By James Lomuscio
School security, bus delays making children late for school, the common core, even the lack of racial diversity among teachers were among the topics the Democratic and Republican candidates for the Westport Board of Education discussed today at a public forum.
Board of Education candidates taking part included (l-r) Elaine Whitney, Brett Aronow, Jeanie Smith, Karen Kleine and Michael McGovern. Dianne Wildman was moderator. James Lomuscio for WestportNow.com
The occasion was a standing-room-only, PTA Council-sponsored event moderated by television journalist Dianne Wildman in The Westport Library’s McManus Room.
Wildman, a Westporter and former Cablevsion executive producer and NBC News correspondent, said at the outset that she wanted the candidates to mix it up and quipped about bloodletting.
But the Republicans Michael McGovern and Jeannie Smith, both incumbents, and newcomer Karen Kleine, as well as the Democrats, Elaine Whitney, board chairwoman, and board member Brett Aronow, remained cordial throughout.
The only shot came from Aronow responding to McGovern’s criticism of the school administration for not working closely and quickly enough with the Police Department on matters of school security
“With Mike, it’s odd that he voted twice against (the creation of school security committees at each of the schools),” Aronow said.
“I would love to tell you why,” McGovern responded, noting that a vote that particular evening would violate procedure since it had been listed on the agenda as a discussion item, not an action one.
“When we discuss something, you don’t vote on it in the same meeting,” he said later. “You wait to get the public to express their views on the subject.”
Whitney chimed in that “rules are to facilitate, not to get in the way.”
“I have particularly taken the lead to strengthen our relationship with the Police Department and Fire Department,” Whitney said.
As he has in the past, McGovern faulted the administration for not moving fast enough on security measures, saying that with the one-year anniversary of the Newtown attacks, the school system “has yet to turn a screwdriver” in terms of upgrades, specifically interior door locking devices.
Fellow Republican Kleine pointed out that McGovern had to take the lead to get Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon to share its suicide prevention policy, a matter of school security, with the Police Department.
In response to Wildman’s question about buses making children late because the school system cut its fleet by four, Whitney said that “it still proves to be a challenge,” and that better coordination is needed.
Aronow, a former PTA Council co-president, said the removal of the buses has had a “cascading effect,” and that it would require changing schedules.
“This is a problem,” said Smith. “I’m hearing from all the parents that their kids are not getting to school on time.”
Smith noted that her first grade son recently arrived late to school. He stepped into an empty classroom and began crying since his class was in a special assembly, she said.
Aronow noted that next year it would require changing school schedule and a budgetary increase.
“Where do you get the money?” Wildman asked McGovern.
“A $200,000 cost on a $105 million budget? You can’t tell me we can’t find it somewhere,” he responded. “The bigger issue is what do we do now? …It’s a quality of life issue for all our families.”
He added there is starting time inequity, with, for example, Bedford Middle School beginning at 8 a.m. and Coleytown Middle School, 7:45 a.m. McGovern noted fifth graders start 8:45 a.m.and sixth graders 7:45 a.m.
Wildman also asked whether the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program piloted in middle school this year would cause other electives, such as the arts, to suffer. She described the scene of a girl violin prodigy not being able to excel.
“Can the violin player do both?”
“Absolutely,“Whitney said. “Both are critical. All of the creative arts, as well as technology, involve using different parts of the mind.
“STEM is just an example of implementing our 2025 curriculum,” she added.
During the audience participation section, one mother commented she has not seen enough progress in school security.
“Tell me how I can feel a little better, and that we have done all we can,” she said.
Smith cited the $98,000 approved for a school system security audit being conducted by Kroll Security Advisors. Whitney spoke about the school system having liaisons with the Police Department.
“It’s not going as quickly as it can,” said the mother, who had earlier said she wanted a guarantee that her child would be safe.
“I’m going to say something people don’t want to hear,” McGovern responded, noting that it was something he had learned from talking to Kroll and the police. “Newtown was neither predictable nor preventable. It was a bolt of lightning.
“We have to openly and honestly assess the threat, and we have to have a better system for people entering our schools,” he added. “But, we’re not going to turn our schools into fortresses. That’s not what the community wants.”
One mother, a black woman, asked how the school system was preparing children for the world in terms of diversity since it has dearth of non-whites on its staff.
The woman went on to say that when she has picked up her daughter at school, she has been mistaken for the nanny.
“We can’t increase diversity in our town,” Aronow said. “I wish we could. Why don’t we recruit more teachers of color? I think we need to address that issue.”
“I’m sorry that happened, and I’m grateful you’re here,” said Smith, the only candidate who is a teacher, who said she had taught in a racially diverse school system in Ossining, N.Y.
She added that the school system can also address diversity in its literature courses.
One man new to Westport asked if sports program budgets could be trimmed to spend more on technology programs.
McGovern answered that the importance of sports was “a societal” one, and that physical exercise helps students improve their ability to learn.
He also pointed out that many sports teams are supported by booster clubs, not the taxpayer.
At the forum’s close, each candidate was given two minutes to say why she or he should be elected Nov. 5.
