Weeks and weeks of trying to find money to save teaching jobs, and then the city decides not to use the found money on jobs, but rather to pay down the debt caused by chronic underfunding? If the plan was going to be to use any funding to pay down the debt, then why go through the circus of public hearings about which positions to save? View Comment

I have seen that some people feel that Penn State University should have put up more of a fight against the NCAA, in an effort to have the penalties reduced. The Paterno family released a statement that said that the University failed to live up to its responsibilities in protecting the school from NCAA sanctions. What those people and the Paterno family have failed to grasp, is that the University finds itself in an untenable position. If they fought the sanctions, in any way, they would have looked as if they thought that they didn't deserve punishment. The acceptance of the penalties will allow the school to begin to move forward. Nothing will remove the stain on the reputation that Penn State had worked so hard to build and protect. But from this point on, they have the opportunity to create a new tradition. And they will have to do it with the entire nation watching. View Comment

I believe that the people who are leveling personal attacks against Dr. Marks are out of line and just plain mean spirited. Dr. Marks came into a city that she believed valued the education of its children, above all else. What she found out was that this is not the case. In her two years, she was never given the amount of funding that she requested in order to do the job she had envisioned doing. I can only assume that in the process of choosing her as a superintendent, that those who made the decision, approved of her vision for the future of Norwalk Public Schools. And from the outset that vision was compromised by our city's decision not to fully fund it. She came into a situation where the union contracts had been negotiated and approved before she arrived, yet she was blamed for not getting concessions out of the unions. When faced with the information that there was a shortfall in the accounts due to practices that had been in place long before she arrived, people called for her head. That would be like arresting the person who calls the police to report a crime. When it came time to make tough cuts, the children, parents, teachers, and community came out to voice their worthy opinions. And if she didn't save your program, she was "being unfair." I do not claim that Dr. Marks has done a good job. She may not have been the best person for the position in the first place. But she deserved a chance to implement her vision and that never happened. As we go forward we are going to be in a difficult position as a city. Qualified candidates from around the country will look at our city and question whether we really value education. They will wonder if they will be given an opportunity to work toward their vision or if they are going to be hired and then told that there are no funds to make their vision a reality. View Comment

Tom, I have to strongly disagree with your opinion on this matter. I can't argue that Paul Pasqualoni was the right choice, only time will tell on that issue. But on the issue of Robert Burton wanting his donations back because he wasn't consulted on the coaching choice, I can't defend your side. Wealthy benefactors donate money to schools to make themselves feel important and for the prestige of having their names placed on buildings but that doesn't make them the decision makers. Too bad for Mr. Burton if he believed that his donation bought him a vote on school matters. View Comment

I find myself agreeing with delf, the school calendar needs to be reworked for future years. Maybe it is time to do away with the Feb and April breaks and replace them with one week in March. As far as making up days this year, taking away the Feb or April breaks would pose a problem for those who have already made plans (my family falls into this group). Perhaps if an exception was made to the attendace policy, then those who have confirmed travel plans could go without being penalized, but with the requirement that work be made up. View Comment

It's very hard to say that DPW did a great job, but those trucks ran non-stop to clear the snow. However, people who believe we should pay private contractors to help the city will probably not want to pay the bill at the end of the winter season. The city is already dealing with budget shortfalls without opening the door to even greater expenditures. Making up the lost school days in June is not a big deal. View Comment

While the repeal makes sense from the standpoint of ending government enforcement of sabbath restrictions, I don't believe it would lead to increased sales or tax revenues. The residents of the state who wish to purchase alcohol are conditioned to get their purchases done Mon-Sat. The only advantage would be the elimination of border jumping to purchase in neighboring states. View Comment