By Jarret Liotta
Despite pleas from the public, the Board of Education (BOE) Monday night approved a statement guaranteeing Coleytown Middle School (CMS) will reopen as a 6-8 school.
Carolyn Caney, PTA Council co-president, draws laughs from the crowd expressing her confusion at the convoluted procedural process the Board of Education undertook before its vote. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com
But there was a caveat that the board intends to use redistricting and/or realignment to balance its class sizes in relation to Bedford Middle School (BMS).
Stating that, as the imbalance needed to be addressed before CMS reopened in fall of 2020, members Karen Kleine and Candice Savin argued for inclusion of some reference in a long-awaited official statement that the BOE intends to return the building to the same 6-8 configuration.
“I think it’s important to say how we’re seeking that, in going back to 6-8,” Savin said of creating balance between CMS, which has enjoyed markedly smaller class sizes in recent years, and BMS.
Frustration was felt by members of the public, including several town officials, as the BOE slogged through a convoluted procedural process that included two amendments to the original motion that strictly spoke to making CMS 6-8.
‘I have absolutely no idea what’s going on,” Carolyn Caney, PTA Council co-president said, drawing laughs from the crowd.
“This has been so frustrating,” said parent Allison Keisman. “Can you please keep it simple?”
She told the BOE it was trying to force a solution that was not fair to a number of families that had already been traumatized by the original closing of CMS last September due to air quality and mold issues.
“I don’t think it’s really right or fair at this point with the amount of trauma that’s been created,” she said.
But BOE members were firm they felt it should be part of their mission statement, especially Savin.
Nancie Dupier, a Board of Finance member, urges the BOE to not include the concept of redistricting in its statement, but to keep it solely focused on making CMS a 6-8 school. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com
“To me that’s clarity,” she said.
Several town officials, including Board of Finance member Nancie Dupier, suggested the BOE stay focused solely on the statement as it regards the use of CMS at this time.
“I feel that with the adjustments that were just made, we’re back to some confusion again,” she said.
“Let’s make an honest statement straight out,” said James Izzo, Representative Town Meeting member from District 3.
“The Coleytown real estate has gone downhill,” he said, urging them to omit references to new issues on the horizon.
“These people in my district need to feel a sense of home,” he said.
“Have that be a separate conversation,” said parent Liz Heyer.
“I think that would give people some call for concern,” she said, otherwise.
BOE members heard yet another presentation from consultant Milone & MacBroom on redistricting scenarios, with a focus on a plan that would move the Stepping Stones Preschool out of Coleytown Elementary School (CES) and into Long Lots Elementary School.
This, in turn, would free up space at CES to expand its enrollment in K-5.
Asked about the viability of the move, Tina Mannarino, assistant superintendent for pupil personnel services, indicated that many preschool parents would be unhappy about it, citing “the cultural and emotional significance of the program.”
“I don’t think people will really stand behind that,” she said, noting the location itself was important to people.
“That is what I’ve heard from parents,” she said.
“There are a constellation of factors,” said Interim Superintendent of Schools David Abbey.
“There may be social and emotional impediments … but if we need to do it and we do it in a right way … I think we can do it,” he said.
Earlier, Abbey also gave a detailed explanation on why he believed the sixth grade “academy” was not the right move at this time.
BOE member Vik Muktavaram once again raised questions relating to the numbers being presented by the consultant, Mike Zuba.
“I don’t have confidence in these numbers because they don’t reconcile,” Muktavaram said, stating he was unsure if the issue was with Milone & MacBroom or the school administration not giving him a clear explanation.
Zuba, meanwhile, grew defensive, saying he had already shared more information about his process in preparing the report with Westport that he was accustomed to, adding that it was beginning to impact his business because competitors were publicly learning too much about his methods.
“It’s to the detriment of our business,” he said, telling Muktavaram that he was still not clear what his questions related to.
“It’s just too difficult for me to understand where you’re coming from,” he said, noting the process was “not as simple as just doing addition.”
“If these questions are not clear, I’m available to clarify them,” Muktavaram said, noting he has tried three separate times to set up meetings with the consultant and school administrators to talk about it, but with no response.
“And it’s not just my observation,” he said, adding he had heard many concerns from residents through emails about the enrollment projections being used.
