Board Update: Feb 7, 2025

Testing & Accountability 

Preparation is underway for spring state testing. The State has provided District Administrator training for the CT-SAT (grades 11), Smarter Balanced (grades 3-8) and Next Generation Science standards (grades 5,8, and 11). Building Test Coordinators will be trained in March. There is a process in place to ensure that all students have accessibility to the tests. Accessibility may require the use of designated supports and accommodations. Schools, the district and the state monitor student accessibility. 

Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) winter testing window closed on January 24. Almost 3100 students in grades K-3 participated, a participation rate of 98%. This test helps teachers assess early reading skills and identify students who need additional support. Across grades the percentage of students meeting the winter benchmark was 56.4%, an increase from the fall level of 54.8%.  

The winter NWEA testing window opened on February 4. Students in grades K-10 take MAP Growth math and students in grades 3-10 take MAP Growth reading. Results will focus on growth from students who have matching scores from fall 2024 to winter 2025 and from winter 2024 to winter 2025.  

Research & Analytics 

We are continuing to align the district's Portrait of a Graduate with Digital Promise's AI Literacy Framework. This week, we presented to the Board of Education on how the AI literacy framework deepens the understanding and application of the Critical Thinker competency. Additionally, during leadership meetings, we gathered feedback on Effective Communicator resources to refine our approach for the 2025-26 school year. Our focus will be on strengthening critical thinking by integrating the Effective Communicator competency and AI literacy practices, to support students in developing the skills needed for an evolving world.  

We are also continuing to help school leaders drive improvement around accountability metrics. Work this month has been centered on Indicator 4, Chronic Absenteeism, and Indicator 7, On-Track to High School Graduation in grade 9. School-level data sets are being generated and shared with school leaders. At this week’s leadership meetings, the data sets for Indicator 7 were reviewed and ideas for improvement to the indicator were generated.  

Finally, we conducted data dashboards demos for SpEd Administrators, director of testing, and leadership teams at Ponus and Tracey. Adjusted data dashboards to reflect prioritization of smarter balanced data. Incorporated live race/ethnicity data into internal suspension monitoring dashboard.  

Building Leadership Capacity - Principal/AP/Coaches Meetings
 
School leaders engaged in a robust day of learning and collaboration.  Our partner TNTP kicked off a literacy learning series in which leaders learned about key literacy practices, the district’s core beliefs about literacy and provided feedback on the district’s draft K-12 Literacy Vision. Leaders reflected on the first year implementation of the NPS Portrait of a Graduate and were introduced to phase two of this work. The day concluded with sharing best practices around various aspects of the Connecticut Accountability metrics.

Food Services 

This week the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program will be serving snappy Celery and sweet Pineberries. Next week a valentine red duo Red Bell Peppers and Red Apples. 

Thank you to all our High School Students that completed the survey last week. We will be adding more A la carte items and fruit assortment in the cafeterias for all shifts. 

The Mood Boost Wellness event will be held at Naramake this week. Tuesday, Chartwells will be showcasing citrus fruits for the Mood Boost program. The mood is STRONG. On Thursday, Naramake students will have a chef tasting of roasted Cinnamon Butternut Squash. Wednesday will be our Lucky Tray Day so get in line to try for the lucky tray! 

Next week, our SoNo School will be participating in the Chartwells Mood Boost Program celebrating the MOOD HAPPY and enjoying the fruit salad and blueberries. 

Friday, for Valentine's Day we will be serving chocolate chip muffins for breakfast. 

This week Chartwells’ Chef, Brett Harding, will be working with our Next Steps Students teaching them how to prepare a fun meal they can do on their own. The menu includes items like beef, teriyaki, dipper w/ mashed potatoes and broccoli rice, corn, arroz con maize with Jamaican jerk chicken, fruit salad medley fresh, cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple, watermelon flatbread specialty w/ pepperoni & tomatoes. 

Facilities 

Fox Run floor tile asbestos abatement – On February 5, the Land Use & Building Management Committee approved the plans, specifications and professional cost estimate which will be presented at the February 19, pre-construction meeting with the State. This project will take place during the summer of 2025.  

HVAC Grant – On February 5, the Land Use & Building Management Committee approved Newfield Construction as Construction Manager for Brien McMahon, Brookside, Marvin, Naramake, Rowayton, and Silvermine HVAC projects. This item will be forwarded on February 11 to Common Council for final approval and authorization for the Mayor to execute an agreement; once this is completed the project can begin during the summer of 2025.  

Tracey Air Conditioning – On February 5, Olympus Construction was approved by unanimous vote at the Land Use & Building Management Committee in the amount of $526,800.00. This item will be forwarded to the February 11 Common Council meeting for final approval and authorization for the Mayor to execute an agreement so this project can take place during the summer of 2025.  

Brookside and Tracey Underground Storage Tanks – On February 5, B&W Paving & Landscaping, LLC was approved at the Land Use & Building Management Committee in the amount of $587,000.00. This item will also be forwarded to the February 11 Common Council for final approval and authorization for the Mayor to execute an agreement so this project can take place during the summer of 2025. 

School Safety 

The School Safety Team continues to develop and adjust protocols, procedures and operational guidance for schools in handling situations that involve Non Local Law Enforcement action involving schools. The School Safety Team has collaborated with the NPD to address individual school’s needs to best support NPS students, families and staff. Please see the latest operational guidance presented to school leaders at this week’s Principal and Assistant Principal Meetings. 

Non Local Law Enforcement Action at Schools 

Transportation 

Monthly our transportation vendors conducted safety meetings to keep our driving team trained in current practices and procedures.  In January, Durham reviewed common risks and trends during the winter months including fire hazards, intersection awareness and cold temp procedures. February’s meeting will include conversation around updated guidance on federal procedures for unauthorized persons approaching or boarding buses. Moving forward to March, discussions will center around warmer weather activities and awareness for pedestrians, runners, bicyclists and motorcycles.  

Durham is still looking for a few good people to join our driving team!  If you are 21 years of age, hold a valid CT driver's license for 3 years and love kids, please click here for further information on employment opportunities We are Hiring! 

ECS Transportation and Relia Transportation transport our in and out of district specialized learning programs. They are also looking to increase their driving team. Please click here for further information Careers at Sunrise 

Health Services 

Mandated screenings- third grade heights and weights as well as fifth grade female scoliosis assessment-are close to completion this month.  

NPS is exploring a dental pilot program with its community partner, the Norwalk Community Health Center. The pilot program will provide dental assessment and cleanings with parent/guardian consent during the school day at Jefferson Marine Science Elementary School. Jefferson parent/guardians have shown significant interest in this program. Services are anticipated to launch in March/April. 

The Norwalk Community Health Center's Family Health and Wellness Center at the NPS Family Center had its ribbon-cutting on 1/27 and is now open for physical and behavioral health services for current and incoming NPS students and their families. 

During the month of January, The Human Services Council Dr. Robert E Appleby school-based health centers, located at Norwalk High School/P-TECH and West Rocks Middle School, provided 258 medical and behavioral health appointments to students at these schools. 

During the same time, the Norwalk Community Health Center school-based health centers, located at Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy/Concord Magnet School and Brien McMahon High School/Center for Global Studies, provided 471 medical and behavioral health appointments to students at these schools. 

Grants 

The Grants Team has been actively engaged in several key initiatives as we reach the mid-year mark. We’ve successfully completed a mid-year audit of our spending, ensuring all expenditures align with budget guidelines and funding requirements. In preparation for next year’s budget, we’ve been collaborating with various departments to allocate resources effectively, prioritizing high-impact areas.  

Additionally, our Learner Engagement and Attendance Program (LEAP), which is grant funded, underwent a mid-year evaluation by the Connecticut State Education Department, who commended NPS for making significant gains in Tier II interventions. These efforts have been instrumental in reducing the number of students in Tier III, particularly those facing chronic absenteeism, reflecting the success of our targeted strategies. 

Multilingual Learner

The Multilingual Learner department is continuing to support schools with the LAS Links assessment, the annual English language proficiency assessment.  The window for this assessment closes on Friday, March 7th.  The information provided from this assessment informs schools with how to best support Multilingual Learners with their progress towards English proficiency.

The Multilingual Learner department and Family Center are hosting a free educational seminar with the Center for Immigrant Justice and Inclusion.  This seminar is aimed at informing community members—especially immigrants and their families—about recent changes in U.S. immigration law. The seminar will be held on Tuesday, February 11th from 6-7 pm virtually.  A flyer and virtual link will be shared with staff, families, and community members soon.

Specialized Learning

The Specialized Learning Department is working to reschedule the Parent Advisory Group that was cancelled due to weather. 

We have begun to plan for Extended School Year (ESY) that will run from June 31, 2025-July 31, 2025 at various locations throughout the district. We are also planning our New Teacher Academy for February that will take place on February 25, 2025 where new staff will learn about progress monitoring and data collection.  

SRBI

The team has been participating in school Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to discuss case studies and support practices. These practices are leading to high quality practices. The team has started regrouping students for cycle 3 of WIN groups.  

Enterprise Software/Data

We worked closely with Roton Middle School’s Instructional Coach for Digital Learning to roster and activate the new online tutoring app, UPChieve. Other middle and high schools will follow suit.

The PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 rosters have been registered with the College Board for the upcoming testing window. Additionally, the MLL Ellevation app has been upgraded to enhance its API process, ensuring more accurate data syncing.

We are actively collecting analytics on application usage and costs to share with administrators.

As always, we remain committed to providing daily support to our end users.

Infrastructure/Operations

E-Rate evaluations and selections will be completed by the end of the week, with all paperwork due by February 20th.

In 2024, the team successfully completed 6,779 trouble tickets. As of January 2025, they have already resolved 696 tickets.

Digital Learning

Round two of VILS success visits is underway. We are also expanding Central AI PDs, and coaches will be offering training sessions for Central Office staff on AI tools to enhance productivity.

Library Media & AI Committee

Library Media Specialist Stephanie Deeb, at Marvin Elementary School, recently received a $20,000 grant from Optimum. She is excited to use the funds to purchase much-needed technology for her Library Learning Commons. Her principals share in her excitement.

Library Media Specialist Jodi Flom Nathanson was asked by her principal to provide professional development on AI for staff. Jodi integrates AI as a thought partner in designing lessons that incorporate critical thinking, digital literacy, and information literacy. She also leverages AI to assist with the wording of her evaluations.

The AI Committee is developing student-facing and teacher-facing frameworks. Willetta (Lynn) and Sara have been invited to participate in Data Analyst Kimberly Erickson’s POG/AI Leadership Series, focusing on curriculum integration. The collaboration between these three areas will lead to a more effective and sustainable implementation of AI across the district.

Payroll

The Payroll Department is actively implementing the UKG Ready system, with the official go-live date set for the second payroll cycle in March. This initiative aims to enhance efficiency and streamline payroll processes.

Additionally, Payroll is collaborating with Cigna and ABS to organize a series of informational seminars for teachers, focusing on the benefits and functionalities of Health Savings Accounts (HSA). These sessions will provide educators with valuable insights into how HSAs work and how they can be leveraged for financial and health-related benefits.

In early March, the department will meet with Cigna to discuss new wellness programs tailored for teachers. These programs are designed to support staff well-being and promote a healthier work environment.

Budget

The Budget team has been actively preparing for the upcoming fiscal year. Rosters have been distributed to schools for verification of employees for the 2024-2025 budget. Adjustments have been made in response to recommendations provided by school administrators.

Ongoing budget and live data maintenance within the Munis system is being conducted based on Personnel Action Forms (PAFs) received from Human Resources. Position Control Number (PCN) maintenance is also underway to ensure accurate staffing allocations.

Efforts are continuing to update School-Based Budget (SBB) files and general ledger summaries for both schools and departments. Meetings are being held as requested to provide guidance and support. The team is also actively working on year-end forecasting, processing Special Education invoices, executing districtwide budget transfers, and completing journal entries. In preparation for the March 1 deadline, the Excess Cost submission is in progress.

On February 5, 2025, the Budget team participated in the Planning and Zoning Commission's Public Hearing on the Capital Budget. This engagement ensures that the school district's capital planning aligns with the city's development objectives and incorporates public input.

Grants

The Grants team has focused on identifying funding sources to offset both next year’s local budget and current-year expenses. To support financial planning, school-based budget worksheets have been developed for review by the Cabinet before being distributed to schools. These worksheets will serve as the foundation for the 2025-2026 School-Based Budget (SBB) process.

Additionally, the team met with the International Baccalaureate (IB) District Coordinator to discuss and review the budget for the IB program for the next fiscal year. Another key milestone achieved this week was the finalization of the Title I allocation for the upcoming budget cycle.

Purchasing & Accounts Payable

The Purchasing and Accounts Payable team has been conducting an extensive review of open purchase orders, including follow-ups on standard purchase orders that remain open from July 2024 to the present. Approximately 16 new purchase orders were processed between February 3 and February 5, with each order reviewed and processed accordingly.

To facilitate a more efficient accounts payable process, the team has sent approximately 30 invoices to school locations for approval. Daily efforts continue to resolve outstanding issues related to orders, ensuring that financial processes remain smooth and efficient.

Capital

The Capital team processed multiple capital invoices this week and submitted a change order for the South Norwalk (SONO) project to the superintendent for review. The team is also collaborating closely with the Project Manager on Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FFE) and technology orders for the new South Norwalk School.

Additionally, preparation is underway for the upcoming Ponus and Jefferson audit, scheduled for April. These efforts ensure that capital projects remain on track and align with district goals.

HRIS/Benefits

The HRIS team has been reviewing and processing recent benefits enrollment activity for all NPS employees.

We have been collaborating across departments and locations to collect, review and complete the various sections of the Civil Rights Data Collection required by the state. 

Additionally, we have been compiling work injury and illness reporting data for another required data collection for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

HRIS team has been supporting the compilation of data used for FOIA requests of the public as well as continued support of reporting requests by department stakeholders within the district.