Ulysses Nixon, 8, and sister Delphine, 6, await their school bus today with mom Anna-Liisa at Lockwood Circle and Bayberry Lane. Recent arrivals from Florida, they are entering Coleytown Elementary School third and first grades. Thousands of Westport students headed off to classes on what forecasters said would be a hot day in the 90s. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

By James Lomuscio

The summer’s heavy rains, high temperatures and humidity dealt another round of mold worries at Coleytown Middle School.

The problem was exacerbated by the fact that the school’s circulating fans, in the name of energy efficiency, were shut off while school was out, Westport Schools Superintendent Colleen Palmer told the school board tonight.

“The circulating fans that would move the air around were shut off when a person was not in the room, which was most of the summer,” said Palmer, adding that it created “a perfect climate for mold to grow.”

But once it was discovered, she said, an intense remediation began four weeks ago with industrial strength dehumidifiers, air scrubbers and the installation of mold resistant ceiling tiles. The Westport Weston Health District has since examined the building, giving it a good bill of health.

Westport’s Board of Education tonight elected Mark Mathias, a 15-year board member, as its chairman by a vote of 6 to 0 with 1 abstention. Mathias abstained.

Mark Mathias: longest serving board member. Contributed photo

Jeannie Smith, acting chairwoman, nominated Mathias, and Elaine Whitney seconded it.

Smith lauded Mathias’ “extensive service to the board and the community.” She cited his launching the schools’ current innovation fund, founding of the annual town wide Maker Faire seven years ago and being an active member of the board’s Strategic Technology Committee.

Though not mentioned tonight, the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce in June honored Mathias with its First Citizen Award.

The Westport Police Department today began stepping up traffic enforcement in school zones in advance of Tuesday’s school opening.

The “Back to School” enforcement campaign will focus on motorists speeding in school zones and near bus stops, using cellphones and those who disregard school bus signals, an announcement said.

State law requires motorists to slow down and to prepare to stop for yellow, flashing school bus lights and stopping for red flashing school bus lights.

“The Westport Police Department is committed to protecting children from motorists who disregard the law, especially around school zones and bus stops where students congregate,” Lt. Jillian Cabana said.

Westport’s Board of Education in a special meeting tonight unanimously voted for former Representative Town Meeting (RTM) member Neil Phillips to join the seven-member board. Phillips, who was sworn in by First Selectman Jim Marpe, fills a vacancy left by Michael Gordon, board chairman, who stepped down in June. “Neil will be an excellent addition to our Westport Board of Education,” said Jeannie Smith, acting chairwoman. “His passion and dedication to our Westport Public Schools has been proven by his active role on the RTM Education Committee over the past five years.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

By James Lomuscio

Unless a denial is reversed by the Representative Town Meeting (RTM), the Westport Board of Education will not get two more school resource officers (SROs) this fall, serving the town’s middle schools.

By a vote of 3 to 2 with 1 abstention the Board of Finance tonight — for the second time — denied First Selectman Jim Marpe’s request for a $260,000 appropriation to the Police Department’s budget to hire two SROs at Coleytown Middle School and Bedford Middle School. The earlier denial was for $320,000.

“I think this is part of an entire security program,” said Marpe in making the request. “It’s one element; it’s not the only element.”

Marpe said he based his request on input from Schools Superintendent Colleen Palmer, who has used SROs in other leadership roles before coming to Westport, as well as recommendations from Police Chief Foti Koskinas.