Superintendent of Schools Elliott Landon tonight presented a certificate to Staples High School teacher Christopher Fray in recognition of his selection as Teacher of the Year 2008. Fray paid tribute to his mother, who was present, a former third grade teacher at the former Burr Farms Elementary School. A reception honoring Fray and other nominees was held before the Board of Education meeting at Staples. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Westport School District tonight honored Staples High School teacher Christopher Fray as its Teacher of the Year 2008 with a reception at Staples High School.
Christopher Fray: honored at Staples reception. Contributed photo

Fray, who was named to the honor on Aug. 27, has been a member of the staff since 1996.

Certified in social studies, Spanish, Chinese and Russian, Fray in his 12 years at Staples has taught courses in computers, American government, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. 

Also honored at the Board of Education reception were fellow nominees, Heather Colletti-Houde, Bedford Middle School; Lynne Karmen, Bedford Middle School; Joanne Klouda, Staples High School; Hazel Malbin, Long Lots Elementary School; Rebecca Marsick, Bedford Middle School; Jack Quinlin, Staples High School, and Jane Silvestro, Bedford Middle School.

The Westport Board of Education tonight held a lengthy discussion of air quality issues at King’s Highway Elementary and other schools. It put the town on notice it will ask for almost $5 million to address the problems as well as pay an unanticipated electricity bill.

Ultimately, it voted to request $1.666 million immediately and put off action on the balance.

School administrators told the board that almost $4.1 million would pay for testing and remediation of mold and other air quality issues at King’s Highway and Staples High School.

The funds would also cover testing the air quality at other schools, installation of a new King’s Highway ventilation system, expedited removal of carpets from all classrooms, and repointing of brick at all schools to prevent entry of moisture into buildings. Part of the request also covers hiring a new HVAC engineer.

A special committee investigating air quality issues at Westport’s King’s Highway School was told today that new health problems among teachers and students have been reported since school opened last week.
Gavin Anderson and First Selectman Gordon Joseloff inspect the King’s Highway gymnasium on opening day last week. Mold had been found in the wall area. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Meanwhile, two members of the Board of Education, speaking out for the first time to the committee, promised board action on the group’s recommendations as well as an investigation into the history of past air quality complaints at the school.

There have been at least 13 faculty complaints of health-related issues at the school since it opened last week and two or three from students, said Sue Jacozzi, director of the Westport Weston Health District and a committee member. They include headaches, sore throats, runny noses, itchy eyes, and nosebleeds, she said.

The committee’s air quality consultant, Gil Cormier, said the problems could be the result of improper removal of ceiling tiles containing fibers or over use of disinfectants in cleaning classrooms.

In an unusual holiday weekend e-mail today to parents, Westport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon disclosed that mold had been found at Staples High School for the second year in a row.

Landon, who has come under parental criticism recently for his handling of mold and other air quality issues at King’s Highway Elementary School, said he was informed this week by Gary Martin, facilities director, that mold had been found in the choral room.

He said a similar problem was found in the same room last year as well as in the school library and auditorium. He said it had been remediated by the School Building Committee, an independent town body which had overseen the school’s recent $78 million renovation and expansion.

No public announcement was made of the initial discovery at mold at the high school, just as there was none when it was found in a portable classroom last summer at King’s Highway.

UPDATE Westport students performed well in the Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT) this year, well surpassing state levels and on par with neighboring suburban districts in Wilton and Weston, according to the state Department of Education.

According to data released Thursday, of 10th grade students tested at Staples High School, 96.3 performed at proficiency level or above in math; 97.4 percent were at least proficient in science; 98.4 in reached that level in reading; and 97.9 percent in writing.

In Weston and Wilton the comparable numbers were 98.5 and 96.6 in math; 98.5 and 96.9 in science; 98.0 and 97.2 in reading; and 95.6 and 97.5 in writing.

The state said this year’s test was a new one with changes in content, format, length and scoring and therefore its data cannot be directly compared with the first two versions of the test.

Among those greeting students and parents as King’s Highway Elementary School reopened today were Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff (r) and Gavin Anderson (l). In July, Joseloff appointed a special committee headed by Anderson to investigate parental complaints about air quality at the school. After intensive remediation efforts in August, the committee recommended the school open on time. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com