A Message from the Norwalk Board of Education - June 11, 2025

The Norwalk Board of Education continues to work with the Superintendent of Norwalk Public Schools to bring forth an FY2025-26 Budget Operating Reconciliation at the next Board meeting. 

After discussion in caucus with Chairperson Diana Carpio and her fellow Board members, the Board of Education recognizes that:

The music programs and the tremendous teaching professionals who have made them successful at Norwalk Public Schools (NPS) are vital and essential to the overall identity and long-term sustainability of NPS. We collectively agree that previously eliminated positions of elementary band and strings should be reinstated.

Any reductions in student-facing positions at NPS should be kept to a minimum (in accordance with mutually agreed processes with our union partners at NFT, NASA, and NFEP), and that other budget savings should be identified by closely examining non-student-facing positions, including easing the burden of the SQR process.

We collectively agree that any and all NPS Policies regarding internal service funding and taxpayer oversight of BOE expenses must adhere to reasonable public oversight standards. Public accountability is a necessary and crucial component of all public service roles.

Any contract negotiation with the NPS Superintendent will take place after the FY2025-26 budget reconciliation.

Such affirmations are made contingent upon and with gratitude for the proposed fiscal reconciliations to the FY2025-26 Operating Budget proposed by the City of Norwalk and the State of Connecticut (totaling $6 million). All of the above are pursuant to compliance with Connecticut State Statutes.