BOE Chair Jack Chiaramonte and Vice Chair Glenn Iannacone make tough decisions at a meeting to reconcile the BOE budget

Photo Credit: Nancy Chapman

Steven Colarassi proposed his own cuts at the BOE meeting.

Photo Credit:

Superintendent of School Susan Marks listens to a plea about librarians.

Photo Credit: Nancy Chapman

Norwalk elementary schools were largely spared, but the district’s central office staffing took a big hit as the Board of Education passed its reconciled budget on Tuesday night. By 1:30 a.m.,  after more than 5 hours of public comment, back-and-forths and several tense moments, the school board adopted a budget of $154.8 million with a 5-4 vote, ending the night with a $55,000 surplus. Democratic Board members Jodi Bishop-Pullan, Heidi Keyes, Migdalia Rivas and Rosa Murray opposed the budget.

For the elementary schools, the board voted to keep the assistant principals, library aides, and the third grade strings program.   Intervention aides, the Roton Planetarium program and first grade aides were also retained.  However, three Columbus Magnet School aide positions were cut, as were nine elementary school teacher positions.

At each of the high schools, one housemaster, and police and security positions were eliminated. One Norwalk High school physical education teacher's position was also eliminated.  One of the two West Rocks assistant principal positions was cut as well.  However, towards the end of the meeting,  the superintendent and the board acknowledged that the housemaster and West Rocks assistant principal positions are priorities for restoration.

The ax fell on the Central Office too. Three top administrator positions were cut:  Director of Elementary Education, Instructional Specialist for Grants, and Instructional Specialist for Social Studies/Grants.

Here is the list of eliminated positions at meeting's end:

1.     Nine elementary and one high school teaching position

2.     Two high school secretary positions

3.     Three Columbus aides

4.     Two Central Office instructional specialists

5.     Director of Elementary Education

6.     IT Staff developer

7.     Librarian at Brien McMahon High School

8.     Guitar teacher

9.     One security position at Norwalk High School

10.   Two numeracy coaches

11.    1.5 literacy coaches

12.   One middle school guidance counselor

13.   One finance/HR Department position

14.   One secretary position

15.   One Food service worker

16.   Custodial vacancy position

17.   0.5 reserve nurse position

18.   Head of security at Brien McMahon

19.   0.5 technician position

20.   Four reserve teachers

21.   Two reserve aide positions

22.   Police security funds at high school

23.  Two high school house masters

24.  One West Rocks assistant principal position

Check back later today for more details on the meeting.