A Westport school bus stustained front-end damage in an accident on South Compo Road this morning. There were no injuries. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
By Jennifer Connic

No students were injured this morning when a car collided with a school bus on snow-covered Compo Road South. School officials were at the scene to ensure the students were safe.

Westport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon said a woman was driving too fast for the road conditions when she plowed into the bus at about 7:40 a.m.

A passerby estimated the bus, en route to Bedford Middle School, was carrying about 20 students.

“There were no injuries to the students,” Landon said. “Dattco sent out a replacement bus to get the kids to school and to complete the elementary run.”

By Jennifer Connic

The Westport Board of Education focused on the accounts that pertain to its buildings during budget discussions tonight.

Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon has proposed a $89.2 million 2007-08 school budget, which is a 8.8 percent, or $7.2 million, increase over the current budget.

The board is expected to vote on the budget during its Feb. 5 meeting.

Tonight, Assistant Superintendent for Business Nancy Harris outlined $225,000 in building projects at various schools, including improving the ventilation in the Staples High School gymnasium.

Westport’s elementary schools in recent days have been hosting graduation ceremonies for fifth grade students who participated in the town’s DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program sponsored by the Westport Police Department. Today’s ceremony was at Saugatuck Elementary School and Police Chief Al Fiore (at microphone) participated along with First Selectman Gordon Joseloff and Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon. DARE officers Chris Proudfoot and David Wolf (seated) presided over the ceremonies. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

By Jennifer Connic

Westport school officials have canceled the annual all-town band and orchestra festival, but they are seeking alternatives to the event that could include smaller concerts at individual schools.

Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon said he decided to cancel the event—which features bands and orchestras from all of Westport’s schools—for a variety of issues, but he has asked for recommendations on how to move forward.

“I’ve asked the teachers how we should proceed,” he said. “We could have a showcase at each school.”

One of the issues with the annual event was its size and the number of people who attend, he said.

Elliott Landon: Suports mandatory national education standards. WN file photoBy Jennifer Connic

U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., has proposed voluntary, national educational standards, but Westport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon said he thinks the standards should be mandatory.

After five years, the U.S. Congress is planning to review the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

Dodd is the co-sponsor of the Standards to Provide Educational Achievement for Kids Act with Sen. Vernon Ehlers, R-Mich., and it would provide incentives to states who adopt national standards in math and science.

“Math and science skills are essential to establish and maintain academic competitiveness on the global landscape,” Dodd said in a written statement. “American students should have the same opportunities to learn and achieve success whether they study in large schools or small, or live in Connecticut or California.”

By Jennifer Connic

If a deficit in the school budget were to continue, Westport school officials would need to freeze accounts or ask for a special appropriation.

The Westport Board of Education discussed how there is a $171,000 deficit in the 2006-07 school budget during its meeting Tuesday night.

Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon said last week that the deficit is not a real problem at this point (See WestportNow Jan. 14).

Assistant Superintendent for Business Nancy Harris said Tuesday night a lot can happen with a number of accounts that would affect if there is a budget shortfall at the end of the fiscal year, which is June 30.

By Jennifer Connic

The Westport Board of Education discussed the proposed $2.5 million technology budget during its discussions on the proposed 2007-08 school budget tonight.

Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon has proposed an $89.2 million 2007-08 budget, which is a 8.8 percent, or $7.2 million, increase over the current budget.

The technology budget would include $1.9 million in instructional technology including an increase in 30 Smart Boards throughout the district.

Smart Boards are interactive whiteboards that allow teachers to project a computer or video presentation.

By Jennifer Connic

Westport parents asked the Board of Education tonight to reconsider its vote on the school calendar for the next two years because they did not know the matter was on the Jan. 8 agenda.

Board of Education Chairwoman Mary Parmelee, however, said she is not inclined to bring the matter back.

At the Jan. 8 meeting, the board voted to start school for the 2007-08 and 2008-09 years on the Wednesday before Labor Day. The school year the last few years has started on the Tuesday following Labor Day.

Nancy Yates, a Silver Brook Road parent, tonight submitted 60 e-mails she received since 11 p.m. Monday night from parents who did not know the matter was on the Jan. 8 agenda for a vote.

By Jennifer Connic

The current school budget has a $171,000 deficit half way through the fiscal year, but Westport school officials are not worried about the shortfall yet.

The Westport Board of Education will discuss the quarterly financial report, which shows the shortfall, during its meeting at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

The benefits, property services and other purchased services accounts is where the school budget carries a shortfall, including over $124,000 in other purchased services. Additionally, there is a surplus of about $47,000 in the salary account.

Westport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon said school officials don’t see it as a “real deficit.”