Board of Ed Adopts 2009-10 Budget With 2.06% Increase

The Westport Board of Education adopted a $95,968,657 budget Monday night, representing a 2.06 percent increase over the budget for the current year.

The budget includes $1,226,457 in program modifications proposed by the superintendent and adopted by the board before a standing room only crowd in the Staples High School cafeteria.

The reductions include a modification to the department chair model at the high school, the subject coordinator positions at the middle schools, and a modification to the speech and language program for a net savings of 3.5 administrative positions and $347,000.

Further savings were realized through the reduction of paraprofessionals in all fourth grade classrooms and the reduction of one-half of a paraprofessional at each of the school system’s elementary school libraries.

Savings were also achieved through a reduction of a paraprofessional in the gifted program at the middle schools, and a modification to the individual music lessons program at the high school resulting from the elimination of one teaching position.

The board also voted to streamline bus operations by combining existing runs for a savings of $211,000.

In what was perhaps the most heavily debated item at the meeting, the board decided to move the starting and ending times later by 15 minutes at all schools beginning in the fall.

Within that framework, the starting and ending time of Coleytown Middle School will correspond to the starting and ending times at Staples High School and the starting and ending times at Coleytown Elementary will correspond with the starting and ending times at Bedford and Saugatuck.

In response to concerns from parents about the effects of starting Coleytown Middle and Coleytown Elementary one-half hour earlier than the current times, the board decided to schedule Staples and Coleytown Middle School from 7:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Bedford, Saugatuck and Coleytown Elementary Schools from 8:15 a.m.-3 p.m. and Long Lots, Kings Highway and Greens Farms Elementary Schools from 8:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

“The current economic realities called for carefully considering structural changes to lower our cost base while keeping us in the best position to maintain Westport’s excellent school system,” said Board Chair Don O’Day.

“Dr. Landon and his team responded well to the challenges made by the board to lower costs. While the changes will be felt throughout the district, the administration, the Board of Education and the PTA will work carefully to monitor their implementation and measure their success.”

The budget will be presented to the Board of Finance for further review on March 4.