Getting Ready

Members of the Staples High School track team line up in advance of a one-mile run at today's first Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference (FCIAC) qualifier of the indoor season. Coach Peter Van Hagen gives them pointers. Three more qualifier meets will be held in January. Andrew Yemma for WestportNow.com

For a Good Cause

Parents of Staples High School track team members await customers at their concession stand during today's first FCIAC qualifier of the indoor season. Proceeds from the sales support the track team. Andrew Yemma for WestportNow.com

Youth Commission Discusses Underage Drinking

Members of the Westport Youth Commission tonight discussed their backing of an ordinance aimed at curbing underage drinking. The group heard from members of the Representative Town Meeting on how ordinances are considered and passed by the legislative body. WestportNow.com photo

Staples Identified as Not Meeting No Child Left Behind Law

As expected, Westport’s Staples High School was among Connecticut high schools identified today as not meeting standards set under the federal No Child Left Behind education law.

Staples was cited because not enough students participated in the 2003 Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT), according to the AP.

Under the federal law, 95 percent of students are required to participate.

On Dec. 3, the state cited Westport as among Connecticut school districts that failed to make "adequate yearly progress," a requirement of the law.

While the state at that time did not specifically cite Staples, Schools Supt. Elliott Landon confirmed that not enough students taking tests at the high school had contributed to the Westport deficiency listing.

He said only 44 of 48 Staples special education students participated in the CAPT mathematics test and 43 of 48 participated in the CAPT reading test.

However, he noted that for the special education students who did participate, 92 percent scored at or above the proficiency level in mathematics, and 100 percent achieved proficiency in reading.

In August, Bedford Middle School was listed on the state list of schools in need of improvement because one student did not take a test, according to Landon.

CAPT evaluates sophomore students in four subject areas: reading, writing, math and science. Student scores are the basis for determining which high schools are making "adequate yearly progress" in meeting the standards of the federal education reform law.

Full results are available at www.captreports.com.

Dialoguing for Dollars

Board of Ed Tackles Controversial School Start-Time Issue

In a discussion that lasted more than two hours, Westport’s Board of Education Monday night told the co-chairs of a committee studying the controversial school start-time issue to come up with a recommendation in time for the next school year.

Several board members suggested the panel consider a compromise 15-minute change – something that also had been raised earlier this year but rejected.

Two schools – Coleytown Middle School and Coleytown Elementary School – started classes a half-hour earlier beginning in September to save money on transportation costs.

The move sparked an outcry from parents who said the decision meant their children would get less sleep and also suffer academically.

The issue was hotly debated during the November election for three board seats.

The seven board members, without taking a formal vote, appeared to reject an extended timetable request by the committee.

It suggested that it be permitted to continue its work for an additional six to nine months to further study the issue and make a recommendation for the 2005-2006 school year.

Instead, the board told the co-chairs of the committee – Dan Sullivan, principal of Green’s Farms Elementary School, and Angela Wormser, principal of Bedford Middle School – to come up with at least an interim solution to be implemented next September.

“I think a change has to be made for next year,” said member Mary Parmelee, a Democrat who won re-election to her second term last month. She had made the earlier suggestion for the 15-minute compromise.

Added Lewis Brey, a Republican freshman also elected in November: “I’d be disappointed to have to wait to make a change.” He reminded the board and the co-chairs that the new times had only been initiated in September.

“I’m not talking about a long-standing practice,” he said.

Nancy Harris, assistant superintendent for business, told the board that a 15-minute change in start times would be “budget neutral,” meaning it would not have a significant cost implication.

Brey as well as fellow Republican Linda Merk-Gould, board vice chair, said they’d favor adding parents or other community members to the start-time committee, which is made up only of school staff members.

Rob Sobleman, head of the Staples High School student legislative body, urged the board to add one or more student members as well and pointedly asked Schools Supt. Elliott Landon why no community members were on the panel.

Landon replied that it was his decision to make it a staff committee only that would make a recommendation to the Board of Education for action.

“If it’s a community decision, why are we asking the staff to make the decision?” Sobleman responded, to a scattering of applause from audience members.

Board of Ed Approves Calendar, Rejects Additional Meetings

The Board of Education Monday night approved a school calendar for next year that is little changed from this year.

But it rejected a recommendation from the schools superintendent that it regularly schedule additional board meetings and start them earlier.

The calendar was approved by a 7-0 vote.

Before the vote, board member Mary Parmelee, a Democrat, questioned Schools Supt. Elliott Landon as to the makeup of the staff committee that drafted the calendar. Parents had been on past calendar committees.

“We went through the process without parents,” Landon said, adding that the Board of Education would have “the final say.”

Parmelee said she hoped parents would be added back to the committee next year.

The calendar calls for students to report for classes Sept. 1, 2004, the Wednesday before the Monday Labor Day holiday.

A number of parents this year as well as in the past had asked that school not start before Labor Day to better accommodate summer vacation plans.

As to having additional board meetings – Landon had recommended three a month instead of the present two and that they start at 7:30 p.m. instead of 8 p.m. to accommodate more board business and public input – no formal vote was taken.

But the idea seemed to win little favor among board members.

Democrat Mark Mathias, a freshman, said that if the board created more “shelf space,” they’d only manage to fill it. Instead he suggested their meetings could be run “a little tighter” to get more work done.

Mathias also said he did not endorse another Landon suggestion that public comment be limited to only one meeting a month. “I’m not for meeting without public input,” he said.

Also not winning much support was a suggestion by Parmelee that board meetings also be scheduled for the occasional Friday mornings so more members of the public could attend.

Rob Sobleman, head of the Staples High School student legislative body, asked that regular board meetings be scheduled to coincide with the Tuesday night meetings of his group.

Several members said special meetings could be held, but there appeared to be little support for scheduling regular board meetings with the student parliamentarians.

New French Country Retailer Comes to Westport

Home furnishing company Pierre Deux held an opening reception tonight at its new Westport location at 275 Post Road East. It is the 14th U.S. store for the Secaucus, N.J. -based company which introduced the French Country look to the U.S. market 35 years ago. WestportNow.com photo

Schools Superintendent Proposes More, Earlier Board Meetings

In an effort to accommodate more Board business and public input, Schools Supt. Elliott Landon is proposing the Board of Education meet three times a month instead of two and start a half hour earlier -- at 7:30 p.m.

In a memo to Board members in advance of Monday night’s meeting, Landon proposed that the Board have one monthly meeting devoted solely to public input and not take public comment at the other two meetings.

“Depending on the press of business, the Board could schedule one of the meetings for extended public comments or, if the meeting is deemed not necessary, the meeting could be canceled,” he said.

Landon added, “If the Board approves this approach, members might wish to consider eliminating public comment on non-agenda items for two meetings per month and opening the floor for general public comment at the third meeting.”

In response to concerns from Board members and the public about starting important topics late in the evening, Landon proposed moving up the meeting start time a half hour from 8 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

He said this would mean starting executive sessions at 6 p.m., and following the practice of the Board of Finance, bringing in dinner for members.

Westport Schools Propose Traditional Calendar for 2004-2005

The proposed Westport school calendar for 2004-2005 looks pretty much like the ones in the past.

In a submission for Board of Education action at its Monday night meeting, Schools Supt. Elliott Landon said the proposal is for a “traditional calendar, preserving the three extended vacations in the customary places with eight weeks between each vacation period.”

Landon said Westport schools will continue to be in session on Veterans Day but added that all principals “will pay particular attention to having a significant observance of the meaning of the day.”

There had been some criticism by Westport veterans after this year’s observance that school children should not have school on Nov. 11 so they could attend the town’s annual Veterans Day ceremony at Town Hall.

The calendar proposal calls for school to start on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2004, and end on Thursday, June 23, 2005. Students will be off for Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 6.

The Christmas break will be from Friday, Dec. 24, 2004, to Monday, Jan. 3, 2005.

There will be a vacation break from Monday, Feb. 21, 2005, to Friday. Feb. 25, with a staff development day on Monday, Feb. 28, meaning students won't return to classes until Tuesday, March 1.

The final vacation will be Monday, April 18, to Friday, April 22.

Landon told the board in a memo that since the calendar is a traditional one, he hoped the board would approve it Monday night “as we have already begun to get phone calls from parents trying to plan ahead for their children’s summer activities and their family vacations.”

The Holly, the Ivy and the Matzo Ball

By Fran
WestportNow Consumer Correspondent
fran@westportnow.com

Baby it's cold outside and here we go again with the snow. Nothing hits the spot on snowy days and cold nights like a bowl of hot matzo ball soup. Seems oddly appropriate to the season too, don't you think?

Here's what you'll find around town.

Bowl / Quart
Calise's 2.40 2.95
Gold’s 2.50 5.95
Sherwood Diner 2.75 5.95
Oscar's 4.50 7.49
Chef’s Table 5.00 9.50
Katzenberg’s Kafé 4.50 13.00

As always, please let me know if I’ve missed any.

Saying Thank You

Santa's Helpers at Candlelight

Annual Staples Candlelight Concert Delights Hundreds