Proud Westport mom Christy Colasurdo captures first day back at school pose today at King’s Highway Elementary School with sons Kiernan, 5, (l),  who enters kindergarten, and Charlie, 7, entering second grade. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The reality that summer is over came to many Westport youngsters today as they boarded buses for the first day of school. Geeta Lochan of Baker Avenue watches as her second grader Sophia and fourth grader Tyler board their bus to Saugatuck Elementary School. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

It’s a new school, a new town and a new house all in one week for the Maciors formerly of Beverly, Mass. Tom and Cindy Macior hug daughter Olivia today on her first day of first grade at Westport’s King’s Highway Elementary School. Later this week, the Maciors will move out of their temporary quarters in a hotel and move into their new house on River Lane. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By Linda Alvkall

UPDATE  The Special King’s Highway Elementary School Maintenance Committee tonight voted unanimously to recommend that the school open next week as scheduled after investigating and addressing air quality issues that some parents said made their children sick.

The vote, involving parents, town volunteers with building maintenance expertise, school officials, teacher union representatives, and health district officials, capped a three-week marathon effort to remediate mold and other air quality issues at the school.

Gavin Anderson, committee chair, said remediation of the gymnasium, where mold had been found behind the walls, would be completed this week.

He said it is likely the gym will be ready for school opening with perhaps a plywood wall closing off the infected area but that two modular classrooms still with problems should remain closed.

UPDATE The special committee investigating air quality at Westport’s King’s Highway Elementary School was told today that moisture and mold have been found behind the gymnasium walls.

“We’re facing remediation,” said Gavin Anderson, committee chair, adding that remediation efforts will begin next week.

Timing is critical, Anderson told a Town Hall meeting, because he wants to be able to give the school board by Wednesday a recommendation on whether to open the school on schedule Aug. 27.

Assistant Superintendent Nancy Harris, a member of the committee appointed July 30 by First Selectman Gordon Joseloff, said a Norwalk firm has already been contacted and is scheduled to carry out the remediation work over three days next week. 

By James Lomuscio

Saying that time was of the essence, the chair of a committee investigating air quality at King’s Highway Elementary School (KHS) asked the Westport school board Monday night for $40,600 to run tests to determine if the school will be safe for opening day Aug. 27.

The Board of Education agreed, saying money could possibly come from funds already budgeted for removal of a mold-infested portable classroom, but only after more than 45 minutes of heated discussions as to who should pick up the tab—the school board or the town.

“Time is short, I have to give Gil a purchase order tomorrow,” Gavin Anderson, head of the Special King’s Highway Elementary School Maintenance Committee, told Mary Parmelee, school board chairman.

Gil is Gil Cormier of New Britain-based Occupational Risk Control Services, Inc., a consultant hired by the town to remediate mold and air quality concerns at the school.

By James Lomuscio

Vowing that every child who sets foot in the King’s Highway Elementary School opening day “will enter a safe and healthy environment,” Gavin Anderson tonight kicked off the first official meeting of a new committee formed to tackle concerns about toxic mold and unhealthy air in the building.
Gavin Anderson (l) chair of the special committee investigating air quality issues at King’s Highway, addresses today’s meeting as Ed Hyudic (r), head of the teachers’ union and committee member, listens. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The meeting, held in Room 309 at Town Hall, drew about 50 including committee members and concerned parents.

“The school is set to open on Aug. 27, and the implication of those three weeks is that we have to work efficiently, quickly and we have to communicate,” said Anderson, chairman of the Special King’s Highway Elementary School (KHS) Maintenance Review Committee.

First Selectman Gordon Joseloff appointed the committee Monday in response to concerns from more than 100 parents to the school’s administration. Parents have cited child illnesses from allergies to asthma triggered by what they said was the school’s poor air quality.

A Hartford-based electrical contracting company has served notice on the Town of Westport that it is seeking more than $1 million for what it contends is nonpayment for labor services in the recent rebuilding and expansion project at Staples High School.

Electrical Contractors, Inc. (ECI) said the town directed ECI to perform additional work “outside the scope of the contract,” but refused to pay the company for the extra work, according to papers filed with the Town Clerk.

ECI is seeking $1,068,047 plus interest and legal costs.

Town Attorney Ira Bloom said the town had fulfilled its obligations with ECI.