James Gikas, 15, a Staples High School sophomore, today won first place in the National History Day competition at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield for his performance as the leader of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. He will go on to compete in the state competition in April. Twenty Westport middle and high school students won awards at today’s event.(CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

By James Lomuscio

Fiscal realities trumped pressure from school officials and parents as the Board of Finance tonight voted 5 to 2 to cut $1.7 million from the $115,351,346 proposed school budget for 2017-18.

School Board Chair Michael Gordon: “Imagine the headline: ‘Board of Finance Cuts $1.7 Million From Westport School Budget.’” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WN photo from Westport Town Television

With that cut and the unanimous official approval of Wednesday night’s provisional $78 million municipal budget, the total town and school budget, including aid to private and parochial schools and debt service, is $203,514,189 for next year.

Following a finance board directive to cut $1.7 million, Schools Superintendent Colleen Palmer and Board of Education members tonight revisited their budget, recommending only $977,000 in cuts.

She and Michael Gordon, school board chairman, as well as more than a dozen parents who spoke, argued that cutting more would have a negative impact on students and the reason people move to Westport.

UPDATE Superintendent of Schools Colleen Palmer said tonight there will be a three-hour delay for Westport public schools on Wednesday.

“Cannot get our drivers from Bridgeport for a.m. – will borrow drivers of closed districts,” she said in a tweet.

“School crews working thru night – 3-hr. delay.”

Later, responding to a question whether Wednesday’s shortened day counts as one of the state-required 182 school days, Palmer replied: “Yes!  If students are in school for any length of time, the day counts.”

Palmer’s tweeted explanation. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) @WestportSuper/twitter.com

Calling herself a “weather geek,” Westport Schools Superintendent Colleen Palmer took to twitter tonight to offer a lengthy explanation about her school cancellation decision early today.

“Why supt. hate calling snow days at 5 a.m. when all we have to go on is the meteorologist’s forecast!,” she wrote. “More snow Tues.”

And, showing her advanced computer capabilities, she bypassed the 140-word twitter limit by attaching an image of her much longer explanation.

Her tweet recalled the uproar over her predecessor Elliott Landon’s 6:45 a.m. late closing call and and subsequent explanation during a February 2014 snowstorm when other districts made it much earlier.  (See WestportNow Feb. 7, 2014)

The Westport Youth Commission is seeking rising ninth through twelfth grade students and adult members for the 2017-2018 school year, Human Services Director Sarah Heath said today.  There are limited vacancies available.

“The Youth Commission serves as advocates for youth issues in Westport and encourages programs and resources for addressing those needs,” she said.

Its 30 members, 15 students and 15 adults, are appointed by the First Selectman. Incoming ninth grade students are invited to join the Freshman Committee prior to applying for appointment as sophomores.

“If you are currently in grades eight through eleven and/or an adult who is interested in discussing youth issues on a monthly basis while making a difference in your community we invite you to join,” Heath said.