Residents Discuss District Reorganization and Sharing at Final Forum

On Feb. 2, 21 Norwood-Norfolk community members came together to discuss district reorganization and four options that included, sharing services, merging through centralization, merging through annexation, and regionalization. Their feedback will be used by the Norwood-Norfolk Board of Education as it considers long range planning.

The community forum, held in the Elementary School cafeteria, began with a brief opening regarding the challenges of meeting higher expectations for students and graduating students who are college and career ready with less money, fewer teachers, and a growing financial burden.

Community members sat in small groups made up of a mixture of community members. The discussions were lead and recorded by several talented facilitators that included Norwood Norfolk students Stephanie Fisher, Ryan Thomas, Chris Prashaw, Christian Stratton, AJ Doran, and Ryan Carbone; Norwood-Norfolk teachers Pete McLean and Glen Clemens; and St. Lawrence University students Sam Baker and Garrett Warshay.

“Our students did a tremendous job tonight and at the previous two forums. I am very proud of their hard work and dedication to this process,” commented Superintendent Elizabeth Kirnie.

In addition to community members, the final of the three forums was attended by Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush with his Chief of Staff Brian Peck, and Dick Ashlaw, a representative from Sen. Joseph Griffo's office.