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NORWALK, Conn. Norwalk.DailyVoice.com accepts signed, original letters to the editor. Letters may be e-mailed to letters@dailyvoice.com.
(This is a copy of a letter sent to members of Norwalk's delegation to the Connecticut Legislature.)
To the Editor,I grew up in Norwalk and went to Norwalk schools. When I decided to move back to Norwalk, everyone told me not to. My friends, my co-workers, my boss, etc. They kept saying that the schools were horrible and it was a bad idea. I work in Westport and all my clients would look down upon me when I said that was where I was thinking. One even called me a bad mother for not thinking of my 2-year-old's future at the time. That was in 2005.
Well, I decided to move to Norwalk as I strongly believe in diversity and I strongly believe that parent participation no matter where your child goes to school is key. As long as the schools have the resources and parents help all will be fine and I still believe that! Being an advocate for your child is part of a parent's job right? Dylan Nicole Ackerman is nine years old now and on her way to fourth-grade. I never second guessed my decision due to Wolfpit Elementary being an amazing school with amazing staff and antiquate recourses. I have been extremely involved in the PTO again I never second guessed my decision.....UNTIL NOW!
I feel like a fool. I have gotten so many "I told you sos" I can't even count. It is embarrassing and I can't even defend Norwalk. I don't even know how. I can only put my head down in shame. I know two families that were looking at my center in the last month who were moving from out of state. They were looking into Norwalk for their new home and decided NOT to move here due to the public schools. This isn't hearsay or rumor, this is fact. I couldn't even tell them how great it was and try and change their minds. I was actually jealous they were able to pick a better town. (One chose Fairfield and the other I don't know where they ended up, to be honest).
I have been to the rallies and I have been to the meetings. I have sat back and put my child's fate in your hands in hope that you would see the real impact this would have in Norwalk, but last night again you have made it loud and clear that children are not this town's priority.
I don't want to be that angry parent that tells you how they "really" feel. I can't be that smart parent that gives you ideas on what to do or brings up lists and statistics. I can only be a parent that as I write this I am crying literally because I feel back in 2005 I made the worst mistake in my life. I made my home Norwalk, Conn., and now I am stuck here where my child will be without. Without a functional library in her school, without a full time assistant principal and in a class with 28 children. I can't afford to send her to All Saints or I would, without thinking. I can't move because the economy made my house upside down and as I told you no one would buy my house anyway since people want to steer clear of Norwalk.
As you know school systems are the heart of a city or town and families need them and want them and without them they go elsewhere. PLEASE don't make all those people right, that Norwalk is a town which doesn't care about kids. I am begging you to find another way. That is why you are elected, to be advocates for Norwalk, right? I can't make those decisions only you can, right? That is your job right? Please do it with the children in mind. I know you get tons of emails and I know you know all that is at risk, but think harder. Do you really understand what will happen to Norwalk in a whole? Not only will this affect the children, which is the most important. It will affect everyone. No one will move here and everyone's homes will continue to drop in value.
Again, I beg you, make the right decision in your heart. You can't all be that coldhearted. I refuse to believe that. I refuse to believe that if your children or grandchildren were about to go into a school that had so much lacking you wouldn't make a different decision. Make my daughter Dylan that honorary child or grandchild and think differently... please. In the end you do know that you won't be remembered for all the good you did for Norwalk, you will only be remembered for not helping the children when they needed help the most...
Donna Ackerman, Norwalk native
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