|
This summer I conducted eleven listening sessions throughout the Norwalk Community School District. Several themes emerged when I asked these questions:
- What facility needs does the Norwalk CSD have now and in the future?
- What is the Norwalk CSD doing well?
- What deltas (challenges, opportunities and areas for improvement) are present in the district?
Here are the top areas for feedback:
Question 1 (facility needs) - New elementary school (classroom space), indoor pool, safety measures, gym space for after school hours (more community gym space), and more preschool space.
Question 2 (what we are doing well) - Communication (to parents especially by teachers), gifted and talented program, online streaming of activities and events, leveled buildings, The Leader in Me (TLIM), and MS cell phone policy.
Questions 3 (challenges opportunities, and areas for improvement) - Communication issues (especially at the start of the year), teacher shortage (hire and retain) - sub shortage, transitions between buildings (leveled buildings cause a lot of traffic/transportation challenges), transportation - recommend reversing routes for AM and PM (first on, first off), bullying (HS & MS has some bullying issues), 4A school now (Increasing class (total grade level) sizes), vacancies (hire and retain), 4 elementaries (neighborhood schools, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work, and
keeping safety a priority.)
I want to thank all of the people who came out to these listening sessions and provided feedback to me about the District. These listening sessions will lead to additional work in the District this year. Look for the School Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC) Facilities Subcommittee to start meeting this school year, additional surveys, enhanced communication efforts, and more information about NCSD hiring and safety efforts just to name a few items.
Please contact me if you have an organization, club or group that I could visit and conduct additional listening sessions this year.
Thank you all for your support and Go Warriors!
Yours in service,
D.T. Magee
Listen - Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
| 
