Westport’s Board of Education hunkered down for more than five hours today in the Westport Library’s McManus Room, poring over Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon’s proposed $113.4 million 2016-17 school operating budget, a 2.03 percent increase over the current year.
Members of the Board of Education and staff members at budget meeting today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Today’s emphasis was on school employee salaries, an area that Landon has proposed cuts in noncontractual positions, including the elimination of third grade paraprofessionals, middle school team leaders, elementary school bus monitors, and a staff assistant at the high school.
A number of parental concerns over the cuts came up at the workshop, which was open to the public, according to Michael Gordon, school board chairman, and Jeannie Smith, vice chairwoman.
“In an attempt to meet the Board of Finance’s request of a 1.5 percent increase, the superintendent came up with a lean budget, but it included many cuts that will directly impact students, so the board will have to look at that,” Gordon said.
It was the first of several school board budget workshops. As it came to a close Gordon said he hopes to have the line-by-line board review finished by Jan. 19, with a school board approved, finalized budget by as early as Feb. 1, if not Feb. 8.
—James Lomuscio
