A week after cutting the Board of Education budget by $2,050,00, the Westport Board of Finance voted tonight to restore $1,128,000 of the cut.

The 4 to 3 vote (Caney, Gordon, and Hartwell opposed) came after talk of the teachers union “ holding the town hostage” by failing to agree with six other educational unions to move to the state health plan. The move could save the town more than $1 million.

John Horrigan, president of the Westport Education Association, the teachers union, rejected the hostage accusation leveled by Jeff Wieser, a Representative Town Meeting (RTM) member and chair of its finance committee.

“We are not hostage takers,” Horrigan told the board. He had said that if the town agreed to an additional $140,000 expense in funding the teachers’ health plan, the union would agree to join the state plan.

Staples High School today named Jackson Delgado (l) and Nick Attkiss class of 2018 valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. Jackson will speak at the graduation ceremony on June 22. The night before, Nick addresses the senior class, parents and guests at baccalaureate.
Both have gone through the Westport school system from elementary school on, and both will enter Harvard University in the fall. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The Bedford Middle School Science Olympiad Team recently won the Connecticut Science Olympiad Championship held at Irving Robbins Middle School, Farmington. The team defeated 17 school teams from across the state under the guidance of teachers Arthur Ellis, Kathryn Nicholas, and Daniel Cortright. Members now prepare to travel to the 34th Annual Science Olympiad National Tournament on May 18-19 at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, Colorado. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The Westport Public Schools today announced the appointment of Anthony Buono as an assistant superintendent of schools effective July 1.

Anthony Buono: began career as stockbroker. Contributed photo

Buono, who holds a Ph.D. in adult learning theory from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, comes from the Branford school system where he has served as the assistant superintendent since 2015.

“Dr. Buono is an exemplary educational leader who thrives on cultivating leadership skills in those he works with and empowering teachers to boldly contribute to the mission of the work,” an announcement said.

“In his new role in Westport, he will oversee the PreK-12 academic program and serve as an integral part of the executive leadership team of the District.  His commitment to excellence and his dedication to every student’s success are hallmarks of his approach to his work.”

After more than four hours of strained discussions, Westport’s Board of Education tonight voted 5 to 2 to ask for a $1.5 million restoration from the Board of Finance when it meets Wednesday.

The finance board by a 6 to 1 vote last week cut $2,050,000 from the schools’ $118,223,800 proposed budget for next year. (See WestportNow April 18, 2018)

“This was the deepest cut I’ve ever seen,” said Superintendent Coleen Palmer, citing her 15 years as superintendent in other districts, as well as Westport.

Palmer had said that the schools could achieve a $1.3 million savings if the school unions partnered with the state health plan. But that estimate has since been lowered to $1,078,000, the board was told.