Westport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon tonight presented to the Board of Education a $113,294,493 proposed budget for 2015-16, a 3.75 percent increase over this year’s operating budget.
Landon said essential drivers of the increase were recommended instructional plans and programs “and our facilities needs, consistent with board goals and the recommendations of NESC (Northeast Education Services Cooperative).”
The school board plans to spend all of Wednesday poring over the proposed budget, the first step in a lengthy process that will involve Board of Education and Board of Finance reviews and approvals, and finally a Representative Town Meeting vote in the spring
“I think is an excellent first step,” said Michael Gordon, board chairman, who called Landon’s budget “academically forward looking and responsible fiscally.”
According to Landon, contractual increases, health insurance, security needs, catching up on deferred maintenance and space limitations all figured into the increase.
The proposed budget also includes monies for trained security personnel in all schools, as well as literacy coaches.
Landon noted that the budget includes studying “expanding the footprint at Staples High School” to accommodate increased student population.
—James Lomuscio
