By James Lomuscio
Westport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon, who is retiring at the end of June, tonight presented his proposed 2016-17 school operating budget to the Board of Education—$113,428,663, a 2.03 percent increase over the current year.
Board of Education members Jeannie Smith and Michael Gordon with Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon at tonight’s meeting. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
It is Landon’s 17th and final proposed budget.
Though higher than the 1.5 percent increase the Board of Finance had suggested, Landon said “a lot of unknowns” regarding contractual settlements with teachers and staff were taken into account. He also said his recommended budget reflects cuts that do not affect educational quality.
Among the cuts is the elimination of the elementary school bus monitor program that has been in place for 23 years, as many of the monitors are retiring.
“The question is are they as productive,” he said about the program that began in response to the December 1991 death of 8-year-old Holly Finley who was run over by her school bus when her drawstring of her jacket was caught on the bus.
He also recommended the elimination of all four, third grade paraprofessionals and eliminating middle school team leaders.
At the same time, Landon’s budget calls for the expansion of elementary school literacy coaches, adding a third security officer at Staples High School and being “committed to maintaining robust professional development” programs.
“I think the school system next year will be strong, our instructional programs will flourish, and the schools will be in good shape,” Landon said.
Michael Gordon, school board chairman, said that over the next several weeks the Board of Education will do a line by line budget review. The first one begins Friday at 8:30 a.m., running through the afternoon.
He also suggested that there be a general discussion with public input about elimination of the school bus monitor program and other proposed changes.
According to Elio Longo, school business administrator, the school board will vote on its adjusted budget on Monday, Feb. 8.
In other matters, James D’Amico, director of secondary education, discussed plans for finding adequate space at Staples, which this year has 1,900 students, 100 over capacity. Among immediate top priorities are finding space for new engineering programs and earth science laboratories, as well as additional classroom space for math.
D’Amico also spoke about the need for a maker space, transforming the World Language Learning Center into full time instructional space and moving the engineering programs to the greenhouse, displacing horticultural space.
