Taking the Helm in Tough Times

There could hardly have been more challenging times for Jack Chiaramonte to step into the role as chairperson of the Board of Education. But even as the schools grapple with the prospect of significant cuts, the city businessman said he hopes that there will be opportunities to move the schools forward that don't cost cash.

For one thing, Chiaramonte, a 48-year-old father of two l students, said he hopes to focus on building a collegial atmosphere and consensus within the board and the community.

In fact, he suggested what the could use is a broader overall outlook. "We gotta get out of this my school vs. your school," he said. Naturally, he said, there are devoted constituencies for individual schools but there may be other ways to approach local educational issues, he explained. He said he is looking forward to extensive give-and-take with members of the Parent Teacher Organization groups.

"I think it starts with communication," he added. He credited new Supt. Susan Marks for seeking to run a transparent administration that he said should help toward reducing some of the suspicions of the past.

And not just because of the economic challenges, Chiaramonte said he wants to put a renewed emphasis on volunteerism. As an NHS band parent, he said he is extremely well acquainted with the impact the adults have in helping the organization reach its goals, something he said is surely just as familiar to his counterparts at "It's amazing what you can do when you have that level of parent involvement," he said.

Chiaramonte added that he wants to see more emphasis on recruiting adults for the Norwalk Mentor Program, which he said has rebounded after undergoing some tough times. "It doesn't take much to do for a child," he said, emphasizing what such regular weekly interaction can mean. One of his fellow board members, he said, is mentoring several children, an idea he hopes to encourage among adults in the community who may have the time.

Coming from a political background spawned by frustration with the South Norwalk parking situation some five years ago, he said people feared he would be a "flamethrower." But after three years on the school board, he said he's confident that people know he's not there with the goal of tearing things apart, and that he was glad to accept the chair's role. "It's part of doing my civic duty and I really enjoy being on the board," he said.

Chiaramonte knows he will be seeking to bring his fellow board members around to his point of view but knows that he may not always succeed. In the end, he said, everyone has to remember that those on the board are volunteers who really want to deliver one thing within their capabilities. "All we want is having the best schools we can," he said.