Louis Gagliano, a local businessman who has spent much time looking into business practices of the town’s school system, has called for a study of business practices encompassing both the town and Board of Education. He addressed the Board of Finance Wednesday night. TEXT

Board of Finance members voted 5-2 tonight to cut $1.25 million from the Board of Education’s proposed $75.1 million budget. Voting in favor (l to r) Rick Benson, Jeff Mayer, Shelly Kassen, Steve Ezzes, and Kevin Connolly. Against and not raising their hands are Charles Haberstroh and Gavin Anderson. Board of Ed chair Sandra Urist and Schools Supt. Elliott Landon watch in foreground. The board will consider possibly restoring the cut March 31. (CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Westport students as well as others around the state will likely take standardized tests this spring after 9 a.m., after squabbling in the legislature put off a vote on changing the state’s test time law. STORY

More than 100 people crowded the Town Hall Auditorium tonight as the Board of Finance considered the towns budget. The meeting lasted almost four hours. (CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

School Supt. Elliott Landon delivers the Board of Education budget tonight to the Board of Finance. He said it was essential to maintain spending to assure a quality education to Westport students. (CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

There are new lights illuminating the night at Staples High School not on the football field but on the steel structure that is part of the school’s $74 million renovation and expansion project. The first phase is due to be ready for the 2004-2005 school year. (CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE). WestportNow.com photo

If you are an experienced educator and want to work in the administrative area of the Westport public schools system, this may be your time.

As town bodies debate a new education budget that calls for a more than 7 percent increase, the school system has put out the help wanted sign for at least five senior administrative positions, four of which could pay more than $100,000 per year.

“Each position has opened as a result of either a retirement, acceptance of a position in another school district, or reorganization plan as approved by the Board of Education in the past,” Schools Supt. Elliott Landon told WestportNow.

An advertisement appearing in select newspapers this weekend sought an assistant principal at Staples High School with a salary range of $105,251-$112,880; a special education department chair with a salary range of $98,156- $105,249; and a social studies department chair with a salary range of $98,156-$105,249.

The “Kids Guide to Westport and Beyond” made its debut today at the Town Hall brown bag lunch. Written by second graders last year at Saugatuck Elementary School, the booklet was published with the help of desktop publishing students at Staples High School. “The Guide is a unique perspective on the wonderful aspects of Westport and the surrounding areas as seen through the eyes of our children,” according to its introduction. Saugatuck will hold a publication party Friday, Feb. 27 at 1:45 p.m. at the school auditorium. WestportNow.com photo

Today’s brown bag lunch at Westport Town Hall hosted by First Selectwoman Diane Goss Farrell heard about publication of “The Kid’s Guide to Westport and BeyondFor Kids and By Kids.” The guide was published by second graders at Saugatuck Elementary School with the help of desktop publishing students and faculty at Staples High School. Saugatuck teachers Kenneth Hine and Rae Anne Locke watch as one of their students, Maddie, explains the guide to Farrell and other lunch guests. WestportNow.com photo

Staples High School in Westport is among state schools suffering because a lawmaker last year thought sleepy students shouldn’t be taking high-stakes standardized tests until they are a little more awake.

As high schools prepare to give the Connecticut Academic Performance (CAP) Test to sophomores this spring, school officials say a new law that bars standardized testing before 9 a.m. is wreaking havoc on schedules, according to an AP report.

The problem is that school officials who finesse the clockwork of a school day don’t know what to do with a large group of students who would be on a totally different schedule than the rest of the student body.

And they say it’s causing kinks in everything from bus schedules to lunch schedules to class schedules.