Mike Barbis is an elected Board of Education member representing District E (West Norwalk, Brookside, Rowayton), a parent, resident, taxpayer.
To the Editor:
The unexpected departure of Superintendent Rivera has once again thrown Norwalk’s educational system into turmoil. Parents and community members are all asking why, how, who, where … and then, “What can we do to stop this from repeating itself?”
Anyone who has spent time watching the bi-monthly Norwalk Board of Education (BOE) meetings knows there is a problem. The tone, the demeanor and the behavior by some board members is truly shocking. However, it is just not the behavior of board members that has driven Rivera out. There are long-term administrators in the school system who have worked in tandem with board members to prevent change, stop reforms and protect their turf. They want to safeguard the “Old Norwalk Way” and consider all efforts to do so acceptable – hiding behind the thin veil of “helping the kids.”
The combined tactics of these two groups has proven very powerful over the years with the pinnacle of their efforts being the resignation of two outside superintendents; each of whom were trying to overhaul and improve our school system. With support (or lack of opposition) from much of the city’s political establishment, this alliance has been successful. Two superintendents are gone. This places the restructuring, the new curriculum and outside funding they brought into the district in jeopardy.
How should parents and the community, who believe in the Norwalk Public Schools, proceed?
- The place to start is with the quote, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” The community cannot let the same mistakes be made.
- Parents and the community need to hold members of the BOE accountable for their behavior. Board members are elected and parents need to let them know when they think a member’s behavior and/or actions are unacceptable. Parents need to support the PTOC and stay informed by attending or viewing board meetings.
- Parents need to tell members of the BOE that the “Old Norwalk Way” administrators need to move on. This can happen in a variety of ways, including incentives for early retirement, or via the budget (as positions can be de-funded).
- Political leaders need to be told that they cannot continue to play both sides – this includes the mayor, as well as the leaders of both political parties. They need to provide bi-partisan support to the reform members of the BOE and can no longer focus on placating those opposed to reform. Appeasement never works.
- The future of Norwalk’s Public Schools impacts everyone – regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, age, sex or disability. Some have tried to argue that the current turmoil is a racial issue and that the voices of certain minorities are being ignored. The fact is that Norwalk’s minority and economically disadvantaged students have been hurt the most by the “Old Norwalk Way,” as evidenced by Norwalk’s protracted achievement gap. These children stand to benefit the most from increased academic rigor and adult accountability born out from the reforms of the “New Norwalk Way.”
- Quality Board of Ed candidates are needed. In 2015, Norwalk will elect five people to the board, representing each of Norwalk’s five neighborhood districts. The political parties are structured in such a way, that as few as four individuals can decide who a party’s candidate will be in a district. In one district, the BOE candidate has run unopposed for years. Parents and voters need to tell both the Democratic and Republican parties that this is unacceptable.
- Longer term, the ballot box is critical. Norwalk residents need to vote. There were 47,941 registered voters in 2013 but less than one-third voted for a Board of Ed candidate in the 2013 election. Norwalk has only itself to blame for this. It’s time for our voters to step up and be counted!
Mike Barbis
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