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Education
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Opening Day for Schools Called a ‘Great Kickoff’
By James Lomuscio
Westport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon called the day wonderful, and Police Chief Al Fiore called it uneventful, which taken together means that today’s opening for the Westport Public Schools went well.
School buses at Coleytown Elementary School today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Despite a few late buses due to engines that had difficulty starting, Landon called the start of the 2010-2011 academic year for the town’s 5,800 students a success.
“Every principal said it was a great, great kickoff day, and people were excited to be back,” said Landon.
This year’s student population saw an increase now reported at 90, with official numbers due by early October, according to school officials.
More "Opening Day for Schools Called a ‘Great Kickoff’"
Hard to Say Goodbye
In a scene repeated throughout Westport today, a kindergartner finds it difficult to say goodbye on the first day of school. Scene is North Avenue. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com
Faces on the School Bus
A little anxiety is reflected in the face of a school bus rider on North Avenue today as 5,800 Westport schoolchildren went back to school. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com
Joe’s on the Job
Joe Caruso, who is starting his 14th year as head custodian at Westport’s Coleytown Elementary School, makes sure it’s safe crossing for a student on the first day of school today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Hugging Henry
Molly O’Neill, 5, gives her puppy Henry, 9 weeks, a hug before setting out for her first day of school today at Coleytown Elementary School. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com
Big Day
Students arrive for the first day of school today at Westport’s Coleytown Elementary School. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Sniffen Road Returnees
Youngsters on Westport’s Sniffen Road posed for a back-to-school picture today as they waited for the school bus. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Julie Rosemarin for WestportNow.com
A Couple of Firsts at Coleytown El
Kindergartener Isabel Blend, the first student off the first bus that arrived at Westport’s Coleytown Elementary School today as Westport schools reopened, is greeted by Janna Bell on her first day as the school’s principal. Bell, a native of Newtown, was the school’s assistant principal for the past two years. Children arrived at Coleytown El on 11 buses and two vans. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Capturing a Memory
Westporter Amy Lang captures a milestone moment today on the first day of school. Posing (l-r) are sisters Cassie (third grade) and Elizabeth Lang (first grade), brothers Aidan (pre-school) and Jared (fourth grade) Parnes. The were waiting for the bus to Coleytown Elementary School. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Off to Bedford Middle School
A group of students from Westport’s Bedford Middle School waited for the school bus today on the first day of school. About 5,800 students are enrolled at Westport schools this year. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Monday, August 30, 2010
Recommendations for Special Ed Top School Board Agenda
By James Lomuscio
The strengths and weaknesses of Westport Public Schools’ special education programs took center stage tonight as the Board of Education heard recommendations for services improvements from a task force of parents and educators.
At times the report seemed awash in educational jargon and an alphabet soup of acronyms foreign to most, but its focus—to better serve special education students and their parents—remained clear.
The eight-member Special Education Task Force, responding to a 2009 survey by Diagnostics Plus, found that while improvements have been made since the last 2006 survey, six areas still required comprehensive action.
Cyndy Gilchrest, director of pupil services, presented the report along with several members of the task force including Lynn Sellon, Barbara Fischetti, Wendy Sobelman and Marina Derman.
More "Recommendations for Special Ed Top School Board Agenda"
Schools: More Students, New Teachers and $$$ Challenges
By James Lomuscio
The Westport Public Schools will see 60 more students, 27 new teachers and three new principals as they open their doors on Wednesday.
A school bus on the media of Post Road East at Long Lots Road reminds residents that Westport schools open on Wednesday. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
The schools will also be doing more with less, school board members say, as the $94.6 million town approved school budget is a 1.6 percent increase over last year, less than contractual obligations for salary increases.
On a positive financial note, Donald O’Day, chairman of the Board of Education, noted that the school system will garner a $500,000 savings by switching its health plan for teachers from Anthem Blue Cross to Cigna, a switch permitted via the contract hammered out between the school board and the Westport Education Association, the teachers’ union.
“The good news is that the school system continues to be very well run from a financial standpoint,” O’Day said. “The board and the administrators are doing everything they have to do to keep the schools running as best they can with the budget they have been allocated.”
More "Schools: More Students, New Teachers and $$$ Challenges"
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Having Fun at the Staples Class of 1970 Reunion
The Staples High School Class of 1970 celebrated its 40th reunion over the weekend with festivities that included a tour of the new Staples and a picnic at Compo Beach. The main event was held at the Norwalk Inn on Saturday evening (picture). Smoke, a classmate group that performed during high school days, was playing its last number and groups of friends were hugging and saying goodbye when, spontaneously, the entire group formed one huge hugging circle. The 1970 class was the largest class ever to graduate Staples with 782 graduates and it was the last year that Weston graduated its students from Staples. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Mary Palmieri Gai for WestportNow.com
Monday, August 16, 2010
School Board Guarded About Internal Audit Report
By James Lomuscio
The Westport school board and town government can work together to find savings and be more efficient, “but separation is paramount,” Donald O’Day, chairman of the Board of Education, said tonight.
Don O’Day: “separation is paramount.” Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
“We have to do it in a way that is beneficial to school children and the taxpayers and in accordance with state law,” O’Day said at the first board meeting after a six-week summer break.
That consensus was reiterated by board members and Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon throughout the evening as the board responded to a report entitled “Internal Audit Report: Procurement Town of Westport and Westport Public Schools” by the town’s internal auditor, Lynn Scully.
True, efficiencies can be learned and savings gleaned, they said, but there is a fine line between cooperation and surrendering autonomy in violation of state law. Connecticut statute requires local school boards operate independently of municipal governments, answering only to the State Department of Education.
More "School Board Guarded About Internal Audit Report"
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Staples Graduation Photos by Lynn U. Miller
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