort to spend time to see at least half a football game, see the school play, attend wakes, funerals and weddings - show up in support of the staff and students - this is impossible if you don't live in town or close by Norwalk. We need someone who lives in town and can be around after school hours.
He also had a two year schedule to bring staff into his office to have a personal meeting and then visit their classrooms.
He wasn't perfect in anyway - the Norwalk Hour headlines gave him stomach aches weekly, angry parents called the house and yelled if school was canceled or wasn't canceled, every time it snowed. There were fights between students and budget issues and union disagreements. Everyone was mad at him at some point - this is not an easy job!
But yet I still get stopped by staff years and years later, and they all have at least one moment, one note, one memory where they felt seen, valued and appreciated by my dad. I wonder if that is the leadership we need right now... Someone who wants to get to know the staff and the students and our city.
And let's all be a city, worth getting to know and love. Please let us support and encourage the next leader of our schools... It is a horrible job in my opinion having grown up watching my dad do it for 29 years. Can each one of us make it easier for the next person?
I have met, emailed and tried to encourage every superintendent since my dad. I have volunteered help on special projects with Corta and Marks. They all had great strengths and like all humans - weaknesses in leadership, but I do believe each of them could have been much more successful if we as a city had been more supportive of their time here. How can we as town welcome, support and help the next leader of our schools?