'Our Truckers are successful in the classroom'

NORWALK — It was all hands on deck Tuesday night at the Norwalk City Schools board of education meeting. Administrators spoke about the recent state report card, while Jenicka Reamer and Beth Scheid gave a literacy presentation. Speaking about the report card were Jen Gerber, treasurer Joyce Dupont and principals Ken Moore (Maplehurst Elementary), Janice Smith (Pleasant Elementary), Gary Swartz (middle school) and Pat Kania (high school). First-year principals Nick Kish (League Elementary) and Rick Hudgel (Main Street School) were excused, but superintendent Brad Cooley said they will be invited back to talk when they settle into their new jobs. Cooley talked about what was learned from the report card. "1. State testing indicated that our district has performed very well in achievement and closing educational gaps for students from different subgroups," he said. "We have shown marked improvement in our graduation rates and early literacy components, both of which meet the state standard. "2. Our plan of attack centers on our K-3 literacy plan and on individual student growth. Jenicka Reamer and Beth Scheid, our new literacy coordinators, along with our elementary staff trained in specific reading programs, are having a monumental impact on our youngest learners. We are utilizing the i-Ready diagnostic program in grades K-10; our professional development time consists of analyzing student data to make effective instructional changes in our buildings. "3. Our Truckers are successful in the classroom, yet our district and community is not paying an exorbitant amount to make that happen. Comparative data from across the state shines a favorable light on our efficient use of public dollars. Our collective goal has always been to make wise decisions that benefit our students ... and more money is not necessarily a part of that equation."