Statement of "No Confidence" in Avon Public School Leadership

Task Force to Study the Provision of Behavioral Health Services for Young Adults recommends in its final report, released in April, 2014: "Expand the current pool of in-school social workers so that all school districts have social worker capacity and the optimal ratio of one social worker for every 250 regular education students is achieved, compared with the current ratio of one social worker to 530 students." WHY WOULD OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT DO EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE?!

Looking to continue the dialogue and gain more of an understanding for the declining rankings. Like so many others, I moved here for the school system and this is disappointing to say the least.

We too moved to Avon for the schools. Taxes high but at the time the schools were good. Like most home buyers we looked at the scores and didn't drill down to see how they are calculated. When you drill down it is the college readiness AP exaim score that dropped. The net effect is we rank much lower than the surrounding towns. If I was looking to buy a home I'd be heading straight to Simsbury now. The Connectiuct school ranking issued by USNews a few months ago ranked - NATIONAL ranking - Avon #732, Sim-#300, Farm-#387, Canton#677. 193 STATE public school ranking - Simsbury as #6, Farmington High as #10, Canton #19 and Avon #22. They ranked the following - Student to teacher ratio (AHS score 14:1) , College readiness 45.5% (% of kids that passed the AP exam that took it), Math 4.4 (99% proficient, Reading 4.1 (98%proficient). All of those scores are in-line with the top 10 schools. Where we lost it big time is in the College ready score. Top 10 schools - 95.3-58% passed. Avon needs to up their game for the AP kids. On a nationally ranking - Avon #732, Sim-#300, Farm-#387, Canton#677

Our three children went through Avon public schools! We moved to this town for the schools! No other reason!! Shame on the superintendent!

Our three children went through Avon public schools! We moved to this town for the schools! No other reason!! Shame on the superintendent!

In the article I just read Kelly Grant is quoted as saying that in order to meet the needs for SRBI interventions "someone needs to perform interventions with students and their families and sit in classrooms to observe". This is what School Social Workers do everyday. I would ask what are the specific tasks she would like to see a interventionist do and then ask if it is not a task that a social worker can perform.

I have two grandsons that will entering the avon schools in the near future and I am very worried..

We will do better!

This decision should have been up for vote.

11 years ago Featured

As an alumnus of Avon High, it is sad and disappointing to see the consistent slide in the rankings. This once proud school district is going down a steep hill.

I have 30+ years experience of clinical experience. Social Workers are trained to provide counseling, individually and in groups, but MORE importantly they consider additional dynamics, such as family issues and economic ones. Psychologist are not trained in this area; their training is in testing. . If the family has issues or the child can't eat, it is almost impossible for the child to become healthy. In addition, economically Social Workers are paid less than Psychologist. As a taxpayer this is another reason that this decision does not make sense!

Sad commentary on the state of education in avon.

Thankfully my children and family are not employed or being educated in the Avon school system. Several friends have been happily employed by the Avon school system up until the past four years. Each of them have spoken of being bullied and working in a very dishonest hostile environment. A few have been forced to leave with the excuse of "restructuring" . In fact the "restructuring" involved two people hired to do the job one person had done alone and efficiently. Avon tax dollars are being wasted and spent on things only Gary Mala wants. If one offers an opinion or suggestion to save tax dollars they are then ostracized and black listed. The pre school program at Fisher failed miserably after tens of thousands of tax payers money went into the building. Now the building is empty and more taxpayers money needed to get out of the contract. I strongly believe that the employees and people working under this superintendent should have their experiences known without fear of repercussions. Let's not suffer any more loss at the hands of a bully. Devoted employees have been eliminated and the morale is at its lowest. The children, families and future is in jeopardy. Avon should think about bringing back the good people that have been lost and replacing the people responsible for this disaster.

Since the School Board clearly were informed by learned people about the social workers' importance, I have to conclude the decision is related to personality disputes rather than what is best for the students.

We need to improve our schools for our future generations. Social workers are definitely needed!

I was disappointed with the decision to eliminate social workers as well as the lack of community involvement when this seismic shift occurred. The Board and Administrators were severely lacking in their responses to concerned citizens. In the age holding teachers accountable for data based decision making, no data was presented to support the efficacy of this action.

There needs to be a professional person to hear what some of these kids are saying. A "relief valve" for some of the pressures they need help with.

Shocking to see such a low ranking for our schools when Avon has been picked one of the best by out of state looking to buy.

The board of EDUCATION should be run by EDUCATED people. A real estate agent? Seriously?! Who votes for these people? The schools in Avon are so bad that I have to send my children to a local private school because Roaring Brook can't handle smart kids. My 11 year old scored 710 on the math section of the SAT and over 500 in the other sections. My 8 year old daughter reads at a 6th grade level, and is doing 5th grade math. But they can't attend the public school because they can't teach them anything. The CT school system ranks in the bottom half of the nation, and the nation ranks in the bottom half of the industrial world. This issue is just the tip of the iceberg.

Avon taxpayers need to wake up. This school board and superintendent have diminished our school system. The students of this district and the property owners will be paying the price.