Nancy on Norwalk

Norwalk BoE to appoint Reynolds WRMS principal, promote Faoies

NORWALK, Conn. — The Norwalk Board of Education is slated to vote Tuesday on two ad

Then-Norwalk High School Assistant Principal Adam Reynolds speaks to Board of Education members in 2018.

ministrative appointments.

Adam Reynolds will become the permanent West Rocks Middle School principal after serving as interim principal for the just-completed school year, while Sandra Faioes is leaving her post as Brookside Elementary principal to become Director of School Improvement. Continue reading Norwalk BoE to appoint Reynolds WRMS principal, promote Faoies

Shout out to Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program

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Anthony Allison is the Chief Information Officer of Norwalk ACTS.

Shout Out to Norwalk ACTS TEAM Summer Member Darlene Young and the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) and jobsite partners.

The Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program prepares youth ages 14-18 for jobs via pre-employment workshops and matches them with employment opportunities where they can acquire new skills, explore a profession, learn to navigate in a business environment, contribute to the community, and earn money. The program operates for six weeks in July and August. Youth work 25 hours per week and earn minimum wage. Continue reading Shout out to Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program

Opinion: NPS students participate in National Invention Convention Conference

Fostering a healthy spirit for competition inspires students to do their best, while providing valuable skills that will serve them well throughout many aspects of their lives. At Norwalk Public Schools, we realize the importance of giving our students the opportunity to enhance critical thinking skills through invention, innovation and entrepreneurship, while encouraging their interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Throughout the school year, NPS students participated in a variety of academic competitions including Invention Convention, National History Day, the National Geographic State Bee, and the NPS district STEM Expo. Participation in these events represent the district’s commitment to providing rigorous learning opportunities.

The Invention Convention was designed to give students an opportunity to demonstrate skills independently as they invent a new product or process to solve a real-world problem. Students follow the same steps and patent application procedures that an inventor would follow in patenting an invention. Continue reading Opinion: NPS students participate in National Invention Convention Conference

Opinion: Borrowing from our children

How much money do you think is okay to borrow from your children to pay for your retirement? Gov. Ned Lamont and the Democratically controlled Connecticut state legislature have decided $27 billion is an acceptable bill to hand to our children – that is billion with a “B.”

The linchpin supporting the recently adopted budget was their decision to postpone $9 billion in payments for teachers’ pensions due in the next few years. Delaying the payments ultimately increases their cost to $27 billion. So much for Lamont’s self-proclaimed “debt diet” for Connecticut. Continue reading Opinion: Borrowing from our children

Norwalk Library collaborates with Discovery Museum; foundations form $1.6 million fund; traffic safety meeting

The Norwalk Public Library and the Discovery Museum of Bridgeport are collaborating to enhance science awareness with a summer program at the library.

NORWALK, Conn. — Some Norwalk announcements for you:

A demonstration of a spacesuit this Saturday to kick off a summer awareness program for kids
Five foundations are teaming up with an initial focus on greater Norwalk philanthropy
Traffic safety meeting, inspired by pedestrian’s death, planned for June 29

Continue reading Norwalk Library collaborates with Discovery Museum; foundations form $1.6 million fund; traffic safety meeting

Partisan battle heats up over whether new CT budget is balanced

- News
- State
By Keith M. Phaneuf, CTMirror.org
1 : 38 am EDT June 14 2019
5 Comments

Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven (center) discusses the new state budget. On left is Deputy House Minority Leader Vincent J. Candelora, R-North Branford. On right is Sen. Tony Hwang, R-Fairfield. (CTMirror.org)

HARTFORD, Conn. — The partisan battle over the new state budget heated up Thursday.

Minority Republicans continued to argue the $43.4 billion, two-year budget is unbalanced and unconstitutional, relying on nearly $460 million in labor savings that unions still haven’t endorsed. The budget also makes no alternative provision to balance the books if a saving deal isn’t reached.

But Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont said he’s prepared to sign the budget into law and charged GOP leaders with political grandstanding. And Lamont’s budget director, Office of Policy and Management Secretary Melissa McCaw, said Republicans overstated the amount of savings that needs union approval, adding she nonetheless expects a deal to be finalized in the next 30 to 45 days. Continue reading Partisan battle heats up over whether new CT budget is balanced

Norwalk election roundup: Democrats seeking endorsements

George Theodoridis, right, accepts the Norwalk Democrats District C nomination for in-district Common Council, Wednesday in City Hall.

The election is Nov. 5.

Updated, 4:30 p.m.: Comments from Sheri Brown.

NORWALK, Conn. — Norwalk Democrats are stepping forward to run for office.

District C on Wednesday endorsed a slate of candidates; although the Democratic Town Committee isn’t bound by the district’s endorsement, it’s customary that the DTC will approve the recommendation, District C Chairman John Kydes said.

There’s also another woman hoping to get the District D endorsement for the Board of Education candidacy, and some drama in the Third Taxing District, as Commissioner Pam Parkington is reportedly stepping down. Continue reading Norwalk election roundup: Democrats seeking endorsements

Norwalk Council moves school projects ahead

Columbus Magnet School.

NORWALK, Conn. — Capital budget funds were rejiggered Tuesday to cover Norwalk Public Schools construction budget shortfalls, in the amount of $13.6 million, as requested by the Board of Education.

Common Council members tabled the BoE’s request for $1.5 million to fund a new school on the Columbus Magnet site and approved funding for projects at various schools, including the installation of air conditioning units at Roton Middle School and asbestos removal at Rowayton Elementary.

The Columbus delay had noting to do with the controversy over whether the school should be demolished or renovated as new, Common Council President Tom Livingston (D-District E) said. Continue reading Norwalk Council moves school projects ahead

Rilling seeks ‘hard look’ at Norwalk Redevelopment Agency’s role

Norwalk Redevelopment Agency Executive Director Tim Sheehan and Director of Community Development Planning Tami Strauss speak to the Zoning Commission in January.

NORWALK, Conn. — The Norwalk Redevelopment Agency is interested in a strategic planning initiative, an evaluation of its purpose and interaction with the City, after a new executive director is hired, Redevelopment Agency Chairman Felix Serrano announced Tuesday.

Mayor Harry Rilling would prefer the planning initiative be done before the new director is hired, Chief of Staff Laoise King said in a midnight email.

The Agency, meanwhile, unanimously appointed Director of Community Development Planning Tami Straus as acting executive director, effective July 1. She will replace Redevelopment Agency Executive Director Tim Sheehan, who announced last week that he was resigning. Continue reading Rilling seeks ‘hard look’ at Norwalk Redevelopment Agency’s role

Norwalk BoE firms up $200M budget

Budget books sit in the Common Council chambers in April.

NORWALK, Conn. — The Norwalk Board of Education has formulated $1,788,183 in cuts to its initial proposed budget for the next school year.

The 2019-20 budget represents a nearly $8 million increase over 2018-19, and factors in an expected $1.9 million in surplus money left over at the end of this school year. It increases the full-time employee headcount by 52 positions, adds a fourth specials teacher at six elementary schools and funds an additional credit requirement at the high schools, bringing Norwalk in line with a state mandated 25 credits for graduation. Continue reading Norwalk BoE firms up $200M budget

Norwalk BoE ponders school construction options

From left, Norwalk Board of Education members Barbara Meyer-Mitchell, Bryan Meek and Mike Barbis.

Updated, 3:30 p.m.: Additional information.

NORWALK, Conn. — It might be necessary to reprioritize Norwalk’s school construction projects, Board of Education members said Monday.

With the new Ely school delayed for a year – the second time – the Board’s Facility Committee stuck with their timing for the order of South Norwalk changes but suggested that maybe a new Cranbury school might become a priority, given the uncertainty of state approvals. Board of Education Chairman Mike Barbis slammed what he called “obstructionism” at the state level by politicians he declined to name. Continue reading Norwalk BoE ponders school construction options

Roselle hopes for better compensation; gun safety bills lauded but Duff’s African game bill fizzles

Phil Roselle, center, would be eligible for increased compensation under legislation introduced by State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-25) and passed by the legislature. It awaits a signature from Gov. Ned Lamont. (Contributed)

NORWALK, Conn. – Connecticut’s legislative session has ended. Norwalk-related developments include:

A bill that might allow Norwalk Police Officer Phil Roselle to receive early retirement compensation was passed
Gun safety legislation was passed, with bipartisan support from Norwalk representatives
Sen. Bob Duff’s attempt to protect African wildlife didn’t get approved

Continue reading Roselle hopes for better compensation; gun safety bills lauded but Duff’s African game bill fizzles

Meek slams Duff’s NHS Marching Bears ads as ‘illegal’

A Bryan Meek Facebook post.

NORWALK, Conn. — State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-25)’s use of PAC money to buy ads from several Norwalk nonprofits is “facism defined” and illegal, according to Republican Board of Ed member Bryan Meek.

An ad on the NHS Marching Bears trailer, showing Duff’s photo, “not only violates state election laws, it is also a violation of NPS (Norwalk Public Schools) policy,” Meek, a Board of Education member and campaign treasurer for unaffiliated Mayoral candidate Lisa Brinton, said recently on Facebook. Continue reading Meek slams Duff’s NHS Marching Bears ads as ‘illegal’

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Nancy On Norwalk