The Westport Board of Education tonight approved requesting $1.15 million from the town funding bodies for upgrades to school facilities.
The authorization to proceed with the funding request followed a discussion with several Board of Finance members about the school budget and a presentation by consultant David Kennedy on enrollment projections.
The funding request covers a roof project and other repairs to Coleytown Elementary School and pool and locker room upgrades to Staples High School. The items are in the board’s capital forecast.
Kennedy told the board that enrollment is likely to decline over the next three to five years but that any projection beyond that would be “wishful thinking.”
Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon told the board that enrollment issues influence spending priorities.
“We’ve been reluctant to make a recommendation on something major if we don’t know where the greatest needs is going to be,” he said.
“A decision has to be made at some point what are we going to do with our enrollment.”
Board of Finance members praised Board of Education members for last year’s budget work, the final figures coming in lower than earlier projected numbers.
And they expressed hope that any increase this year would be in the 1 to 1.5 percent range in order to maintain a flat mill rate for the forthcoming budget year.
Did I read this right? ‘Kennedy told the Biard that enrollment is likely to decline over the next 3 to 5 years’ Huh???? I thought Landin told us enrollment was going to grow.
The spending improves the schools we have and needed. . But hopefully this ends the $20 million (plus) that Landin dropped on Westport for Staples for so called overcrowding.
He has continues to lose credibility even as he ends.
Wow.