The Westport Board of Education voted Tuesday night to have the Norwalk Public School system assume responsibility for state-mandated programs under its Continuing Education program beginning with the start of the 2015-16 school year.
The decision will have the effect of reducing the school district’s per student costs for the programs. These include English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) as well as those addressing basic literacy needs, and teach the necessary skills to transition to higher education, training or employment.
While the Westport programs serve very few adults, the Norwalk Continuing Education program is geared to serve larger numbers more efficiently, according to board members.
Additionally, while Westport’s programs are offered only a few nights during the week, the Norwalk Continuing Education program serves adults six days and evenings per week, including Saturdays.
As a result of the reorganization, the current operating budget, which reflects an expenditure of $150,000, will show a much reduced expenditure of $25,000 beginning with the start of the next fiscal year, the members said.
“Our Continuing Education program will be far more productive and efficient as our staff focuses all of its energies only on our full year and summer programs,” said Board of Education Chairman Michael Gordon.
This action comes in advance of an audit of the program requested by Director of School Business Operations Elio Longo, a former Norwalk Board of Education employee who negotiated the agreement with Norwalk officials.
“This decision will enable the Westport Public Schools to take a giant leap forward in assuring the long-term health of a program that has been valued by the residents of Westport for many years,” Gordon said.
Jeannie Smith, board vice-chair, noted, “Although we are transferring this function to Norwalk Continuing Education, we will now be able to maintain our robust full year and summer adult and continuing education program for children and adults for many years to come.”
She added, “Moreover, our decision puts the program firmly on the positive side of the fiscal ledger for the foreseeable future.”
