Cerena (left), an immature bald eagle at Earthplace in Westport, is molting many of her juvenile feathers and replacing them with adult plumage. It takes five years for bald eagles to attain the prominent white head and tail feathers for which they are known. Cerena’s beak, eyes, and feet will also turn bright yellow, the same as mature bald eagle Chatty (right). (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Julia Mally for WestportNow.com

By Jennifer Connic
Susan Bachman, Long Lots Elementary library media specialist, was among the retiring school staff members honored Monday night. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jennifer Connic for WestportNow.com

The Westport Board of Education Monday night honored its retiring staff members, some who have over 30 years of service to the school district.

Those being honored were library media specialist Susan Bachman from Long Lots Elementary, third grade teacher Caltha Crowe from King’s Highway Elementary, music teacher Cathy Dobbs from Saugatuck Elementary, Staples High School athletics secretary Sandy Forehand, Long Lots custodian Edwin Hatton, art teacher Trudy Kelly from Coleytown Elementary and Long Lots school nurse Jeri Senges.

Bachman, Crowe and Dobbs were the only ones who attended Monday’s ceremony at the start of the Board of Education meeting, and each received a gift from the district.

“Teachers are what make (the school district) special,” said Board Chairwoman Mary Parmelee. “They’re the ones who develop curriculum, they’re the ones who implement curriculum and they’re the ones who connect with students every day.”

By Jennifer Connic

The Westport Board of Education is pulling its $3.1 million request for roof projects before the Board of Finance pending further testing.

The school board is planning to request $2.2 million to replace the roof at Long Lots Elementary School and $970,000 to replace the one at Coleytown Elementary School (See WestportNow May 16).

Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon said tonight First Selectman Gordon Joseloff received a letter from the Public Site and Building Commission stating it had not reached consensus on the project.

There was too little research for the commission to endorse the project at this time, Landon said.

By Jennifer Connic

Staples High School students who graduated in 2002 and 2005 were more satisfied with their high school experience than those a decade ago, according to a new survey.

The survey of students was released during tonight’s Westport Board of Education meeting.

The survey’s statistics were provided in a sheet compared to the results from a survey completed in 1998 of students who graduated in 1992 and 1996.

The survey has a rating where 3.7 or higher is considered favorable and over 4.0 is considered extremely favorable.

By Jennifer Connic

The Westport Representative Town Meeting tonight approved a $160.1 million 2007-08 town budget after spending several hours discussing the school budget.

The RTM approved the $88.7 million education budget, which is a 7.8 percent increase over the current budget, by a 27-6 vote. The Board of Finance will set the tax rate later this month.

The temper of tonight’s meeting was much different than Monday’s meeting when the RTM approved the $56.8 million selectman’s budget (See WestportNow May 7). During that meeting the RTM spent more than 90 minutes discussing how to discuss the budget and one member walked out in frustration.

Tonight, Jo Ann Davidson, RTM District 6, addressed the assembly saying there was a great deal of disrespect Monday night.

By Jennifer Connic

Long Lots Elementary School will have a new principal this July.

The Westport Board of Education appointed M. Rex Jones during its meeting Monday night as the new principal for Long Lots, and he will start in his position on July 1.

Jones comes from the Fairfield School District where he is principal at Jennings Elementary School, and he has previously a principal in Fairfield for five years and served two years as the school and program improvement director.

Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon said he was very pleased school officials could bring an educator “with an outstanding educational background” like Jones to Westport.