Merit Scholarship finalists (back row, l-r) Matthew Silver, Constance Zhou, Robert Perry, David Katter, Charlotte Breig, Zachary Lerangis, (front row, l-r) Priyanka Subramanian, Michelle Mastrianni, Gabrielle Wimer, and Caitlin McVaney. Missing from photo: Max Gibson. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Staples Junior Ben Reiser has been honored for his exemplary volunteer service with a President’s Volunteer Service Award, the Superintendent of Schools office announced.

Ben Reiser: “I knew I was doing the right thing.” Contributed photo

The award, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country. It was presented by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program on behalf of President Obama.

Ben earned his award by speaking out at a local and national level against teen drinking, including writing an opinion piece for the Staples newspaper Inklings.

Upon getting his license, Ben volunteered hours of his time at SafeRides, a student-run and organized program dedicated to providing safe rides home to Westport students on Saturday nights.

By James Lomuscio

Westport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon said today that while he is relieved the Board of Education finally approved his proposed $100.5 million budget for 2012-13 with only $313,000 in cuts Monday night, he is worried what other town bodies might trim.
Elliott Landon: “I’m fearful that this is only the beginning.” Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

He also expressed concern that $230,000 of the school board’s reduction will come from the elimination of five secretarial positions.

“They just said cut five, and we’ve already cut six secretarial positions since 2009-10,” he said, adding that school secretaries are invaluable to parents and students alike. “That’s 11 positions, and we’ve cut secretaries prior to 2009-10.

“Based on the parental reaction to these cuts, there is a fear that parents will not get the services to which they have become accustomed,” he added.

Staples High School Seniors David Haswell and Constance Zhou have been selected as candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, the Westport schools office said today.

Staples Seniors Constance Zhou and David Haswell are candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 to recognize and honor some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating seniors.  Each year 3,000 candidates are identified for the academic component of the program, based on having scored exceptionally well on the SAT or the ACT. 

Those students are then ranked within their state with approximately 20 females and 20 males receiving nominations.  Scholars are then chosen on the basis of their accomplishments in many areas – academic and artistic success, leadership, and involvement in school and the community.

Both students will now have the opportunity to submit essays, self-assessments and transcripts as they continue along in the process to be considered one of 141 students to be named U.S. Presidential Scholars, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students, a news release said.

With a large crowd on hand, the Westport Board of Education tonight heard more criticism from parents to proposed cuts in sixth grade French language classes and grades 1 through 5 gym classes in Superintendent of Schools Elliott Landon’s proposed $100.5 million 2012-13 budget. The board will vote on the budget on Feb. 6.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport Superintendent of Schools Elliott Landon tonight listens to parental criticism of language and gym class cuts in his proposed $100.5 million 2012-13 budget. Landon said the proposal will lead to more effective structuring of class time. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By James Lomuscio

A benefits consultant tonight gave the Westport Board of Education and Board of Finance good news, saying the school system has bucked regional trends by keeping health insurance costs down, most notably saving $700,000 by switching insurance carriers last year.

Robert Pernicka: good news on insurance costs. WN photo

Robert Pernicka, senior vice president for The Segal Company, which has worked with the school system for the past 12 years, said the board has “done the right thing,” keeping medical cost increases at 1.2 percent over the prior year.

“We’ve looked at the average trend in the Northeast, and you have beaten the trends which are 8 percent,” said Pernicka.

The school board had invited the Board of Finance to the meeting to scrutinize health insurance costs for the system’s 875 employees, plus retirees.

By James Lomuscio

An all-day Board of Education workshop at the Westport Public Library today pitted fiscal concerns against the commitment to maintain top tier schools as board members scrutinized a proposed $100.54 million budget for 2012-13.

The day-long session at the Westport Public Library drew elected officials and parents. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The proposed budget, submitted by Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon to the board Tuesday evening, represents a 2.5 percent increase over the current year..

Parents, members of the town’s Representative Town Meeting (RTM) and Board of Finance and state Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, were in attendance, asking questions and challenging some proposed cuts.

“This will be the struggle that we will have this year, to maintain the quality of delivery with the funding bodies’ desires,” said Jim Marpe, school board vice chairman, during a break in the discussions.

Members of the Westport Board of Education met at the Westport Public Library today for a day-long session to go over the superintendent’s proposed budget for 2012-13. Superintendent of Schools Elliott Landon on Tuesday disclosed his request for a $100.54 million, a 2.5 percent increase over the current budget. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By James Lomuscio

Westport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon tonight proposed a $100.54 million budget for the 2012-13 school year to the Board of Education, a 2.5 percent increase over the current budget.

Board of Education Chairman Donald O’Day (l) addresses tonight’s meeting as Schools Superintendent Elliot Landon looks on. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

In making their presentation, Landon and Nancy Harris, assistant superintendent of business, noted that 82 percent of the money is earmarked for contractual salary and benefits obligations.

They said another 8 percent goes for transportation plus the cost of tuition for special education students that have to be placed outside the district.

“Ninety percent of our budget is nondiscriminatory, and there are few places to reduce our budget in a meaningful way because those areas are difficult to touch,” said Landon.