Following this week’s shootings at Northern Illinois University, Gov. M. Jodi Rell today announced she will be asking school officials across Connecticut to join her at a second statewide conference on school safety.

The conference—involving educators from elementary schools to colleges—is to be held before the end of March, but a specific date has not yet been set, Rell’s office said.

“As leaders, we continue to strive to make our schools the safest and most secure environment possible for students, faculty and staff—a place where they can be free to learn and work without fear of violence,” Rell said in a statement.

“The shootings at Northern Illinois University on Wednesday horrified us all.

Westport fifth graders who researched issues facing Westport presented their reports tonight to an audience at Bedford Middle School. Megan Root, 10, a student at Saugatuck Elementary School, highlighted what she said was Westport’s need for affordable housing. Other subjects tackled by the students included whether the Family Y of Westport Weston should relocate to Mahackeno, global warming, and safety issues involving synthetic turf fields. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Lola and Westport Officer Marc Heinmiller conduct a search at North End Middle School in Waterbury. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Westport Police service dog Lola and her handler traveled to Waterbury Friday to assist in a drug sweep of the city’s middle schools and high schools, according to Sgt. Foti Koskinas, supervisor of the K-9 unit.

Lola and handler Officer Marc Heinmiller came up with two suspected locations where they found narcotic odors, Koskinas said. The information was turned over to school administrators, who in turn handle the incidents administratively within the Board of Education.

The sweeps are performed once per month on unannounced dates and locations within the school system, he said.

The Waterbury Board of Education sees this program as an effective deterrent to students bringing narcotics into the schools, Koskinas said.

Two students from Westport’s Staples High School today were named semifinalists in the 67th Intel Science Talent Search, America’s oldest and most prestigious science competition.

Andrew Shenoy, 17, and Zachary Weiner, 17 were among 300 semifinalists chosen from 1,602 entrants in the competition. Connecticut had five semifinalists. In addition to the two from Westport, Greenwich, New Canaan and Sandy Hook had one each.

Each of the semifinalists, as well as their schools, will receive awards of $1,000 for the honor.

From the group of 300 semifinalists, 40 finalists will be chosen on Jan. 30 to attend the Science Institute in Washington, D.C. from March 6-11. They will share in $530,000 in scholarships, including a $100,000 top prize.

Westport’s Board of Education held a budget workshop session today in the McManus Room of the Westport Public Library. About 30 persons attended the session, including members of the Board of Finance, Representative Town Meeting and the public. Superintendent of Schools Elliott Landon (in front of U.S. flag) has submitted a budget increase request of 7.3 percent for the next fiscal year. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Elliott Landon: added no new programs. WN file photoWestport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon has proposed a 7.3 percent increase for the 2008-09 school budget.

The proposal was sent to the Board of Education on Friday and will be discussed at tonight’s board meeting.

The proposal is a $6.5 million increase over the current budget and would bring the total budget to $95.4 million.

A year ago, Landon proposed a 8.9 percent increase which was cut to 7.8 percent by the time final approval was given by the Representative Town Meeting.