Memorandum

To: Members of the Board of Education

From: Susan Marks

Superintendent

Date: August 13, 2010

Superintendent’s Updates for the period – August 9 – 13, 2010

1. I continue to meet with community members.

a. I met with Adele Gordon, Sarienid Guzman and Monica Morales from the
Community Health Center, Inc. The Norwalk Mobile Dental Program has
provided outstanding dental health services to our students. This program has
increased their patient totals from 337 in 2007 to 1480 in 2010. Additionally, a
new health center will be opening in October. This is another example of this
wonderful community. This year, the program will be expanding to doing some
restorative dentistry as well.

b. I met with Ed Musante from the Chamber of Commerce. We discussed the

School to Work Program, but also the participation of some of the chamber’s
members in our future work looking at High School Reform. I am interested in
expanding offerings in high school to include content oriented academies such as
the Finance Academy. Hospitality Academy, etc. These programs provide
students with a series of courses based on interests that they may have. As we
look at the High School Schedule this year and we will do that in a cross
functional workgroup, we will need to begin to look at the impact of the High
School Reform on our planning. I think the Chamber members can provide a
good perspective in this work.

c. I met with Ginger Katz and she shared her work in Norwalk and nationally with
the Courage to Speak Foundation. I will be visiting middle schools to observe
the curriculum. I was impressed with the collaboration between the foundation
and the school. Mrs. Katz is having the parent course translated into Spanish.
Thanks to a grant from the First County Bank Foundation, the Courage to Speak-
Courageous Parenting 101 program is being translated into Spanish and will be
available for classes this fall.
2. I attended the Summer School graduation for the McMahon and Norwalk HS students at
Norwalk HS. 17 students graduated. Senator Bob Duff and Reverend Roosevelt Ewell
gave their congratulations to the students. Next summer, we should have Briggs students
join the summer graduation and have all our students graduate together.

3. I am collaborating with the Norwalk Public Library and our staff to kick off a program to
encourage every student in NPS to get a library card. There should be a proclamation
presented from the Mayor and we hope to coincide the kick off of the program with the
beginning of school.

4. On Monday, August 16, 2010, I will be holding the first budget committee meeting. This
stakeholder group will work together to identify budget priorities. I am looking forward
to starting this collaboration. We will be setting our work schedule on Monday and
begin to review budget documents.

5. We are getting ready for the first Administrative and Supervisory (A & S) Meeting on
August 23 at the Hilton Garden Inn beginning at 9:00 am. If any of you are available to
join us, please do. This is my opportunity to set the tone for the year, and establish
expectations for coming together as a team and working as a professional learning
community.

6. I am attaching to the update, Grace Vetter’s resume. Grace is going to be our new nurse
coordinator. Since this is a non-certificated position, the position is not listed on the
personnel report.

7. I am pleased to announce that Ponus Middle School and West Rocks Middle School have
been selected to participate in the Positive Behavior Support Program. This is a school
wide program that supports strategies for teachers to engage students in positive ways. I
am familiar with this program many schools in my previous district utilized this program.
We thank Lynn Moore and Linda Sumpter in leading the way and hope that the program
will assist in reducing suspensions and behavior referrals. It is my hope that we expand
the program in years to come.

8. I thought you would be interested in the CABE Legislative Review which is a podcast
that briefs you on the educational related legislation that came out of the legislative
session this year.
http://ct-n.com/ondemand.asp?ID=5440

Update on the Plans for the Board of Education/Superintendent Retreat

I met with Martha Summerville about planning for her support and facilitation of a board
retreat. We are looking at a first session being a 2 to 3 hour meeting. Since everyone is
busy, we were wondering if Board members would be able to meet on Saturday morning,
September 11, 2010. It is difficult for people to fully engage in this work after a day of
work.