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Schools

Board Still Mulls What Marks to Give Superintendent Marks

Norwalk Board of Education members met again behind closed doors Tuesday to confer on evaluating the superintendent of schools, but they haven't come to any conclusions yet.

Superintendent of Schools Susan F. Marks will soon get official word on just what the school board thought of her first year at the helm of the local public school system.

The Board of Education evaluated her behind close doors Tuesday, deciding to send her a written assessment of how she performed. Chairman Jack Chiaramonte said it would outline what she did well, and "what she could do better."

Chiaramonte declined to give specifics, but said it would be made public at some point, possibly in time for the board's Aug. 2 meeting.

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Some members of the Board of Education have been critical of Marks handling of budget cutting and matters related to the budget. Mayor Richard A. Moccia some unnamed members of the board didn't seem to properly understand their role in managing the school districts affairs, and they didn't seem to understand the pressures Marks was under with the budget cuts.

Amid this year's budget turmoil, Marks had said she would not seek a raise for the year that began July 1. She was hired at a $200,000 annual salary and $30,000 annuity last year, and unlike those of some superintendents, her contract does not promise a raise within a specific range. Typically, however, school boards reward satisfactory evaluations with contract extensions.

Find out what's happening in Norwalkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Tuesday's meeting was the third time board members had conferred on Marks' evaluation. They adjourned after roughly an hour's discussion.

With  $154.8 million for this new year, the local schools budget grew in raw numbers by $4.5 million, but rising expenses resulted in cuts of $4 million from what Marks said would be necessary to maintain last year's level of programs.

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