Two seniors from Westport’s Staples High School were among 40 students honored tonight at the Fairfield County Association of Secondary School Principals Scholar-Leader Dinner at New Canaan High School. Each principal of 20 Fairfield County high schools chose one male and one female senior from their school who demonstrated distinguished academic achievement and outstanding leadership in the school and community. Pictured with Staples Principal John Dodig are award recipients Michael McGovern and Samantha Lieberman. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Westport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon has outlined his recommended budget reductions necessitated by $1.4 million in Board of Finance-imposed budget cuts.
Elliott Landon: “Moved by ‘cries of the children.’” Dave Matlow/WN file photo

At the same time, he announced he intends to restore the popular Collab course at Staples High School whose budget-related cancellation had sparked an outcry from students and parents. (See WestportNow April 9, 2009)

In a memo to the Board of Education in advance of its Monday meeting, Landon referred to “dramatic cuts” in the amount of $1.4.million made by the Board of Finance and upheld by the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) at its meeting on Tuesday.

“In preparing this list, I have tried to keep my public promise to the Board of Education and the Westport community….that I would do all that was possible to ensure that any reductions I might propose would not significantly impact the programs and services that we provide to the children who attend our schools now, or in the future,” he said.

Staples sophomores Susan Greenberg (l) and Alison Manning made their views known to members of the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) in the lobby of Westport Town Hall tonight prior to the RTM taking up the education budget. Both later addressed the RTM with Greenberg saying: “We need every opportunity we can to succeed. It is not the students’ fault that we are in an economic downturn.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lynn U. Miller for WestportNow.com

Not just high school students took part in today’s rally on the steps of Westport Town Hall protesting a reduction in the requested increase in the education budget. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

Students from Staples High School are planning a rally on the steps of Westport Town Hall today to protest cuts in the Board of Education’s requested 2009-10 budget increase that they say will possibly alter course offerings and extra-curricular activities at the school.

The rally was set to begin at 5 p.m. in advance of the 7:30 p.m. start of at least two nights of budget deliberations by the Representative Town Meeting (RT), the town’s legislative body. The RTM will take up the municipal budget tonight and the education budget on Tuesday.

The Board of Education’s original request for a $1.9 million, or 2.06 percent, increase in its proposed $96 million 2009-10 budget was reduced by the Board of Finance by $1.4 million. The education board voted not to seek restoration.

But in an e-mail message Sunday to RTM members, Superintendent of Schools Elliott Landon, writing, he said, as “a private citizen and a resident of Westport,” asked the RTM to restore the $1.4 million. He said an early retirement program offered to town employees showed the cut was not necessary.

Westport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon (r) addressed students at Staples High School today and urged them to talk to their parents so they make their views known before a crucial budget vote next Tuesday by the Representative Town Meeting (RTM), the town’s legislative body. Landon, with Principal John Dodig looking on, said some RTM members were seeking an additional $1 million reduction in the education budget following a $1.4 million cut by the Board of Finance. He warned that more cuts will have negative effects on the school system for years to come. Contributed photo

John Dodig, principal of Westport’s Staples High School, fielded questions about the town’s education budget today at several lunchtime meetings at the school. Dodig and Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon said budget reductions could lead to reduced property values as people move here because of the quality of Westport schools.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo