City of Norwalk issued the following announcement on March 22.
(Norwalk, Conn.) – Today, March 22nd, Mayor Harry Rilling announced the completion of the comprehensive Efficiency Study of the City and Norwalk Public Schools that he and the Common Council initiated in February of 2020. Mayor Rilling released the study today, ahead of this evening’s Common Council meeting, where they will be joined by the Board of Education and the Superintendent to review the report.
“In Norwalk, we have high standards, and are consistently striving to be the best City in Connecticut and our nation. Therefore, we need to ensure we are making smart investments into the future, which requires the application of best practices and identifying areas of opportunity and improvement. To make this vision possible, in 2020, I, along with the Common Council proposed that the City and Norwalk Public Schools undergo a comprehensive efficiency study to help maximize organizational effectiveness and cost efficiencies. I believe it’s important to bring in a fresh pair of eyes to assess how we can continue improving, while also ensuring taxpayers get the best bang for their buck,” said Mayor Rilling.
While the idea for the efficiency study was first proposed in February 2020, the execution of the report was delayed due to the onset of the pandemic in March of 2020.
“The completion of the efficiency study gives us an opportunity to examine ways we can work more effectively with the City and within our own organization,” said Dr. Estrella, Superintendent of Norwalk Public Schools. “We are pleased to see that many of the study’s findings align with what we identified last year during the development of our comprehensive five-year strategic plan, and we look forward to reviewing the full recommendations in depth.”
In June of 2021, the City and Norwalk Public Schools agreed to conduct a study to gather recommendations aimed at improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of both entities. Through a joint contract with Evergreen Solutions, LLC, a company that has a track record of partnering with public sector customers to effect positive change, the City has been given several recommendations intended to focus on improvements within the organizational and financial efficacy of the City and school operations. The Evergreen Team conducted a formal review of the City’s operations between November 2021 and January 2022.
“While I am incredibly proud of the progress Norwalk has made in the past decade, I am constantly thinking about how we can do better. This study has given us a golden opportunity with tangible steps that will enhance our City and schools and help Norwalk remain one of the best places to live in Connecticut. I look forward to evaluating the results of this study with the Common Council, Board of Education and Superintendent. I’m confident that we will be able to implement some recommendations immediately, while others will likely take time, and some we may decide aren’t necessary. I thank everyone who participated in this comprehensive study for their patience and continued commitment to ensuring Norwalk is best prepared to enhance its overall effectiveness in the short and long-term,” said Mayor Rilling.
You can find the full report, here.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up