Board approves personnel actions including retire-rehire moves, new support specialist and hires

Norwalk City School District trustees approved multiple personnel items Monday, including resignations, retire-rehire arrangements, new hires, stipends and supplemental contracts.

The board accepted two resignations (including Vicky Hemingway) and approved a correction to a previously submitted resignation date. The board approved retire-rehire arrangements for two teachers who will retire and be rehired at lower step placements, a move the superintendent said would save the district about $30,000 per position compared with top-salary placements.

The board approved the employment of Marissa Hitt Delasanti, an alumna returning to teach in the district, several classified substitutes and support hires to help with end-of-year moves. Trustees also approved a new pupil-services support specialist position intended to handle IEP meetings and 504 coordination; the role will be filled by an internal candidate from the intervention specialist group and the board discussed additional training to support compliance.

Several stipends and summer training contracts were approved, including tutoring and math-implementation stipends paid from Title II funds and gifted training stipends. The board also approved a large list of supplemental athletic and extracurricular contracts and volunteers across Norwalk High and Middle schools; the superintendent and athletic director said continuity in coaching staff was a positive sign for program stability.

Votes on personnel items were recorded by roll call. The board discussed the pupil-services support specialist’s need for training and confirmed that only internal candidates with special-education experience were considered for the role to ensure familiarity with IEPs and 504 plans.