Westport Schools Superintendent Colleen Palmer said tonight schools are likely to open on time Wednesday.

“Unless forecast changes dramatically overnight, we plan to open schools on time tomorrow,” she said in a tweet.

“If storm progresses as predicted, we may need a weather-related early dismissal, creating a postponement of our scheduled elementary parent-teacher afternoon conferences.

“Up at 4 am again!”

Tenth grade U.S. history honors students from Staples High School and eighth graders from Bedford Middle School returned to Sacred Heart University to once again demonstrate their academic skills at the 2018 National History Day Regional Competition. The annual competition determines the projects that will advance to the state contest where students will compete for a chance to attend the National History Day competition at the University of Maryland in June. Pictured: Sophia Beninati, Lizzy Kuehndorf, and Emma Nordberg (not pictured with the group is Mia Didio). Contributed photo

Westport students recently participated in the 2018 National History Day Regional Competition at Sacred Heart University. Among them were Chloe Murray, Karina Murray, and Gabriella Messenger. Contributed photo

Several hundred adults and children today attended a three-hour variety of workshops at Bedford Middle School known as Minds in Motion. It was jointly hosted by Westport PTA, Westport Public Schools, and the Connecticut Association for the Gifted, a nonprofit organization founded in 1969. Its membership includes parents, grandparents and teachers of gifted children, gifted coordinators, regular education teachers, school and district administrators, psychologists, counselors and others interested in supporting gifted and talented education. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Saugatuck Elementaryy School parents gathered tonight at the Birchwood Country Club for the school’s “Hoops and Heels” fundraiser gala. It was Saugatuck’s first major fundraiser in six years. Money raised will help support the SEAL grant program, which provides enrichment funds and programs for teachers. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

By Jarret Liotta

More than 150 parents came to the Bedford Middle School auditorium tonight to learn what school and town officials are doing to promote school safety, as well as to voice their fears and concerns following the recent threat at Staples High School.

Officials listen to comments from parent Allison Keisman at tonight’s talk on school security. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com

Superintendent of Schools Colleen Palmer took the opportunity to promote her imminent request for four new, armed school resource police officers.

“I believe we need a team of SRO’s,” she said, estimating it would be a $600,000 budget increase.

A total investment of $1,740,000 has gone toward school security since the Newtown shooting five years ago, according to Elio Longo, director of business operations.

By Jarret Liotta

See video of Staples field house meeting HERE

UPDATE Staples High School students today joined a nationwide school walkout following the Parkland shootings by holding a meeting in the field house seeking tighter gun regulations.

Parents outside Staples High School show their support today for the nationwide protest. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com

One speaker, rally organizer senior Theo Koskoff, while thanking the administration for ensuring a safe and orderly walkout, said an administration request “that we remain apolitical is unacceptable,” according to a video recording of the meeting by the Staples newspaper, Inklings. Outside media, as well as parents, were barred from the school grounds.

“Instead of voicing our political opinions and exercising our right to free speech, the administration has encouraged us to hide any debate or confrontation behind a thin veil of artificial unity,” Koskoff said.

He added: “We will be the generation to tear down this veil, to exploit the very vacuum which has been abused by lobbyists and special interest groups for far too long and put and end to gun violence in the United States by demanding common sense gun regulations…”