Nancy on Norwalk

‘Worst in 25 years’ Norwalk campaign sign ‘big thing’ sparks ‘silly season’

Norwalk Department of Public Works Supervisor John Krysiuk shows campaign signs Thursday in the Public Works garage.

Signs in the Norwalk Department of Public Works garage Thursday. Mayor Harry Rilling’s signs had already been picked up, DPW Supervisor John Krysiuk and DPW Superintendent of Operations Chris Torre said.

NORWALK, Conn. – Chris Torre said Thursday that John Kydes had won the prize. Bruce Chimento said Mayor Harry Rilling won.
Both agreed that Mark Suda was right up there in the contest for who had the most campaign signs in the Department of Public Works garage.

Torre, DPW Superintendent of Operations, said he’s worked in Public Works for 25 years, with 12-13 years as a manager, and, “This is the first year that I have ever seen voting signs be this much of an issue.” Continue reading ‘Worst in 25 years’ Norwalk campaign sign ‘big thing’ sparks ‘silly season’

Opinion: Alert – Let’s work on a real bipartisan budget

- Opinion
By State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-25)
12 : 31 am EDT September 22 2017
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State Sen. Bob Duff.

Republican Budget Raises Taxes, Increases Spending, Defers Pension Payments, Makes Cuts to Higher Education and to Jobs Initiatives

Connecticut’s future depends on smart investments in our economy and a strong education system.

Over the past several months, Senate Democrats have been working diligently to pass a state budget that invests in Connecticut’s future and makes honest spending cuts and structural changes to pay down past debts, accumulated over decades. Continue reading Opinion: Alert – Let’s work on a real bipartisan budget

Opinion: Enough is enough – the taxpayer well is running dry

- City Beat
By Suzanne Bates, Yankee Institute
12 : 31 am EDT September 22 2017
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Suzanne Bates.

Today, Connecticut’s government unions held a rally at the Capitol to protest the bipartisan budget and to pressure Gov. Malloy to use his veto power.

The government unions continue to spread misinformation about the budget, and continue to call for a budget that includes higher taxes on Connecticut residents. Continue reading Opinion: Enough is enough – the taxpayer well is running dry

Adamowski, Norwalk BoE, lay out plan for NPS 2017-18

Norwalk Superintendent of Schools Steven Adamowski.

NORWALK, Conn. – Marching orders have again been laid out by the Norwalk Board of Education, in hopes of duplicating the success it has declared in its 2016-17 score card.

“This is year two of our three-year Strategic Operating Plan,” Board Chairman Mike Lyons said at Tuesday’s BoE meeting. “You start from the 10,000-foot level and try to work down to the details. This is very detailed. We have 28 goals for the year and 10 priority outcomes. It’s a lot of stuff for our staff to work on but as we said last year, I think we got 23.5 out of 25 targets accomplished which is a pretty good success rate. These kinds of things stretch us but it’s good to stretch, good to challenge yourself and try to bring these things in.” Continue reading Adamowski, Norwalk BoE, lay out plan for NPS 2017-18

Feds: Norwalker dodged $371,161 in taxes

NORWALK, Conn. – This is a press release, presented in the format in which it was sent:

NORWALK MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO TAX EVASION

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, announced that RYAN S. ROZYCKI, 41, of Norwalk, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to one count of tax evasion. Continue reading Feds: Norwalker dodged $371,161 in taxes

Malloy: Republican state budget ignores CCJEF ruling, cutting funding that benefits NPS

Gov. Dannel Malloy. (File photo)

HARTFORD, Conn. – Gov. Dannel Malloy on Wednesday released an analysis of the legislature’s approved budget the indicates cuts to funding streams Norwalk Public Schools relies upon.

The analysis of the Republican budget indicates that it slashes Alliance District funding and Priority School District grants. Norwalk gets $5.5 million in Priority district funding, according to Board of Education Vice Chairman Mike Barbis. Alliance District funds are used to fund Norwalk’s Curriculum and Site Instructional Directors (CISDs), who function partially as assistant principals. Continue reading Malloy: Republican state budget ignores CCJEF ruling, cutting funding that benefits NPS

Norwalk Schools chiefs’ salary raises put on hold

Norwalk Board of Education member Artie Kassimis, left, reacts Tuesday after realizing that his motion to table a proposal resulted in the first time Mayor Harry Rilling, right, was required to vote in a BoE meeting.

Correction, 3:17 p.m.: Erik Anderson voted against tabling, Bryan Meek was in favor. Updated, 1:48 p.m.: Paragraph to explain the charter-mandated role of a Norwalk mayor when the Board of Education votes on a motion.

NORWALK, Conn. — Raises for Norwalk Public School administrators will not be further considered until the state budget situation is resolved.

The Board of Education on Tuesday voted 5-4 to table the proposed increases, which had been worked out in executive sessions, with Mayor Harry Rilling breaking a tie by casting his first vote as an ex-officio Board member. Continue reading Norwalk Schools chiefs’ salary raises put on hold

Norwalk BoE lauds Conner, outgoing NPS academic chief

Norwalk Public Schools Chief Academic Officer Michael Conner, left, accepts a standing ovation Tuesday at the Board of Education meeting in City Hall. At right is NPS Communications Director Brenda Wilcox Williams.

NORWALK, Conn. – Michael Conner, Ed. D., could be secretary of education one day, Norwalk Board of Education member Artie Kassimis said Tuesday.

“At age 37 he will be the youngest superintendent in Connecticut,” Superintendent of Schools Steven Adamowski said of Conner, who is leaving his post as Norwalk Public Schools Chief Academic Officer to take on what Adamowski and others called a great opportunity. Continue reading Norwalk BoE lauds Conner, outgoing NPS academic chief

NPS losing Chief Academic Officer Conner

Norwalk Public Schools Chief Academic Officer Michael Conner begins an update on middle school redesign recently in City Hall.

Updated, 1:39 p.m.: Statement from Norwalk Public Schools.

NORWALK, Conn. — Michael Conner, credited with helping Norwalk Pubic Schools make great strides forward, is leaving the district.

Conner, NPS Chief Academic Officer, has been selected to be the new Middletown Superintendent of Schools. Continue reading NPS losing Chief Academic Officer Conner

NPS touts food service grant, explains breakfast program phase in

NORWALK, Conn. – This is a press release, presented in the format in which it was sent:

Norwalk, Conn. (September 18, 2017) – Norwalk Public Schools has been awarded a $52,000 grant from the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), with funding from the Walmart Foundation. The grant money will fund equipment needed to expand a “grab ‘n go” breakfast program piloted last year at Brookside Elementary School to a majority of schools across the district. Continue reading NPS touts food service grant, explains breakfast program phase in

News Junkie: Bad things will happen Oct. 1, but a cash flow problem won’t be one of them

HARTFORD, Conn. — Wall Street analysts found that even though Connecticut hasn’t been able to pass a two-year budget, its cash position in the short-term is fairly healthy.

Connecticut has a more than $2 billion cash balance and revenue appears to be conforming to the forecast so far this fiscal year, according to Marcia Van Wagner, vice president and senior credit officer, and Dan Seymour, vice president and senior analyst with Moody’s Investors Service. Continue reading News Junkie: Bad things will happen Oct. 1, but a cash flow problem won’t be one of them

Republican mayoral candidate Conroy talks education, development

Norwalk Republican mayoral candidate Andy Conroy talks with the press Monday at Harbor Harvest in East Norwalk.

The election is Nov. 7.

NORWALK, Conn. — Republican mayoral candidate Andy Conroy offered criticisms of Democratic Mayor Harry Rilling on Monday as he met with the press to give a campaign update, stressing education issues but also talking about development.

The Board of Education needs “good guidance from the mayor about what the mayor will support,” Conroy said, later explaining, “I do find some of his statements confusing.” Continue reading Republican mayoral candidate Conroy talks education, development

Norwalk election notes: More campaign sign woes; Cavallo alleges partisan enforcement

Republican Steve Tessier files to run for the Norwalk Board of Education last week in the Town Clerk’s office.