Fourteen Staples High School seniors have been named finalists in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship program. As Merit Scholar finalists, all have a chance to earn one of 7,500 National Merit Scholarship awards, together worth more than $35 million. Pictured (back row, l-r) Martin Menz, Preston Lust, Joshua Zhang, Benjamin Tobben, Zachary Katz, and Carter Teplica; (middle row) Andrew Moy, Angela Ji, Anisa Prasad, and Sirina Prasad; (front row) Isabel Powell, Emma McKinney, Orly Salik, and Genevieve Domenico. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Dozens of persons turned out today for a brown bag session with the Board of Education at the Town Hall Auditorium.  As expected, the hot topic was the board’s plans for a 6 to 8 middle school at Bedford Middle School in the fall following the closing of Coleytown Middle School. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Westport School District said today the 2019-2020 kindergarten registration is underway.

Parents of entering kindergarteners should register as soon as possible, an announcement said.

“Registering now allows the District to optimally plan for your new kindergartener,” it said.

All registration information is located on the district website under the kindergarten registration link on the homepage https://www.westportps.org

By Jarret Liotta

Potential redistricting models could help encourage the creation and development of a townwide “sixth grade academy” at Coleytown Middle School (CMS), the Board of Education (BOE) heard tonight.

Board of Education member Vik Muktavaram, who spoke in favor of creating a “grade six academy” at Coleytown Middle School, listens to consultants. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com

Over the next several weeks the BOE will conduct private and public research to determine if it wants to propose undertaking renovation work at now-shuttered CMS with that goal in mind.

“Determining the use of that building as part of the educational strategy is critical,” Superintendent of Schools Colleen Palmer said.

Some possible redistricting options were heard at the BOE meeting based on the question of whether Westport’s eight school buildings — in particular the five elementary buildings — are adequate in relation to enrollment projections, or at least being used efficiently.

By Jarret Liotta

The Board of Education (BOE) voted unanimously tonight to accept Superintendent of Schools Colleen Palmer’s revised budget proposal for fiscal 2020, which is a $2.3-million increase over the current operating budget of $116.2 million.

The Board of Education unanimously adopts the budget. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com

The $118,500,464 budget, which represents an even 2.0-percent increase over the current one, will now go to the Board of Finance (BOF) for its approval.

While Palmer had initially requested a 2.68-percent increase, savings were found when the BOE decided to abandon the K-6 plan, which was projected to be more costly.

While going with the 6-8 model to house displaced Coleytown Middle School (CMS) students brought the increase down to 2.13 percent, funds were also found through $263,000 in the Cafeteria Fund, as well as an estimated savings of $300,000 in a projected decrease in health benefit costs.

The Westport Woman’s Club (WWC) is offering a college scholarship “to an outstanding woman enrolled in a post-secondary educational program.”

According to an announcement, the award will be based on financial need and the applicant’s goals upon the program’s completion.

The application deadline is Friday, March 29, according to Gloria Smithson, WWC spokeswoman.

For further information and a scholarship application visit http://www.westportwomansclub.org or call the WWC at (203)227-4240.