In a discussion that lasted more than two hours, Westports 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 Җ 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.
Dan Sullivan, principal of Green’s Farms Elementary School, and Angela Wormser, principal of Bedford Middle Shool, hear thoughts from Board of Education members Monday night on the controversial school start-time issue. WestportNow.com photo
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 Green֒s 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: ԓId be disappointed to have to wait to make a change.Ҕ He reminded the board and the co-chairs that the new times had only been initiated in September.
IӒm 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 ԓbudget neutral, meaning it would not have a significant cost implication.
Brey as well as fellow Republican Linda Merk-Gould, board vice chair, said theyԒd 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 itӒs a community decision, why are we asking the staff to make the decision? Sobleman responded, to a scattering of applause from audience members.
