Members of Staples High School class of 1966 gathered Saturday night at the Westport home of Ann Sheffer and Bill Scheffler for a clambake as part of a 40th anniversary weekend celebration. Pictured greeting guests are (l-r) Jeremy Jones, Ann Sheffer, John Lupton, and Bill Scheffler. Sheffer holds copies of a history of Staples by author and columnist Dan Woog, Staples class of 1971. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

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Westport parents had their chance tonight to air concerns over the departure of Bedford Middle School science teacher Ejay Clark. But Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon said his position has not changed.
Former Bedford Middle School teacher Ejay Clark (c) sits next to his attorney, Lewis Brey, at tonight’s Board of Education meeting. Brey is a former member of the board. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Emily Hamilton Laux for WestportNow.com

The Board of Education hearing, which at times was punctuated by shouts of frustration by parents supporting Clark, was forced by parents who filed a petition under state statutes requesting it. The petition listed 20 questions the parents wanted answered.

Clark resigned last spring from his position after being told school officials would not recommend him for tenure, but now seeks a hearing on his status with the district. School officials, however, said he has no standing to request the hearing.

Landon said at the end of tonight’s hearing that he had not heard anything to change his mind on Clark’s future with the district.

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Ejay Clark (photo from TV): appears before Board of Education tonight. WestportNow.com photoThe reviews of Bedford Middle School science teacher Ejay Clark show he was “excellent” in his first year, but he was rated as needing growth in his second year.

Parents who obtained Clark’s reviews – including observation notes and recommendations—made them available to WestportNow (click here for the documents). [PDF 8.5 MB])

The Westport Board of Education held a meeting tonight at the request of parents through a petition signed by almost 200 parents.

In the first year’s evaluation form, Clark was held to be “excellent” in all areas with few comments, but in his second year he only got the rating in 10 of 31 areas.

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It remains unclear if the Westport Board of Education will engage the public and answer questions put forth in a petition Thursday night, but parents are hopeful it does.

The board will meet at 7:30 p.m. at Bedford Middle School in a session forced by a petition filed under state statutes by parents, which included 20 questions they want answered.

The petition includes questions surrounding Ejay Clark, a Bedford Middle School science teacher who wants his job back, and many more on the board’s tenure process.

Thursday’s agenda includes two items—an introduction from board attorney Tom Mooney and public comment. There is no discussion item listed.

By Joanna Pliner

Westport parents seeking reinstatement of former Bedford Middle School teacher Ejay Clark say the clock is ticking for the Board of Education to respond to a petition for a hearing on the matter.

The parents, members of Concerned Parents for Westport Education, filed the petition with Town Clerk Patricia H. Strauss Thursday.

Strauss said the petition meets the requirements of Connecticut General Statute 10-238 which calls for a Board of Education to hold a hearing within three weeks on any issue raised in the petition if 1 percent of the electorate has signed the petition—167 signatures in this case.

Late Thursday Strauss certified the petition with 192 signatures.

By Joanna Pliner

The Westport Board of Finance, after extended debate Wednesday night, approved $350,000 for new boilers at Coleytown Elementary School as well additional monies for the town attorney’s office and the fire department.

Superintendent of Schools Elliott Landon’s request to finance the installation of new boilers and steam traps at Coleytown generated a stir among board members.

The members supported the $350,000 requested to replace the 54-year-old boilers, but several said they were shocked by the proposed amount since it was double the 2005 capital forecast figure of $175,000.

Board of Finance member Kevin Connolly questioned the accuracy of the requested amount.

Staples senior Evan James shows off his diploma at Staples High School’s graduation ceremony today. Staples Principal John Dodig and Westport Superintendent of Schools Elllott Landon follow. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo