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Norwalk’s ‘silence’ is deafening

November 21, 2014
–
Nancy Guenther Chapman
Send signed letters to news@nancyonnorwalk.com
Send signed letters to news@nancyonnorwalk.com

To the Editor:

When a nationally prominent superintendent leaves a community long saddled with dysfunctional BOE’s, hostile teacher/administrator unions active in city politics, and revolving superintendents after just 18 months, it’s time to ask questions. Especially when Dr. Rivera was hired by the first truly competent BOE leadership Norwalk has had in decades.
The first question is why the “silence” of the mayor, Common Council members, teachers and administrator unions and leaders of the minority communities whose students represent the majority of our public school students?
The second question was whether it was influenced by the negative actions of the three disaffected members of the BOE who claimed “discrimination” and were supported by the NAACP in their efforts with the Mayor expressing “concerns”? Two of these members objected to supporting Dr. Rivera without ever explaining their reasons.
The third question is whether it was influenced by the lack of visible support from the minority communities either to the BOE or Dr. Rivera as the City’s first minority superintendent and their silence on the unfounded “discrimination charge”.
A fourth question is whether Dr. Rivera was influenced by the lack of visible support from the City’s chief governance units. For example, Mayor Rilling infrequently attended BOE meetings. And support from the Common Council was perhaps lukewarm for the new public school initiatives.
A fifth question is whether after 18 months on the job Dr. Rivera came to much better understand the failed governance of our City and had real reservations about his ability to succeed in such a challenged environment where City officials are pulling in different directions seemingly all the time.
A sixth question is whether Dr. Rivera felt he faced long odds in coming to grips with the City’s long time hostile teacher unions who actively engage in City politics in an effort to protect their interests.

Of course, Dr. Rivera, as a consummate professional and gentlemen will no doubt keep his “real reasons” to himself. But on the surface his early departure is an enormous loss for a City unfortunately known for its tumultuous governance. Some long overdue soul searching is imperative. Was it really in the best interests for the City’s Democratic leadership to remain silent in the face of the discrimination charges by the three disaffected BOE members who have yet to demonstrate any positive contribution to the BOE? Do these three disaffected BOE members really represent their minority communities? And, if not why the silence or absence of demands for better capabilities for BOE members?

Looking back, the hiring of Dr. Rivera and the unusually competent BOE leadership under Mike Lyons has been the City’s most outstanding positive governance in decades and decades. Now all these accomplishments are in doubt. The silence of our City’s leaders to this dramatic turn of events is utterly devastating.  Could it be that they are just “speechless.” Or “indifferent.” Or waiting for an aged upon “political response?” Let’s hope not.

Peter I Berman

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Comments

30 responses to “Norwalk’s ‘silence’ is deafening”

  1. srb

    What a snarky letter to the editor. We live in Norwalk have children in the school district but teach in other districts. As a result we have a connection to parents and teachers. I’ve never seen in all my years with at least a 1/2 dozen superintendents, a superintendent who’s been as welcomed and appreciated by both parents and TEACHERs as Dr. Rivera. Teachers at my children’s school were visibly and audibly distraught upon hearing the news yesterday. The head of the teacher’s union loudly and clearly stated how upset he was about the news. His response was published in both The Hour and NON. I gather Mr. Berman didn’t read it or simply skimmed over it.
    Parents as well have phoned and been on social media declaring how upset they were about the news. Dr. Rivera in a very short time had amassed enormous amounts of good will. Those that have heard him speak have remarked on his charisma, clarity and vision. It’s disheartening to hear that such a figure will leave so soon. But the above writing by the author is sheer speculation based on all his gripes. Dr. Rivera has worked in major metropolitan areas and is going to work in another district that is urban. Large urban district don’t work like clockwork. Even small districts don’t! My district has been without a Superintendent for over a year! Are there perhaps immature board members who act as impediments? Without a doubt but that’s what happens in a democratic forum. Was the BOE in general supportive of Dr. Rivera? Without a doubt. Were teachers supportive? Unquestionably. Was the union supportive? Look at the initiatives and see how the union facilitated them. This letter is the height of hypocrisy and negative thinking. Trash everyone you don’t agree with and then whine, whine and then a little more whine. I have no idea why Rivera left, there are problems in this district but there are also silver linings. There are good teachers who work beyond the hours proscribed. There are parents who want to get involved and help out on a regular basis. There are board members that put in 100s of hours without pay to support the system. There are students who come from immigrant homes where English isn’t spoken that graduate and become vital members of the community. There are parents with higher incomes and strong educational backgrounds that keep their kids in the system knowing that a diverse environment has benefits. There are loads of initiatives that Dr. Rivera put on the table that can be built upon. Stop projecting your views on Dr. Rivera and quit the bitch’n and start buiding

  2. NorwalkVoter

    Me. Berman, as usual, is grasping for a reason to criticize. Most of his complaints are wrong, wrong, wrong. Most of this community, including city leadership have worked with and supported Dr Ruvera loudly! No silence in Norwlk. None.

  3. RU4REEL

    Although Mr. Rivera did much good, he also had history accepting jobs, bringing in friends to work in his new school system then leaving to go somewhere else. So why is this a shock and why are you blaming anyone but him? Some folks posting certainly have short (18 months) memories.

  4. srb

    If Mr. Berman has a son/daughter I assume he asks them what they did wrong when their significant other breaks up with them.

  5. Carolyn Chiodo

    Great!!! Now we get DO NOTHING DADONNA!!!! Glad my kids are out of the district. If we are lucky someone will appoint Suzzane Koroshetz.

  6. Screwed Taxpayer

    Mr. Berman is right on the target. The lack of leadership from our Mayor who is paid very well to lead is astonishing and really goes back to day one in forming the board when he said nothing in response to a remark about pulling every white hair out of Mike Lyons head. This tension has been building ever since and the Mayor as leader of his party is to blame. The leftists here will make every excuse in the book, but it won’t change the facts on the ground.

  7. Non Partisan Voter

    Dr. Rivera resigned yesterday afternoon and Berman is already criticizing the Mayor for not “tweeting” his opinion within seconds of his resignation? Get real and get a life.

  8. Oldtimer

    Of course there are reasons Dr. Rivera decided to go to New London. He has chosen to call them “personal” without further public explanation. That tells us he doesn’t want to tell why. That creates an opportunity for people like professor Berman to speculate all over the place and try to pin the blame on all the Democrats he can spell.

    Dr Rivera leaving is a shame, he seemed to be accomplishing a lot. Professor Berman’s reaction can only be described as sad, coming from an apparently well educated source. We will find another school superintendent and Professor Berman will continue to criticize all the Democrats, especially minorities, who’s names he can spell. It must be nice to be as smart, and sure of yourself, as professor Berman.

  9. Lisa Thomson

    While Mr. Berman’s letter is harsh it does require every Norwalker to seriously look within themselves and ask if a voter – did they vote for BOE positions in the last election or in past elections or could they not be bothered to turn over the ballot? The difference in the number of people who vote for BOE positions versus the mayor continues to be depressing. BOE members have real power. Our mayoral system is weak. If they are a Norwalker directly involved in the politics of this town, they need to ask themselves if they are motivated to do what is right for Norwalk or are they trying to advance their own personal agendas or party affiliation?

    This is the second nationally recognized superintendent that Norwalkers have allowed to be run out of town. Are we trying to turn ourselves into a Bridgeport or ward of the state? Leadership of a bipartisan nature needs to manifest itself and do so quickly. Right now, extreme Republicans own the P&Z debacle and our inability to have sensible planning, making this a desireable place to live. We have learned over the last year that nobody in the city is really in charge of planning and growing the grand list. Now, due to extreme Democrats – we are without a leader for our school system. This is not a recipe for success folks.

    Is it time to start picketing our city hall or do we simply vote the trouble makers or those that sit on the sidelines out of office next November? I don’t know.

  10. Rod Lopez-Fabrega

    We took our two children out of the Norwalk school system decades ago. We felt they were not getting a good education within the system.

    However, we continue to pay taxes, and a good part of what we pay goes to maintain and improve the school system. We were happy to pay in recent years when Dr. Rivera came to us and began a process that, from the tax payers’ point-of-view, for the first time in decades began to get things done and to make impressive efforts to bring the Norwalk school system up to par.

    This consummate professional is leaving us for unknown reasons–a move that clearly is leading to some very worrisome assumptions as have been pointed out many times here and in other postings from NON.

    It now appears that Norwalk will continue with its dysfunctional ways when it comes to educating its children. To that end, we older taxpayers wonder once again why our tax dollars seem to be so badly used in the realm of educating other people’s children.

    Dr. Rivera’s departure is a sad day for Norwalk

  11. David

    Can I ask us all to do just one thing: Keep in mind the possibility that Mr. Rivera did actually leave Norwalk for reasons that *weren’t* the BOE?

    I know that’s not a popular train of thought right now, and as Human Beings we like to have our assertions verified, but at the end of the day, WE have to live here, WE have to go forward and build from this.

    We can shout, scream, point fingers – and don’t get me wrong, there are members of the BOE should…find more constructive ways to express themselves – but it won’t really get us anywhere, in the long run.

    Perhaps Mr. Rivera was frightened off by some of the BOE – I would find that hard to believe, considering the BOE leadership was just re-elected, without opposition.

    Or, perhaps Mr. Rivera has a reason for leaving that’s nothing to do with the BOE. Let’s just make that a possibility. Before we go off the deep end.

  12. Stephanie

    Anyone who believes that the three board members didn’t have anything to do with Manny leaving is either in denial or not very intelligent. This is a travesty for Norwalk and something has to change.

  13. Ziggy Stardust

    From the editor: We have a code of conduct for our readers. Readers must be willing to accept that to enjoy the privilege – note that word – of participating here.

    From time to time people believe they have a “right” to day what they want and interpret our commenting guideline however they like. Obviously, as we have had this type of discourse before, you are one of those people.

    To the immediate comment, I am not sure which part you believe does NOT violate our policy against harassing and insulting other posters or launching personal attacks. And while it is one of the few things you wrote that was not in violation or personally insulting, I must admit I got a chuckle out of your line, “just maybe you’ll blurt something that isn’t partisan.” Wow. Talk about irony.

    I do not happen to agree with Oldtimer on this, and we are processing input and spin from all corners of the city, and I find it personally disgusting that the parties are attempting to make political hay here. I think Manny Rivera’s statement says much by omission.

    As for being a hack, there is so much partisan hackery here that it embarrasses good, intelligent grownups who come to the site. Shame on you, and on them, and everyone who has brought us to this point with their self-serving bluster and toxic spew.

    By the way, we’re suspending your commenting privileges.

  14. Independent Voice

    Excellent commentary and the point of view is spot on. The aforementioned BOE members should do the city a favor and take their scorched earth antics out of Norwalk and resign – they are useless to the city and are the major obstacle to true reform.

  15. Don’t Panic

    Pinning this on members of the BOE who were outvoted constantly is bizarre.

    I agree with RU4REEL. The minute I saw Rivera’s resume 18 months ago, my first thought was that this guy was going to create a lot of churn, spend a lot of money and then leave.

    It’s more likely that he saw the determination of the BET and the Mayor to keep the tax increase to 2% and realized the money train for hiring new administrators and tablets for the students was coming to an end.

  16. LWitherspoon

    Here’s an opportunity for NoN to perform a tremendous public service to Norwalk by investigating and publishing the real reason that Dr. Rivera is leaving. How many nationally recognized Superintendents are there who happen to be Latino? Not many. This BoE should be applauded for hiring Rivera, and Norwalk desperately needs NoN to shine klieg lights on whatever local factors contributed to his leaving.

    Interestingly, even Democrats seem to believe the three dissident obstructionist Democratic BoE members are a key reason for Dr. Rivera leaving. Does DTC Chair Ed Camacho disagree? Will this trio continue to be nominated for re-election even though there seems to be general agreement that they are not contributing to the improvement of education in Norwalk?

    One need only look in the NoN archives where Rivera’s frustrations are well documented. In the upper right hand corner of this page, click “Search” and enter “Mosby Rivera” as your search terms. You’ll find countless articles documenting the dysfunction that Ms. Mosby, Ms. Rivas, and Ms. Murray bring to the BoE. Of particular interest is the following August 25 article:

    https://norwalkcurrent.com/2014/08/fractious-norwalk-boe-argues-over-25k-contract/

    “Not long after being urged by a Norwalk parent to heal the fractious Board of Education last week, Norwalk Superintendent Manny Rivera sat with his head in his hands. He spent some time looking at the ceiling, then responded to comments from board member Shirley Mosby and Migdalia Rivas by asserting that BoE members should allow him to do his job.”

    Deeper into the article, Rivera is quoted as follows:

    “What you are asking for is such a level of detail that cuts to the crux of what sometimes causes anxiety because we sit here, and I’m not certain that some of the things we are talking about are in the purview of board detail – intimate detail versus what you hired me as CEO to do with my staff. You hired me as a manager of this organization to sort through a lot of details. We have staff who do that, bring it back to the board and we are asking you to make a decision so we can give eight children transportation to where they need to be. I am telling you, I fundamentally believe we need to have a serious discussion about what is the role of the administration and the superintendent and his or her staff versus the role of the board so we don’t have to spend hours combing through endless detail.”

    Was there any discussion about roles and governance after Dr. Rivera’s comment? Some time ago Mayor Rilling announced that he would be meeting with Shirley Mosby, one of the obstructing BoE members, to address her concerns about racism. What has happened since then? As the top Democratic official in this City, and ex-officio Chair of the BoE, what steps has Mayor Rilling taken to create a hospitable environment for such a superstar superintendent as Dr. Rivera?

  17. Don’t Panic

    I will say it again…Pinning this on members of the BOE who were outvoted constantly is bizarre.

    If the contentious three were ALWAYS a minority, and ALWAYS outvoted, how can you possibly view them as an impediment to Mr. Rivera doing his job? If his patience is so tried by listening to dissent, he is in the wrong business. If he was seeking unconditional hero worship, he is also in the wrong business.

    Mr. Rivera’s resume shows a history of leaving before the impacts of serious organizational changes have a chance to set in. He is what businesses euphemistically call a “change agent” and what Dilbert fans will come to recognize as the “bungee boss”.

    That is not to say that he hasn’t effected change, nor to suggest that the changes weren’t good ones. But this resignation was completely forseeable.

  18. piberman

    There’s no mystery why our esteemed Superintendent has resisgned just after 18 months. And perhaps no better accolade on his abilities than the gracious one offered by the head of the NFT – long at odds with past Superintendents. Dr. Rivera worked well with our school teachers, parents and especially the BOE leadership. For the first time in decades our public school system deserved acclaim. But there were trouble spots, most visibly the 3 disaffected BOE members who claimed unsupported discrimination, had difficulties interfacing with other BOE members and were unable to make positive contributions.
    And, reportedly there were ongoing difficulties with the Administrators Union – long at odds with both the BOE and past Superintendents. Efforts to secure support from both the Democratic leadership and the Mayor reportedly were unsuccessful. No doubt the full story will emerge in coming weeks and months. Suffice it to say that Dr. Rivera – a consumate professional in every sense of the term – was too much the gentlemen to say in public what is known among those with an active positive interest in our public school system. No hidden agenda or mystery here requiring “detective reporting”.
    We ought remember that the Superintendent’s job – overseeing a thousand employees – dealing with a diverse BOE, teacher and administrator unions, parents, an unusually diverse student body and the politics associated with the state’s 6th largest city with a highly diversified population is a challenging and demanding task. Its not a 9 to 5 job.
    It is unsettling that the City’s political leaders who have known over the past week the Superintendent’s intentions have for the most part remained silent. Had there been a concerted effort from the Mayor down to ask what can be done to have the Superintendent stay then maybe the decision might have been reversed. Silence here speaks volumes.
    Norwalk has been blessed and I use that term adviseably with not only a superb Superintendent admired by the leadership of the BOE and perhaps more importantly by the teachers and the NFT with whom he worked. But not everyone on the BOE was “onboard” and more than a few Democrats in leadership positions were not happy that Democratic controlled BOE reappointed a Republican leadership team based on their performance. One can only remember the decades of Democratic controlled BOE’s and a failing school system. And the long standing “tradition” that the dominant party controls the BOE’s leadership independent of talents and abilities.
    As a community we ought to learn from this unfortunate experience. Even with the advantages of a superb BOE leadership and highly capable Superintendent who worked well with our school teachers success was not assured. That the Democratic leadership of our City remained utterly silent from the Mayor on down when 3 disaffected BOE members publicly cried “discrimination” without a shred of evidence still reverberates throughout our City and well beyond. Best I can judge no other City in CT has ever suffered that abuse. Those claims are a “stain on our City”.
    What we’ve learned is that its not enough to have unusually capable leadership on the BOE. We need each and every BOE member to positively interact with all other members. And the Superintendent.
    If we continue the “same old” we will continue scenario of revolving Superintendents. Those who oft cry so loudly that “we ought do more for our children” and criticize the BOE leadership might well look into the mirror to understand the origins of our malaise. No Superintendent can be successful when 3 members of the BOE have such an obviously different agenda than the rest of a highly capable BOE.
    Of course, others will see a different story. Perhaps just “opportunism”. Or “self serving”. But anyone who asks the school teachers and parents will have no doubts that what has just transpired is a major trajedy for our City. We almost had it all together in stitching together a well functioning public school system. Unfortunately there are other agendas at work. As a 4 decade citizen of this City and as a Democrat this in my view is Norwalk’s “lowest hour” in memory. And it could have been prevented. Even at the last minute. That is our great trajedy as a City. And our children will surely suffer. Politics is oft viewed as a “blood sport”. But at least when it comes to our public school system we ought insist that every elected official rise to the noblest calling. It’s our children. Why hurt them and deny them the opportunities of a well functioning school system for mere Petty Politics ? That’s an outrage. Rest assured the story of how Norwalk lost the best Superintendent in recent decades will circulate far beyond our City and affect every single one of us. We need leaders
    worthy of our Admiration.

  19. Lisa Thomson

    Corda 2006-2008
    Papallo 2008 (interim)
    Nast 2009 (interim)
    Papallo 2010 (interim)
    Marks 2010-2012
    Dadonna 2012 (interim)
    Rivera 2013-2014

    At some stage Norwalk needs to take a good look in the mirror.

  20. LWitherspoon

    @Panic

    At this point we don’t know why Dr. Rivera resigned. If his departure is connected in any way to local conditions, then we need to know and take steps to fix those conditions.

    In light of the frustrations and concerns that Dr. Rivera expressed above, it’s reasonable to ask what effect, if any, the three obstructionist BoE members had. Most would agree that their behavior goes well beyond “dissent”. It is something other than dissent when you threaten to pull every white hair out of Mike Lyons’s head.

  21. EastNorwalkChick

    Until we find out what the root cause of all these Superintendents leaving, we are all just spinning our wheels.

    I’m not so sure that the three obstructionist are the cause, they didn’t help matters, but not the root cause. I agree with Panic, though these three did go above and beyond just being dissenting voices, they were out voted time and time again.

    In all of these 8 yrs. what has been the constant and the flux? The flux is easy, different Superintendents, the make up of the Board has changed several times, Teachers & Principles have come and gone, student and parent population is constantly changing as they move through the school system.

    What is the constant then? The NFT and the Administration personnel. Can we rule out the NFT this time? They seemed to have a good working relationship with Dr. Rivera and the Board for the last year or so. That leaves the Administration Staff at the BOE then, could this be the reason? Who knows, but they seem to be the one constant for the last 8 yrs. that no one seems to take into consideration….

  22. Don’t Panic

    @SPOON,

    At this point we don’t know why Dr. Rivera resigned. If his departure is connected in any way to local conditions, then we need to know and take steps to fix those conditions. (True, but he has chosen “highly personal” reasons as his only explanation, so it is clear we will not get any help from him on this issue, but the fact that he already has another job lined up would seem to be a hint to his motives).

    In light of the frustrations and concerns that Dr. Rivera expressed above, it’s reasonable to ask what effect, if any, the three obstructionist BoE members had. Most would agree that their behavior goes well beyond “dissent”. It is something other than dissent when you threaten to pull every white hair out of Mike Lyons’s head.—I don’t think it’s reasonable at all. If you read that plainly, it suggests that CEO Rivera thinks that his board has no business telling him what to do or to meddle in the details. See how long a CEO in the business world lasts with that attitude. It doesn’t matter how much time the dissenting three spent at meetings on their issues. THEY WERE ALWAYS OUTVOTED, which means they had absolutely no impact on Rivera’s plans. And I don’t think you can speak for “most”, as in “most would agree”. There were plenty of people who were willing to see both sides of the famous “girl who cried black” issue.

  23. Carol

    a sad day for NOrwalk-this city better get it’s act together or all our homes will lose their resale value.

  24. Susan Wallerstein

    @lisa
    You’re right, downward spiral started/accelerated in 2006 when BOE made 1st wrong choice. If they had selected the best candidate, she would not only have provided top notch leadership, she would probably have remained here as long as she did in the CT districts lucky to benefit from Norwalk’s error. There are some lessons to be learned from this dysfunctional pattern and plenty of blame to go around.

  25. Lifelong Teacher

    And don’t forget the disaster that was Victor Herbert. Another short lived mistake.

  26. Louis

    In all fairness, we have only had two supers since Corda was removed?. The rest were interims while the dysfunctional boards searched for replacements.

    We knew Corda was leaving but nothing was done before his long known and awaited departure and nothing began till what 6 months after he left.
    A testament to the hard fought battles to move the district forward. Under Dr Corda’s reign the district was left in shambles and under State and Federal investigations and supervision. if anyone recalls.

    Dr. Marks was a mistake, many of us were aware when Jack and a former board member brought Dr Marks here on all expenses paid trip to introduced herself, after 3 board members went on on all expense paid trip to visit Dr Marks in Maryland, before she was officially hired. Really, it was all done in public and the process was transparent and inclusive credit due where credit earned Jack, so it was a worthy investment for the students to find a leader that can move the district forward.

    Nothing against Dr Marks, she is a caring sweet person, she just wasn’t prepared or experienced for the local politics nor the management challenges.

    Dr Rivera was a very good match although many thought it was odd that no one was allowed to know who the candidate was until after the ink was dry on the contract. That raised a huge red flag for many, as it should, anytime public business is conducted behind closed doors. Credit due where credit earned Mike.

    We were told the applicant requested the anonymity and was adamant his application remain out of the public’s eye, something to do with holding onto his old job if he didn’t get this one, if memory serves.

    For most hiring managers, asking a perspective employer not to call an applicants current employer for reference, indicates trustworthiness is in doubt and that the applicant can up and ditch the next employer also which usually results in the resume being filed away under not under consideration. But Dr Rivera was signed on without any input or prior formal exposure to the public’s scrutiny.

    And up till this moment, he has exceeded all expectations and even has been warmly welcomed by the weary ones that raised alarm to the behind the curtain process.

    Regardless, for now, of the process, we lucked out and got a guy that knows what he is doing and how to get it done.

    After the public announcement that Dr Rivera had signed, cant find a quote but if memory serves, there was a discussion about Dr Rivera’s commitment and that was addressed along with performance with bonuses. The housing allowance wasn’t to be reimbursed until after, what a year?

    Believe the board awarded the 25,000 housing allowance was it, along with the performance bonus of what was it 30,000, sometime last spring to Dr Rivera. Hey, if you perform well that’s fine, perform exemplary hey, we are negotiable for a well performing executive that stays and id dedicated to the mission at hand.

    Just 90 days ago Dr. Rivera, with another educator superstar Dr. Geoffery Canada gave inspiring speeches at Norwalk High at this years convocation.

    See NON’s report and clips here;

    https://norwalkcurrent.com/2014/08/rivera-noted-educator-fire-up-norwalk-schools-staff-to-start-school-new-year/

    Now just when he is getting his teeth into the crux of the challenges the district faces, Rivera bails?

    A gentleman doesn’t power up the house and duck out the side door just as the show begins.

    Nope, a gentlemen, and one that gives a hoot about education and giving a kid a chance, like Dr Rivera, a gentleman would not drop his hat and run and leave speculation and chaos to run rampant, further dividing the community and threatening to erase all the hard fought over progress thus achieved.

    What ever the reason, Dr Rivera owes it to everyone to tell it, like it is, so if we cant help him with whatever challenges he is facing and he does leave, at least he leaves us with the information we need to fix what needs a fixn and continue to move the district forward.

    I suspect the community, parents, teachers, staff have some input on this and will be heard.

    Guess we all should Stay Tuned and get involved, that includes you Mr Berman. Lets move the darn ball down the field and check the romper room antics, what do ya say? The goal is to what? Build a world class school system that attracts, or throw stones at glass houses and shatter the hopes, dreams, aspirations of thousands of students, parents and teachers for that matter? Don’t we want our students to succeed and prosper?

    If we do, than we should heed the advise of our highest level military manager, Chief of Staff General Dempsey, who uses this guiding rule on his assignments, that he was advised to adapt by a battle hardened First Sargent, when he as a green Colonel in Iraq, ” Never loose sight of the main big thing.” Sound advise for us all, including, respectfully, Dr Rivera. “Never loose sight of the main mission.” A quote Dr Rivera, as our General of Schools, should also use as a guiding principle.

  27. Screwed Taxpayer

    Harry owns this one.

    Where is Harry?

    Where?

  28. Norewalk Lifer

    Everyone is speaking for Rivera, but Rivera isn’t talking, that’s who I’d like to hear from.

    Regards
    Norwalk Lifer

  29. Lisa Thomson

    Public education is carved up into fiefdoms – co administrators and school principals, teachers unions and politicians. One can fingerprint all they want but the system is rigged to protect the 40 year status quo establishment players with contracts and tenure negotiated by politicians who benefit. Reform is slow and many of us have been fighting to pull Norwalk’s leadership into the 21st century. Enter the ‘change agent’ superintendents who try with all their might to turn the ship around. But they are only human. If Norwalk thinks they can throw $230k at any individual and think they can take on a $160M behemoth of status quo by themselves – they are crazy. Until Norwalk city leadership on both sides of the aisle decide to dismantle the establishment players – history will repeat itself.

  30. GRknight

    Maybe, we Norwalkers wise up and elect better people to run B.O.E

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