By Jarret Liotta

Because of the closure of mold-plagued Coleytown Middle School (CMS), the Board of Education (BOE) is asking the town to expedite an appropriation of up to $4 million for portable classrooms at other schools. But it still could reverse its decision to have Westport elementary schools go to K-6 next year.

Parents line up to address the Board of Education Monday night and early today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com

In a 6-to-1 vote, which came at 12:30 a.m. today, the BOE approved a request for an appropriation that would fund 14 portable classrooms at the five elementary schools, or could instead go toward funding portables as Bedford Middle School (BMS), should it decide next week to change its K-6 decision.

As one member put it, the request will serve as “a placeholder” until its meeting next Monday, at which time there will likely be discussion — and possibly a new vote — on changing the facilities plan for next year to include a townwide middle school at BMS instead of K-6 at the elementary schools.

“I truly do believe over the last couple of weeks we have a lot of new information … that we didn’t have in December,” Andrea Moore, a Board of Finance (BOF) member, told the BOE during public comment.

By Kathleen Megan

Two proposals that would force school district regionalization have ignited a storm of protest in some communities, as well as debate at the State Capitol.

At a packed Education Committee meeting today, Rep. Gail Lavielle, R-Wilton, said the “distress” she has heard from constituents about possible forced regionalization “has been so great, I’ve never quite seen anything like it.”

“They don’t feel that someone far away should be telling them what to do with their children, or how to shape the institutions in their town,” Lavielle said. “They really feel the school is the soul of their community.”

Rep. Michelle Cook, D-Torrington, countered, saying that if “regionalism is what we have to do to make education in the state of Connecticut work, then we need to figure out how to make that work.

Members of the Board of Education, parents, and others toured Long Lots Elementary School today as the town considered adding portable classrooms to Long Lots and other schools to accommodate sixth graders from the now closed Coleytown Middle School. CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com