A Statement from the Norwalk Board of Education - June 12, 2025

The following statement is from the Norwalk Board of Education:

The Norwalk Board of Education wishes to speak to the ongoing public debate about the offer of additional funding made by Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff.

To be clear, the Board is not rejecting the offer for additional funding. The Board of Education is graciously accepting the additional funding for the coming school year. The cuts necessitated by the appropriation the City made to the Board of Education for FY 2025-26 would be devastating and additional funding to avoid some of those cuts is urgently needed.  

Upon further legal review, it was noted the language in the Superintendent’s contract provides that the Board must vote prior to July 1 whether to extend the Superintendent’s contract. The Superintendent reports exclusively to the Board of Education, and the Board is required by law to honor its contract with the Superintendent. The Board of Education still stands by the original statement we agreed to in caucus on June 10.

Given our shared interest in adequate funding for the Norwalk Public Schools, the Board welcomes continued discussion with Mayor Rilling and Senator Duff about all available funding. The Board will be considering these matters at an upcoming Board of Education meeting, following which the Board will discuss further with Mayor Rilling and Senator Duff how these needed funds can be provided for the coming year.