By Jarret Liotta

UPDATE Westport Superintendent of Schools Colleen Palmer told parents today that the proposed closure of Coleytown Middle School (CMS) due to mold and related air-quality concerns possibly could extend through the school year.

More than 100 persons attended the information session at Bedford Middle School.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com

She made the comment in a email following Thursday’s emergency Board of Education meeting. At another emergency board meeting late today, the board approved the pupil shifting plan to move sixth and seventh grade students to Bedford Middle School, and eighth grade students to Staples High School.

“If necessary, it is possible that the students of CMS may remain at BMS and SHS for the entire year,” Palmer said in the email. She initially had said the school closure could last three to four weeks.

Palmer said in a tweet Thursday night If approved, CMS students would have partial day on Monday, and a full day Tuesday.

By Jarret Liotta

Prompted by a health-related morning evacuation at Coleytown Middle School today, parents expressed worry and concerns tonight over how the Westport Public School district is addressing an ongoing mold issue.

School board members listen to Superintendent Colleen Palmer’s more than 30-minute report on mold remediation efforts. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com

Following reports from eight staff members and one student that they were not feeling well, the building was evacuated for about 30 minutes while fire officials determined the cause was not related to carbon monoxide.

While a number of students later visited the nurse to complain of issues including headaches, nausea and dizziness, Suzanne Levasseur, the district’s supervisor of health services, said these were determined not be related to mold in the building.

“There’s been heightened awareness with mold symptoms (and) we have been on it,” she said, calling today’s event “a little bit of an outlier.”

More than two dozen parents attended tonight’s Board of Education meeting where much of the discussion centered on mold issues at Coleytown Middle School. Parents expressed worry and concerns over how the school district is addressing the ongoing mold issue at the school. Superintendent of Schools Colleen Palmer said remediation costs could escalate to several million dollars and raised the possibility demolishing the school and rebuilding might eventually be deemed more cost effective. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com

UPDATE Staff members feeling ill at Coleytown Middle School today forced evacuation of the school, school authorities said.

“Several staff members reported shortness of breath and dizziness.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Firefighters initially suspected carbon monoxide issues but readings taken in school—site of numerous mold-related issues recently—were negative.

The alarm began sounding shortly after 9:30 a.m. Students and staff were readmitted about 10 a.m., according to witnesses.

A school email sent almost two hours later to parents said: “At approximately 9:35 a.m. this morning several staff members reported shortness of breath and dizziness.

The Staples High School class fo 1968 capped off its 50th reunion weekend today with a brunch gathering at Compo Beach. According to Nancy Sendecke Kotchko (front row, 4th r), event co-chair, 40 classmates and spouses met at the Black Duck on Friday night and 80 attended a reception and dinner dance at the Norwalk Inn on Saturday night. In addition to Kotchko, event co-chairs included Lois Parker Booth, Tommy Nistico, and Clark Ruff. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com