School Board Will Not Seek Budget Restoration

By James Lomuscio

Westport’s Board of Education voted unanimously tonight not to ask the Board of Finance when it meets Wednesday to restore the $250,000 cut from the school’s proposed $98.6 million 20011-12 budget.

The vote followed a recommendation from Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon who said he acknowledge the town’s “difficult financial situation.’

“I’m always reluctant not to seek restoration because the budgets we put together always reflect fiscal prudence,” said Landon. “However, I recognize the town is in a difficult financial situation.”

Landon also noted that the Board of Finance, in making the cut “appeared to do so reluctantly.”

Finance board member Avi Kaner made the motion for the cut.

He said much of it could come from consolidating services with the town including payroll processing, accounts payable, human resource administration, and information technology tech support—areas that do not affect students or teachers. He noted that technology costs have consistently dropped since 2007.

“So at this point I am suggesting that we live with the cut and sacrifice within our budget,” said Landon.

While not being specific as to where those cuts would be made, school board members have discussed the consolidation of replicated town and school services.

Donald O’Day, school board chairman, took the opportunity to thank the finance board for a fair process, calling its members “pro-school and pro-education.”

O’Day added that the school budget as presented was flat, “but I understand their reasoning trying to lower the town expenses in aggregate.”

Some school board members, including Jim Marpe, vice chairman, and Elaine Whitney, noted that the there is always the possibility of other expenses, such as an unexpected jump in student population as September nears.

“Should that happen, I think it is something the Board of Finance would realize,” Whitney said, adding that the school board would have to ask for more funds. “We’re really at a tipping point.”

In other matters, Landon described the school system’s policy on bullying, a policy that parents can read on the school website. He also outlined the district’s many programs, services and safeguards to combat bullying.

The topic garnered national attention in the past week when a 13-year-old Bedford Middle School student posted a video about being bullied on YouTube. The video went viral.

“I think everyone is very, very vigilant,” stressed Landon.

Board member Michael McGovern suggested that the school system’s policy be updated to deal with cyber-bullying.

“The challenge we have is, ‘How do we keep up with what’s happening out there? ’ ” said McGovern.

Landon responded that the Westport school have policies for acceptable computer use, and that school officials are cooperating “with the Police Department to locate sources of egregious cyber-bullying.”

The school board also voted unanimously voted to hire Julie Drover, a Ridgefield elementary school principal, to head the Saugatuck Elementary School effective July 1, replacing Principal Bob Buckley, who is retiring. 

The board also heard a more than hour presentation on the system-wide writing program that involves student-teacher conferences, teacher comments and students revisions.

Cited was the middle school writing program that has children focus their writing on ways to solve real world problems.

This story has been updated to clarify Kaner’s reasoning for proposing the budget cut.