Staples High School Principal Stafford Thomas, Jr. announced today that 26 Staples seniors have been named as Commended Students in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program.

The commended students pose for a picture. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

A certificate from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation was presented by the principal to the students who represent almost every academic area of interest and involvement in student activities offered at Staples High School.

In addition to being excellent students, this group includes musicians, athletes, journalists, artists, actors, volunteers and activists, an announcement said.

The students are: Jax J. Adler, Isabella R. Berg, Evan A. Birns, Aidan J. Bruno, Spencer G. Carey, Calvin J. Carson, Sahiba K. Dhindsa, Noah R. Dinitz, Brianna C. Dwyer, Tyler R. Edwards, Arianna A. Gerig, Benjamin J. Gross, Jason E. Hyman, Grace Kennedy, Cassandra S. Lang, Anella G. Lefebvre, Edan S. Leshem, Augustin Liu, Zoe K. Macris, Jake P. McGillion-Moore,Annabel Nash, Maximus A. Page, Gabriel G. Sargent, Olivia Valante, Samuel J. Wang and Jessica D.Xu.

By Jarret Liotta

The Board of Education (BOE) tonight heard the latest scenario options for redistricting, but at least one member sought to assure the public this was not an imminent decision.

Consultant Michael Zuba tonight highlights one of the new redistricting scenarios. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com

“This is all very preliminary,” said Jeannie Smith, BOE vice chair.

“There are so many variables that are unknown at this point,” she said, in particular the viability of relocating the Stepping Stones preschool that is currently housed at Coleytown Elementary School (CES) to another building.

Still, dozens of parents were in attendance and applauded comments by one parent urging the BOE to put off any further redistricting discussions and decisions until after Coleytown Middle School (CMS) reopens and a new permanent superintendent of schools is in place.

By Jarret Liotta

UPDATE Around 20 unhappy Staples High School (SHS) students tonight expressed disappointment with the recent firing of Ed Milton — a student outreach counselor.

Staples High School senior Karalyn Hood, 17, co-president of the Teen Awareness Group, addresses the Board of Education tonight. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com

They made their feelings known at a special Board of Education (BOE) meeting devoted mainly to redistricting. (See separate story.)

Milton, employed by the town’s Department of Human Services to deal with Staples students, also served as adviser to the school’s Teen Awareness Group (TAG).

“I think it’s time someone brought to your attention the utter recklessness and total disregard for student mental health that came along with this decision,” Karalyn Hood, 17, senior and TAG co-president, told the BOE.

By Jarret Liotta

Though the Board of Education (BOE) is still unsure on when and how it wants to make a redistricting decision, parents whose children could be affected are vying to delay it for the immediate future.

Superintendent of Schools David Abbey addresses the meeting tonight. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com

At tonight’s BOE meeting, Anthony Buono, assistant superintendent of schools for teaching and learning, gave the board a summary report on the recent history of its quest for enrollment rebalancing — one that was aimed more at interested parents than the BOE itself.

“I think it’s important for the community to understand what is driving the need,” said BOE member Elaine Whitney.

Last week a parent group calling itself Westport Residents for Educational Stability (WRES) sent a petition to the BOE stating that any official vote on a redistricting plan should be postponed at least until new BOE members are elected, until a permanent superintendent is found, and until Coleytown Middle School (CMS) reopens.

By James Lomuscio

In a special meeting today, Westport’s Board of Selectmen unanimously recommended that the Board of Education sever its more than 30-year ties with the Hartford law firm Shipman & Goodwin LLP.

Alan Lieberman, managing partner of Shipman & Goodwin, addresses today’s Board of Selectmen meeting. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Before doing so, the selectmen asked that the matter be place on a BOE agenda for discussion.

The reason for the severance: a perception of a conflict of interest as firm attorney Tim Hollister, in representing a developer, last spring in an interview publicly disparaged the town as racist regarding the state’s affordable housing law 8-30g.

Another “grave concern to us,” Marpe said, was that on June 4 Hollister applied for a ruling to the state Department of Housing (DOH) claiming that Westport’s moratorium points were incorrect.

Interim Westport Schools Superintendent David Abbey said tonight that swastikas and Stars of David with an expletive were found at Staples High School.

In an email to parents, he said an extra night crew was called in to remove them before classes Friday morning and that Westport police were assisting in the investigation of who was responsible.

“We take these acts seriously and are actively partnering with the Westport Police Department as we move forward with the investigation,” Abbey said.

“In the days ahead we will do everything we can to deter these acts, throughout our district — and through our daily efforts, work to create a climate where all are welcomed and valued.”

Staples High School today released this photo of its eight National Merit semifinalists in the 65th annual National Merit Scholarship Program announced on Wednesday. They are: (back row l-r)  Benjamin A. Spector, Nathan E. Wang, Samuel A. Laskin, Harrison E. Sholler, and Alexander J. Massoud; (front row) Justin M. Berg,  Cordelia Chen, and Nora B. Dockter. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) today announced that 10 Westport students are among approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 65th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

These students — eight at Staples High School and two at the Pierrepont School — have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million that will be offered next spring, an announcement said.

The Staples winners include: Justin M. Berg; Cordelia Chen; Nora B. Dockter; Samuel A. Laskin; Alexander J. Massoud; Harrison E. Sholler; Benjamin A. Spector, and Nathan E. Wang.

The Pierrepont winners are Riley S. Boksenbaum and Paz Meyers.

By Jarret Liotta

UPDATE A parent coalition wants the Westport Board of Education (BOE) to delay any discussions on rebalancing the district.

Students arrive at Westport’s Bedford Middle School on the first day of classes last month. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

In a petition that gained close to 300 signatures in less than 24 hours, the signers said a redistricting decision should await the November election and new BOE members, the reopening of Coleytown Middle School (CMS) next year, and appointment of a permanent superintendent of schools.

The group, calling itself Westport Residents for Educational Stability, said while it was “supportive of potential school rezoning,” it asked that the item—which is tentatively scheduled for a December vote—be removed from future BOE agendas.

The petition said redistricting now when the district is in a “state of extended transition” would have “potentially traumatic ramifications” on Westport students.