Westport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon tonight presented to the Board of Education a $113,294,493 proposed budget for 2015-16, a 3.75 percent increase over this year’s operating budget.

Landon said essential drivers of the increase were recommended instructional plans and programs “and our facilities needs, consistent with board goals and the recommendations of NESC (Northeast Education Services Cooperative).”

The school board plans to spend all of Wednesday poring over the proposed budget, the first step in a lengthy process that will involve Board of Education and Board of Finance reviews and approvals, and finally a Representative Town Meeting vote in the spring

“I think is an excellent first step,” said Michael Gordon, board chairman, who called Landon’s budget “academically forward looking and responsible fiscally.”

Fairfield County, a region marked by sharp disparities in income and in urban and suburban life, faces particular challenges in assuring all its residents a quality education.

Today, a special CTMirror.org report, “Education, Diversity and Change in Fairfield County,” explores the issue through in-­depth policy reporting, interactive maps and charts, photo galleries and opinion pieces written by teachers from the Connecticut Writing Project at Fairfield University.

The project also features a new interactive tool to help readers offer their perspective.

Called The Public Eye, and developed in partnership with Hartford­-based design firm CO:LAB, The Public Eye is a collection of highlights and commentary based on what CTMirror.org has published, as well as experiences and resources posted by the community. Readers are encouraged to post a story or comment.

A demographic specialist told the Westport Board of Education tonight to expect little change in school enrollment in the near future.

But First Selectman Jim Marpe and other elected officials said proposed multi-family housing in Westport could radically change the outlook in three to five years.

“The projection for the future is fairly flat,” said Donald G. Kennedy of Marlborough, Mass-based New England School Development Council (NESDC).

He said increases in grades 6 through 12 are offset by declines in elementary grades. At the same time, he noted a decline in births has been accompanied by a record number of “move-ins” in recent years.