Board of Ed Votes to Reverse School Start Time Decision

The Westport Board of Education voted tonight in effect to reverse its controversial decision last year to change the school start times of Coleytown Elementary School and Coleytown Middle School to a half hour earlier to save money. By a 4-3 vote, board members added $249,000 to their proposed budget to cover the additional cost. They defeated a proposal to adjust all school start times by 15 minutes which would not have required additional funding. Audience members lined up to address the board before their votes. Later, by a 6-1 vote (with Mark Owades opposed), the board approved an operating budget of $75,123,677, a 7.25 percent increase over the 2003-4 operating budget. (CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE). WestportNow.com photo