NORWALK, Conn. – Change is in the wind for the Norwalk Public Schools as new Superintendent Manuel Rivera begins to dig in and put his stamp on the operation.
Rivera has proposed a reorganization of the administrative team for this year that would represent a savings of $11,190 in the current budget.
The catch? The savings occur because some positions would not begin until Nov. 1, meaning the positions would receive only 75 percent of the set annual salary this year. The actual annual cost of the new structure would be $1,027,813, an increase of $97,350 over the current budget. That figure, and perhaps more, would have to be funded in the 2014-15 budget and beyond.
The figures include a $9,615 savings in Rivera’s salary because of his delayed start date made necessary by negotiations and teachers union rules.
According to documents included in the agenda packet for Tuesday night’s Board of Education meeting, Rivera is recommending the following changes:
• Changing the title of the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction to either deputy superintendent or assistant superintendent for schools. This is Tony Daddona’s position, and the change would carry no salary increase. It would, however, more aptly describe his reconfigured position as he would assume many of the day-to-day administrative duties currently landing on the superintendent’s desk. Rivera said that, as he needs to devote the majority of his time to major changes in the system that include the Core Curriculum implementation, Daddona would be called upon to handle day-to-day tasks along with “other major responsibilities.”
• Convert the chief operating officer position to chief business officer to oversee facilities, finance and accounting (including chief finance officer Rich Rudl), budget, transportation and food services. Information and technology and human resources would become direct reports to Rivera. The CBO would begin Nov. 1. This position would pay $160,000, down from $173,222.
• The chief human resource officer would report to the superintendent instead of the COO. The position would be enhanced “in keeping with new developments (i.e., professional standards, performance appraisal systems and other duties).” Start date would be Nov. 1. Salary would be $155,000, up from $144,776.
• Convert the current IT director position to chief for technology, innovation and partnerships, a direct-report to the superintendent. This is another significantly enhanced role, Rivera said, with responsibilities including partnership building and management, strategic planning and systems development, driving technology related to innovations and other duties. Start date would be ASAP. Salary $175,000, up from $162,590.
• A communication officer: This new position would assume multiple duties ranging from increasing and improving the quality of internal and external communications, public relations and marketing to conducting research and assisting with planning, administrative follow-up and other duties. This position would begin Nov.1 and is based on an $87,938 annual salary.
• Standards, quality control and assessment: Rivera termed this a “placeholder” in the agenda document. It is a position he would like to fill in the near future or possibly next year and is envisioned, he said, as akin to a chief academic officer, a dedicated lead person to assure the curriculum is rolled out and implemented “with fidelity” and that “we begin to instill district-wide standards of excellence and greater quality control.” The position would oversee Common Core implementation, professional development, assessment and relate initiatives “that will require undivided time and attention.” Not budgeted at this time.
According to BOE Chairman Mike Lyons, the board was aware the proposed changes were in the works.
“Dr. Rivera has mentioned this before to the board and is aware that it could raise cost concerns in future budget years,” Lyons wrote in a late-night email in response to a NancyOnNorwalk question. “However, I think most of us realize that we need to beef up the central office somewhat to manage all the new initiatives (particularly Common Core and the new teacher and principal evaluation systems we’re piloting, as well as needed technology improvements).”
Lyons also put the cost into perspective as part of the overall expense of running the schools.
“Although $100,000 is real money,” he said, “in context it is only .00062 of the $162,000,000 budget (6/100ths of 1 percent). If that’s what it takes to properly manage the school system, it’s a pretty small percentage to pay to get there, from my point of view. Of course, there may be board members who disagree.”
The rest of the board will get a chance to weigh in Tuesday night when the BOE meets at 7:45 p.m. in room A300 on the third floor of City Hall.
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