NORWICH – The Norwich City School District started the 2009-10 school year with defined, board-sanctioned goals in the areas of academics, technology, staff development and culture and climate. It has been more than two months since the district’s current board of education was seated, yet no action has been taking on establishing similar goals for the 2010-11 year.
At a board of education meeting on Monday, the topic became a bone of contention for some board members.
“I think, as a board, we should be embarrassed,” said Joseph Stagliano, who took his fellow board members to task for “rehashing the same topics” at each meeting rather than defining goals and focusing on how they will measure the district’s success.
While there has been discussion of the need for the board’s leaders to sit down with Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan to develop goals, that hasn’t happened to date, something about which O’Sullivan expressed frustration.
“I’m floundering here,” the superintendent said. “I’ve received no direction from the board of education on what they want to accomplish.”
Board member Perry Owen expressed his belief that the district should continue on with the same objectives it established last year.
“I believe they are the right ones to move this district forward,” he said.
Even Dr. Linda Horovitz, who along with Sally Chirlin and Priscilla Johnson has continually questioned the superintendent about staffing decisions and cuts made as a result of the budget process, conceded that it was time to look forward.
“What matters is the end result,” she stated.
Horovitz also expressed concern over the board’s dynamic.
“I’m concerned that the board is questioning one another,” she said, suggestion that more communication between board members was needed.
“I think it’s only fair,” Horovitz said.