Board Update: May 15, 2026

Testing & Accountability 

On May 5, elementary and middle schools began annual state testing. Students in grades 3-8 use Smarter Balanced for ELA and math. Students in grades 5 and 8 are also required to take science using Next Generation Science Standards. The state's testing program framework provides a range of support and accommodations to ensure that all students, regardless of their accessibility needs, can participate in the assessments. Use of supports and accommodations are carefully monitored by both the state and the district. 2026 preliminary proficiency results will be available in mid-June to district administrators. The state will provide public access to results in August. Results are the basis for calculating the accountability indicators for performance and growth. Accountability reports, a federal requirement, are released in late fall.  

Research & Analytics  

We recently presented at the EdSafe Policy Summit, highlighting our development of a comprehensive AI policy stack and our approach to grounding our AI work in the Portrait of a Graduate. At the conference, we engaged with and learned from districts and state leaders across the country regarding navigating AI integration in K–12 education. This week, we are presenting at the ILO AI Strategy & Leadership Network, with a focus on how we are building AI literacy among students and staff.  

The 2026-27 School Improvement Planning (SIP) process has begun. All school leaders have received their Needs Assessment template. The Needs Assessment, which is the foundation for the SIP, identifies strengths and areas for improvement using data from the 2025-26 school year. Schools then connect those data to their efforts to determine what is working and what needs to be adjusted next year.  

School Spotlight

Every year, CMS K-8 partners with Silvermine Arts Guild for various integrated activities. Sixth graders just completed their Creative Connections cultural enrichment unit.  Through this opportunity, CMS students had the opportunity to connect with students in Nigeria and India. The focus was centered on sharing our personal experiences through art. The teachers led discussions on what makes us unique. The children eventually came to the same conclusion: “We may look different, and our stories are varied, but we are all one people. We all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.”  The children were asked to create artwork, focused on “My Story” which they shared with their international partners on Zoom.  

School Improvement Plans

This is an important time of year in the School Improvement Plan process. After analyzing various mid-year data sets, Instructional Leadership Teams check in on the progress they are making towards their School Improvement Plan goals. This process allows school leaders to identify any adjustments they need to make or supports they require to have an impactful second half of the year.

Food Service 

Our Smoothie Bike Tour has been a tremendous success this year, with an amazing turnout from students and staff across the district. The initiative has provided a fun and engaging way to promote healthy choices, encourage physical activity, and strengthen school community involvement. To close out the year, the smoothie bike will visit the following schools: Tracey on May 12, Jefferson on May 13, Kendall on May 14, Fox Run on May 19, Brookside on May 20, and Rowayton on May 21.

Thank you to all of the schools and staff who helped make this initiative such a positive experience for our students.

Additionally, Summer Meals will once again be available throughout the summer months for all children 18 years old and younger in Norwalk. Families can visit the Norwalk Public Schools School Lunch website for information on summer meal site locations and program details.

Facilities 

All schools will transition from the heating season to the cooling season on May 15.

At BMHS and CGS, new air-cooled chillers will be commissioned for use on May 15 as part of the HVAC/IAQ grant.

Summer project planning remains on schedule at Ponus, Brookside, Wolfpit, Nathan Hale, and 46 Concord. A more detalied update will be provided during the May Facilities Committee meeting. 

School Safety 

Mr. Goñez attended the Connecticut Education Network Annual Member Conference in Hartford CT. He attended workshops, and presentations focused on enhanced physical security, cyber security, communications and surveillance systems. We are currently reviewing new systems and working to assess the efficacy of streamlining. We met with our city Deputy Director, Emergency Management and are in the process of reviewing and updating our relocation and reunification plan. 

School Health

School nurses are completing the state-mandated Asthma Survey and have received the School Health Services Survey, which will be submitted to the state by the end of the school year. These surveys collect important health data that supports educational funding.

School Health Services, in partnership with PSNI, the makers of SNAP Health Center, presented at the New England School Nurse Conference on May 2. Their session, “Beyond Charting: Unlocking the Full Potential of Your EHR,” focused on strategies for effectively using electronic health records in school health offices.

In March, the Human Services Council and the Dr. Robert E. Appleby School-Based Health Centers at Norwalk High School/P-TECH, West Rocks Middle School, and Nathan Hale Middle School provided 254 medical and behavioral health appointments to students. During the same period, the Norwalk Community Health Center school-based sites, located at Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy/Concord Magnet School, Brien McMahon High School/Center for Global Studies, The Family Center Health and Wellness Center, and Kendall College and Career Academy, provided 647 medical and behavioral health appointments to NPS students and the broader Norwalk community.

The Human Services Council has also secured additional funding to expand medical and behavioral health services across its school-based health center sites.

Grants

The Mary Fitch Grant for Professional Development is an opportunity available to Norwalk Public Schools (NPS) staff to support meaningful learning experiences. The Mary L. Fitch Trust provides funding to tax-exempt schools and 501(c)(3) educational organizations in Fairfield County for both on-site and off-site professional development programs. This includes workshops, courses, conferences, and other learning opportunities designed to enhance educator effectiveness and growth.

This grant is intended to give educators access to personal and professional development experiences they may not otherwise be able to afford, helping to build capacity and bring new knowledge and strategies back to their schools and classrooms. All NPS staff are encouraged to consider applying for this opportunity.

The next application submission deadline is June 1.

Humanities

K-5 classrooms have been busy with summative assessments in almost every genre of writing.  Classroom visits continue as we continue to develop the skill of maximizing the usefulness of the text dependent question.  We continue to gather data as 8 schools visit 8 classrooms through June 5 to gather evidence of teaching and learning in reading and in foundational skills. The teachers at Future Ready continued their learning with the Writing Revolution. 

STEM Update

Fourth graders piloting Building Blocks of science participate in a squid dissection as part of a life science unit. CMS 4th grade students invited the STEM department into day 1 of their 2 day dissection. Students used their scientific reasoning skills to observe, hypothesize and investigate different parts of the squid. Students shared it was the best science unit they have ever experienced and are loving the hands-on activities they are participating in.

Rowayton staff participated in a BTC workshop on Monday, May 11. 

Family Center

The Family Center has been busy supporting families as they register their scholars for Kindergarten for the 2026–27 school year! All registration takes place at the Family Center, located at 1 Park Street. We are excited to help families take the first steps in their child’s K–12 educational journey. We look forward to welcoming our newest scholars and partnering with families for a successful start to their school experience! 

Marine Science

Naramake First Graders Dive into Marine Science at BMHS

Recently, the Brien McMahon High School (BMHS) Marine Science Academy welcomed some special guests: first-grade students from Naramake Elementary! The young students visited the high school's marine science lab for an exciting day of hands-on exploration.

This event was a fantastic showcase of cross-school collaboration, driven by student leadership. Juniors from the BMHS IB Marine Studies class took the helm, designing and preparing a series of interactive learning stations. As the first graders moved through the lab, the high schoolers led the activities, teaching their younger peers about the wonders of the ocean. It was a wonderful hands-on learning experience for Naramake's early learners, and an excellent opportunity for our IB juniors to develop their communication, teaching, and leadership skills.

Marine Academy Partners with Green's Ledge Lighthouse Preservation Society

The Marine Science and Marine Academy Coordinators recently met with The Green's Ledge Lighthouse Preservation Society to lay the groundwork for an exciting new educational partnership. This collaboration is paving the way for future student and educator expeditions out to the historic lighthouse on Long Island Sound.

Marine trips are being planned for educators in August, and for students in September. Students will have the unique opportunity to step out of the classroom and engage in authentic, hands-on marine science. Because the lighthouse operates "off the grid," students will be able to conduct real-world data analysis focused directly on the site's active solar power and water desalination systems. This partnership promises to be a remarkable addition to our district's marine science programming, bridging local maritime history with cutting-edge, practical STEM education.

School Counseling & Workforce Development

The NPS School Counselor Showcase Series has concluded for Spring 2026, during which our School Counselor Department head has provided best practices developed at Norwalk Public Schools. Our collaboration with the City of Norwalk and Family Children’s Agency continues for the Multi-System TAG Program, providing Tier 3 support. The partnership work continues​, as NPS School Counseling is part of the Social Emotional Health Leadership team, in collaboration with the City of Norwalk, the Health Department, Norwalk ACTS, and Positive Directions. The School Counseling Team serving our transitional grade bands (5, 6, 8, and 9) will come together in May for an important meeting in support of their families and students. We are working with RISE ​to continue supporting our scholars in their Post-Secondary Planning as Seniors take their final Senior Survey. In partnership with NPS, provided by CT State Norwalk, and sponsored by the Norwalk Education Foundation (NEF), we will ​host three College & University Workshops for current Juniors who have indicated a 2- or 4-year College & University post-secondary plan in their Junior RISE Survey. Our first Junior Workshops will be hosted at Norwalk High School/P-TECH and Brian McMahon/Center for Global Studies in the Career Center in June. The Superintendents’ Student Council is hard at work on their Spring Projects. The College & Career Specialists are working with scholars on scholarship support and supporting the Class of 2026 Post-Secondary Plans, to name a few.  

We are piloting an OSHA 10 Construction Online Course. Junior Scholars have been invited to enroll based on their RISE Survey Tier 2 Post Secondary Planning data. The OSHA 10 Hour course is designed to teach entry-level workers how to identify, avoid, and prevent on-site hazards. It focuses on construction standards and rules, such as fall protection, scaffolding, and electrical safety. Interested Juniors, who have selected Trade/Technical School on their Junior RISE Survey, should check their NPS Emails for more information, as there are limited seats available for this small pilot program. At NPS, we have always centered our Workforce Development work around the 16 National Career Clusters. The State Department of Education has adopted the​ newly updated 14 National Career Clusters, which we will use district-wide. The Red Fashion School is now offering two free classes starting in May: Pattern Making & Sewing​ and Photography, Production & Styling. Both classes fall into the Arts, Entertainment & Design Career Cluster. #Don’tDelay, Apply,Today! The CT State Norwalk College for Kids course catalog is available for Grades 1 - 11, and the classes are more exciting than ever! Seats are limited, so call or email today to reserve your seat!

For all NPS Workforce Development Opportunities and more, visit www.norwalkps.org/careertraining. Please be sure to bookmark the site and check back regularly for new and exciting opportunities!

Specialized Learning  

Cranbury School held its third annual ASD night on April 30, 2026.  Families from Cranbury, Fox Run, and Kendall were invited to hear a panel of adults with autism share their experiences.  Also there was an Expo in the gym with community providers (DDS, Star, Filling in the Blanks, 211, Ablis, etc.) that families could ask questions and hear about the services provided.  It was a great night and all families loved the pizza provided as well! 

The specialized learning department held the specialized learning subcommittee meeting on May 6, 2026.  We presented on the Extended School Year program held for students who qualify for the ESY services.  It will be held July 6, 2026-July 31, 2026 at various locations across the district.  It was an informative session where locations, dates, and services provided this summer were discussed.  

Early Childhood Education

The Early Childhood Team is scheduled to review the recently updated Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards (CT ELDS). The original standards were published in 2014. The landscape of early childhood education has evolved significantly over the last decade, and the new updates, developed by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC) utilizing expert reviews and hundreds of survey responses from educators and families, reflect the most current research in our field.

Enterprise Software

This month, the AI vendor-vetting agreement was updated, polished, and combined with the Data Privacy Agreement required for any new digital product. This will help ensure that new tools are reviewed consistently and meet district expectations for privacy, security, and responsible use.

Work is also continuing on moving Staff Portal content into the Google Workspace environment. As part of this transition, the content is being reviewed and cleaned up to make it more concise, organized, and useful for staff.

In addition, daily support continues to be provided to end users across the district, with a current focus on end-of-year testing login issues and platform access. This support remains a priority to help ensure staff and students can access the tools they need during this busy time of year.

Digital Learning

 Stef Barry collaborated with Steph Deeb (Marvin LMS) and Marvin 5th-grade teachers to redesign the country research project, incorporating a student-created Canva poster as the final product. Steph Deeb discussed digital citizenship responsibilities when researching.

Stef Barry partnered with Jodi Nathanson (Fox Run LMS) to introduce 5th-grade students to podcasting through a hands-on experience focused on purpose, audience, and script development. Students learned essential podcasting elements, including voice delivery, pacing, sound quality, recording techniques, and basic audio editing. The project will culminate in students creating their own podcasts, demonstrating their understanding of digital communication and responsible content creation.

Stef Barry introduced Kendall College and Career Academy 5th-grade students to Google Vids for their capstone project, where students will show how they can use their talents and passions to solve a real-world problem. Students learned how to organize ideas, add visuals, incorporate voiceovers, and use basic editing tools to communicate their message effectively.

To support the rollout of the Chromebook Plus devices, device-provider Vivacity partnered with Five Star Learning to deliver customized support and virtual training on Google Workspace for Education Plus features to NPS staff including the Digital Learning Coaches and teachers from West Rocks Middle School.

Rowayton students began their “Where I’m From” poetry project in a Digital Learning & SEL collaboration. Students created and shared their lived experiences through their own poetry, and continue to work on creating buttons to reflect their story using the Canva graphic publishing application.

Library Media Specialist Lauren Sweeney worked with Digital Learning Coaches to set up a new multi-color 3D printer to enhance the current programming and maker-space activities in the Naramake Library Media Center.

Fox Run’s Technovation girls tackled a pressing real-world challenge and set out to devise a solution aimed at assisting others. In light of the increasing prevalence of violence, these fifth graders developed an app designed to facilitate communication, reporting, and coping strategies during emergency situations. They achieved 2nd place in the Technovation competition at Brookside Elementary.  

Budget

The Finance Team has reconciled the 2026–27 budget within the financial system to align with the city-approved funding level of $257,372,632, representing a 4.12% increase over the 2025–26 amended budget. The city will appropriate the remaining $1,959,389 to the Board of Education, accounting for it within the Grant Fund. This makes the total increase 4.91% of the 2025–26 amended budget. The additional $1.96 million reflects incremental Education Cost Sharing funding the State of Connecticut awarded the city as part of the state’s increased education funding allocation for the 2026–27 fiscal year. These funds are being appropriated by the city to the Board of Education through Grant Fund to support district operations and offset education-related expenditures within the approved budget framework. The details for this funding have been finalized within the Munis budget projection.

A special Board of Education meeting is scheduled for May 14 to review and approve the proposed final budget for the 2026–27 school year.

Finance and Human Resources collaborated to post all currently funded and known vacancies for the upcoming school year, except for vacant special education paraeducator positions. The timing of those postings depends on finalizing special education caseloads and staffing allocations by location, which is expected by the end of June.

The Finance Team is also actively focused on year-end financial projections for both the General Fund and the School Lunch Fund. This work includes preparing final budget transfers, meeting with departments to review spending activity, and adjusting encumbrances as needed.

Finally, initial preparation has begun for submitting the district’s Maintenance of Effort filing.

Grants

Work has focused on balancing the 2026–27 budget while preparing for the transition into the new fiscal year. The new Grants budget was thoroughly reconciled; each line item was carefully reviewed, fully documented, and verified to ensure accuracy and compliance. This process included confirming that all expenses were properly justified and aligned with funding requirements and reporting standards, establishing a strong foundation for the upcoming year.

At the same time, efforts have shifted toward the early stages of closing out the current fiscal year within Grants. Communication has been a key priority, with regular emails and reminders sent to stakeholders to ensure awareness of deadlines and outstanding requirements. Preparation is also underway for final fund requests and drawdowns across multiple funding sources, including a comprehensive review of all supporting documentation to ensure completeness and accuracy. Maintaining open lines of communication has been essential to support timely responses, resolve outstanding items, and ensure a smooth and efficient year-end closeout.

Capital

Work in Capital has focused on reconciling the Marvin heating, ventilation, and air conditioning account, which involved addressing various questions related to funding sources and account coding. This process required ongoing collaboration with the team to review details, ensure accuracy, and align on appropriate allocations while continuing reconciliation efforts.

In addition, routine responsibilities continued, including paying bills, processing invoices, and providing general ledger summaries to project managers to support oversight of project budgets and expenditures.

Efforts have also focused on reconciling the Curriculum capital accounts in partnership with the curriculum team. Together, spending projections are being mapped out through the end of the fiscal year to support accurate planning and year-end forecasting.