The new principal of Long Lots Elementary School, Debra Dunn, welcomes students today along with Peter Barcello (l) head custodian, and Ryan Butler, security manager. Dunn, formerly schools superintendent of the York, Maine public schools, had earlier served as an elementary school principal in Massachusetts. She replaces Jeffrey Golubchick, who was removed and placed on administrative leave in February while an interim principal finished out the school year. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Coleytown El Principal Jana Sirowich, starting her eighth year as principal and 10th year at Coleytown, today welcomes new kindergarten student Nevaeh Grant. Sirowich said there are 61 new kindergartners at Coleytown this year. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Greens Farms Elementary School Principal Kevin Cazzetta welcomes students back to school today. He is starting his third year at Greens Farms where he was previously assistant principal for six years with two years in between as principal in Simsbury. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Parents snap pictures today at Keyeser Road and Imperial Avenue as youngsters board a bus for the first day of school. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Staples High School senior girls were out early today to welcome fellow students on the first day of school. Pictured (l-r) Alexa Moro, Dara Kissel, Avery Mendillo, Meghan Johnson. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Superintendent of Schools Colleen Palmer said tonight Westport schools will open Thursday with slightly fewer students than last year. 

Colleen Palmer: “Active, vibrant preschool” set. Dave Matlow / WN file photo

She also announced the January opening of the Little Wrecker Preschool at Staples High School as well as the selection of the 2018 Teacher of the Year.

Addressing the year’s first Board of Education meeting, Palmer said kindergarten through 12th grade enrollment stands at 5,528, down 32 students from last fall as expected by demographic projections.

She also broke news that the Little Wreckers Preschool will open at Staples in January. It will be open daily from 7 a.m. “until the last teacher meeting in the afternoon,” Palmer said.

By James Lomuscio

In its first meeting of the 2017-18 academic year, Westport’s Board of Education tonight voted 5 to 1 to give back $390,000 of its unspent funds to the town and to put $327,075 of its unused money into its carryover account.

The return was requested by Schools Superintendent Colleen Palmer as “an act of good faith” to the town. She said it would help to build a strong partnership with the town, which had shown the school system support by providing the money at the end of the school year.

Her request was met with some resistance.

“I think we should put it all in the carryover account,” said Mark Mathias, calling the account “a mitigating tool for uncertainty,