The Westport Public Schools will be closed for all students and staff today.

All offices will be closed. All activities scheduled for today will be canceled or rescheduled for a later date.

By Jarret Liotta

With several million in new and additional costs to its operating budget on the horizon for next year, the Board of Education (BOE) held a preliminary meeting with the Board of Finance (BOF) and Representative Town Meeting (RTM) members Monday night.

Board of Finance Chairman Brian Stern shares his thoughts with the Board of Education. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com

In a year that is already stacking up to see a sizable increase in the school budget — possibly over 5%, or nearly $6 million, according to Elio Longo, chief financial officer — funding officials caution that significant compromises may be needed with challenging economic times ahead.

“I just want people to be realistic,” BOF Chairman Brian Stern said.

He and several others even put in a plug for redistricting or rebalancing in order to save money — something the BOE officially took off the table for the immediate future earlier this month.

By Jarret Liotta

Though approved by the Board of Education (BOE) in April, school officials just discovered an error last week, in that the 2020-21 school calendar was three days short.

BOE member Elaine Whitney contemplates the faulty 2020-21 school calendar. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com

Only 179 student days are actually scheduled, though the district intended to have 182. Only 185 days were put on the calendar for teacher attendance, though contractually they are paid for 188.

The state only requires that students attend 180 school days each year, though Westport has 182.

Superintendent of Schools David Abbey discovered the discrepancy through a staff member. He held a private discussion with BOE Chair Candice Savin in which they brainstormed amendment options, offering one scenario to the board tonight.

The 2020-21 calendar as published with three days short. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com

The Westport Public Schools will be delayed by three hours today.

For Stepping Stones hours, refer to the standard delay information posted at http://ssp.westportps.org/

By James Lomuscio

Westport’s Board of Education tonight nixed a plan for redistricting next year.

By a 7 to 0 vote, the board abandoned a “split-feeder” proposal that would separate Saugatuck Elementary School (SES) graduates into the town’s two middle schools.

The vote came after a number of parents had argued against redistricting, urging the school board at the special Town Hall meeting to scrap the plan steering SES graduates to both Coleytown Middle School (CMS), scheduled to reopen for the 2020-2021 academic year, and Bedford Middle School (BMS).

The rationale behind the split-feeder plan: rebalancing, finding parity in the wake of declining enrollments.