By Gordon Joseloff

Four months into her job, Westport Schools Superintendent Colleen Palmer said today it is the “best job in the world.”

Superintendent of Schools Colleen Palmer addresses the Westport Rotary Club today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

In a wide-ranging talk to the weekly meeting of the Westport Rotary Club at Branson Hall at Christ & Holy Trinity Church, she said it is “truly a privilege to serve in this role.”

“I do live in Westport,” said Palmer, who was formerly superintendent in Weston. And, bringing laughter from the audience, she added: “And so I’ve tried to figure out how to make a left turn into Starbucks….the problems we should have.”

“I love it here,” she said. “I love the vibrancy. I love the energy. I love the intellect, the passion, the talent of this community.”

Westport Superintendent of Schools Colleen Palmer said today while Westport is “kind of an oasis here, isolated in so many ways,” a new administration in Washington will bring changes as “things cascade down to us.” Addressing the weekly meeting of the Westport Rotary Club, she said, however, she is not overly concerned. “I’m not so worried about the federal government because whatever they’ve done I tried to find a way creatively to do what I need to do…and I’ve been successful so far.” she said. But she added: “I am more worried about the long-term funding of education.”  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Following a day before Thanksgiving tradition of more than 40 years, students from Westport’s Coleytown Middle School gathered today for its annual giving assembly. The school community donated 2,000 items of food, boxes of school supplies and hygiene kits and more than $4,300 in funds to seven area nonprofits serving the needy. Recipients included Homes with Hope, Saugatuck Congregational Church, Westport’s Department of Human Services, Al’s Angels, Connecticut Quest for Peace, Westport Animal Shelter Advocates and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

UPDATE The principal of Westport’s Staples High School says students have been sharing “offensive and defamatory memes” on a Facebook page and asked parents to support efforts to stop the practice.

James D’Amico: denounces Facebook postings.  Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

In a letter to parents Thursday, James D’Amico also disclosed that about a dozen students were so upset by Tuesday’s presidential election results that they met with school counselors.

D’Amico, who took over the post on July 1, explained that memes are “images, video, text, etc. that are modified generally with captions that are usually intended to be humorous.”

But he said “the vast majority of the memes shared on this page were offensive and mean-spirited to say the least. We are fortunate that a brave student came forward to share this information with us.”

By James Lomuscio

Despite enrollment drops in Westport’s elementary schools and crowding at Staples High Schools over the past five years, the trend will reverse itself in the next five years, Board of Education members heard tonight.

Westport student enrollment projections for the next five years. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) NESDEC graphic

Donald G. Kennedy, senior staff member at the Marlborough, Mass.-based New England School Development Council (NESDEC), based the rosy forecast on “the move-in factor” due to the recession ending and the town remaining a desirable place to live.

“People want to be here and want to buy homes in Westport because they like the quality of life and they like the schools,” said Kennedy, who has been projecting Westport enrollments since at least 2005.

Sitting in on the meeting were members of the Board of Finance, taking note to work with the school board as it begins working on the 2017-18 operating budget.

Students at Westport’s Saugatuck Elementary School today celebrated at their fifth annual Halloween Boo Bash. About 850 partygoers enjoyed a magic show, DJ, games, and raffles at the sold-out event. All proceeds benefit SES enrichments. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Westport real estate attorney Candice Savin joined the Board of Education tonight, taking her seat after being sworn in by Town Clerk Patricia Strauss following unanimous approval by the board.

Candice Savin: takes over vacant seat. Photo from BOE Television

Savin replaces Brett Aronow, who stepped down from the seven-member board Sept. 26. Savin will fulfill the term, which ends November 2017.

Savin, a Democrat, was one of three finalists out of 10 applicants interviewed by the Democratic Town Committee’s (DTC) search committee. Savin serves as vice chair of the DTC but was not involved in the search process.

Michael Gordon, school board chairman, touted Savin’s background. She served on the Kings Highway School’s PTA, the boards of The Conservative Synagogue and Hadassah, as a former New York City prosecutor and currently works a local real estate attorney, he said.