Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice writes:
The Board of Education has added an agenda item to their meeting tomorrow night (Thursday, January 18), inviting the Long Lots School Building Committee to provide an update to the community.
The meeting is in the Staples High School cafeteria, at 7 p.m. There will be ample time for public comment following the LLSBC update to the BOE.
The community has engaged in an ongoing debate regarding the use of the property adjacent to a planned new construction of Long Lots.
This matter will be brought before the Planning & Zoning Commission on Monday (January 22), when it is anticipated that the first selectwoman will resubmit a recommendation for the use of this property, based on feedback from P & Z at their previous meeting.
I want to emphasize the critical importance of this new construction project moving forward in a timely manner without delay. As determined by multiple professionals, the facility is at the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced. The decision to build a new construction was recommended by the BOE in June 2022.
Further delays of this project can present districtwide complications. As the town has experienced with Coleytown Middle School, major capital failures can lead to significant disruption for many students. Although a capital failure of that magnitude is not necessarily likely, other capital failures (e.g. failure of one of the 3 HVAC systems, increased water incursions, etc.) could necessitate alternative plans for a section of the school, warranting the displacement of a subsection of students.
Mold forced the closing – and subsequent renovation — of Coleytown Middle School.
Again, without a crystal ball, these events cannot be precisely predicted.
However, the recommendation for a new construction (a year and a half ago) was made to avoid any capital failures that could lead to significant disruption for the Long Lots community and other schools in Westport.
This is not only a Long Lots community issue. Advancing this project and maintaining the timeline for the opening of a new LLS in September 2026 is an issue for the entire school community, and larger Westport community.
After only 69 years with one upgrade already, “ the facility is at the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced.” There are structures that are 2,000 years old! This is beyond ridiculous!
It needs to be renovated… not torn down and replaced… there is f all wrong with it ! It’s bar 500k perfect !
There can not be anymore delays on the build of a new school! Do people want lawsuits if there is NOT a new build? Do we want to see a repeat of Coleytown? Have people studied other school districts nationwide? I have never ever heard of a school building being delayed being built due to a community garden. This is getting absurd at this point. Our children and education are top priority at this juncture.
If the building is in such disrepair, better start fixing it next week. It’ll take years to get a new finished product.
That is not how it works and you know it. Study other school districts nationwide. Scarsdale is a good starting point. New Rochelle also had a similar issue. How about Coleyown? The school distrct is being proactive, not reactive, which is responsible. I am saddened that people are not putting kids first and coming up with excuses. The children will be in a safer environment during a rebuild.
Why didn’t the Administration file a new 8-24 yesterday, to get on the next P&Z agenda? Time being of the essence and all.
Last comment! No more filings! No more delay tactics! A new building with no more excuses, delays, or tactics resulting in delays.
Do you consider the proper approval process to be a “delay tactic?”
No more filings? We’re talking about State law here.
Stephanie, If the students are in danger, in real danger, why are they going to finish the school in such dangerous conditions? If there’s an incident, you’re setting yourself up for a lawsuit!
I trust school officials to want the safety of kids to be first and foremost. Read what Scarice wrote. Enough said.
It’s not in such disrepair. We are not talking archaic buildings not reparable. It’s perfectly reparable. For 35m instead of 10o m
What is your deal? I find your comments to be so incredibly rude and abrasive.
Are you seriously saying the BOE and Tom are all liars out to get the gardners and don’t care about the buildings and kids, and only care about athletic fields?
I decided that when I have an empty nest and am of retirement age, I will decide how I feel about paying taxes to a school system that I want to support rather than destroy. If one lives in a suburb that they do not want to support the school system, perhaps that is not the best place to live. Most poeple move to the burbs for schools for their kids after all. Gardens are typically not at the top of the list to move to a particular suburb.
Ciara, when is the last time you had a child as a student at Long Lots or have been inside Long Lots?
I have 4 children ! How many have you ? Huh ? I’ll bet not 4 . So sorry that smart thinking on how to get the school fixed as fast as possible just vexes you. Maybe stop thinking like the administration.
Which school do your childfen currently attend? I
It’s not ! It’s basically perfect bar hvac.
The Town of Westport is holding the school hostage.
Why? They want bigger better sports fields and they are stuffing this ulterior motive under the cover of a new school?
Why? Special interest and a mismanaged Parks and Rec department. Existing fields are in disrepair, in part causing capacity constraints for private league play.
Why should this wait until after the school project? The town’s land-use North Star, the Plan of Conservation and Development, calls for preservation of green space, thus huge land use questions come into play on an already problematic piece of land. Thoughtful review of the town’s Park and Rec facilities and budget has not been done.
Why has this become the long pole in the tent for Long Lots rebuild? That … is the $100M question.
Build the school and worry about special interest sports fields some other time.
Toni, First, Congratulations on your election to the Westport Democratic Town Committee (DTC). Second, let’s stop the nonsense and the “anti Jen Tooker theme” with the Town of Westport holding anyone hostage.
There will hopefully be a new 8-24 presented to the P and Z that will keep the Westport Community Garden Club on the Long Lots School property on Hyde Lane.
This is what Lou Weinberg and all the gardeners want right? Remain on Hyde Lane?
Your First Selectwoman is proposing this right? What is the problem?
All we need now is the and P and Z to approve the 8-24 The First Selectwoman hopefully presents, and we can get on with a new school.
I am hoping the P and Z will have their meeting in PUBLIC so Garden Club members, parents, children and residents of this community can come TO A MICROPHONE, and speak DIRECTLY to members of the P and Z.
Since we have come out of the pandemic, there are no excuses why the Planning and Zoning Commission has NOT held their regular meetings in person.
Committee meetings Zoom. Regular meetings it’s time for
P and Z to join the RTM, BOE, and BOF in holding regular scheduled meetings IN PERSON.
C’mon Jimmy. What single competent thing has Jen Tooker done for the people of Westport as First Selectcritter?
In this case, she spent six months (if not MUCH longer if you look at the FOIA stuff) trying to get the Soccer-Babe Ruth Field put in Long Lots, turf, lights, and all. P&Z pushed back. She withdrew, The administration is resubmitting an 8-24. (Missed the deadline for the next meeting.)
Leadership is not getting your ___ handed to you by P&Z and then coming back with something else. Leadership is working with the community (instead of just your cronies) to propose something that can move forward quickly.
This dolt who made up her name is getting her shovel. Is that because of Tooker’s profound leadership? You don’t have to defend an incompetent leader simply because she is a Republican. (Anyone who knows me knows that I have been non-discriminatory in my criticism of incompetence in my three decades in Town,.)
Chris, please realize the use of terms like “First Selectcritter” detract from your argument.
“Parents with shovels” sound like a security threat. Sound familiar? I’ve been literally libeled by a “mommy.” I’m not using my children as a shield for my bad behavior. You?
The least “Ashley” could do is use her real name before making a nasty comment. Oh, I get it.
Thanks Chris for exposing yet another possibly anonymous “parent” poster. Dan Woog take note.
Jimmy
Thank you for the kind words about my election to the DTC.
I think the ZOOM meetings are far more democratic and fair, especially when the meetings run past midnight. You can hear everything, see everything.
At the last LLSBC meeting, the first meeting had to be cancelled due to travel issues during inclement weather . At the rescheduled meeting, you couldn’t hear or see a thing. At the BOF, speakers are cut off or not given the opportunity to speak at all so the meeting can adjourn at a “readonable hour.”
The PZC is the best run, most transparent, fairest agency of all in our town. They know how to run a public hearing, Other boards and commissions would do well to follow their lead.
I’ll save my comments regarding Long Lots as I would like to remain impartial while this democratic process continues its way.
That process, however, I feel cannot be vetted fairly when:
1. The meeting is held virtually.
2. Public comment was not until extremely late on a school night.
3. Opportunity for large print maps outside auditorium for viewing, later to be exhibited in session.
This project and appropriation is too large, important, and sensitive to be held online. All stakeholders need to be heard in person. This is a 70 year + life expectancy project with a large note attached to it.
For transparency and fairness, I request this meeting be held in person.
In the meantime, send emails to:
RTM-DL@westportct.gov
PANDZ@westportct.gov
BOF-DL@westportct.gov
Andrew, I respect all that you do for the town of Westport. You get things done. For that I thank you, and I will see you at Winslow Saturday morning.
Regarding access to information and long waiting times at meetings…. All of the documents, plans, etc, are available for download at PZC. You can view on you computer, tablet, or print it out. Every single citizen letter, even anonymous ones, are posted. Every departmental report. Every verbal comment can be heard. If these meetings were held in person, we’d have to bring sleeping bags and snacks. Who wants to sit in a municipal auditorium at midnight waiting to speak. I would much rather be in my Jammie’s with a cup of hot tea, and my virtual hand raised.
The PZC is my hero if, for nothing else, their dedication to transparency and fairness.
Happy to see your opinion and accessibility of transparency is positive and has changed.
Not everyone can navigate the website, and all town meetings before Covid were held in person. A large amount of stakeholders are eager to speak in person.
I understand you would like to be in the comfort of your home, with your Jammie’s and tea, but we have to be considerate of others who do not want to meet virtually
I say a pajama and pizza party at town hall for the meeting. My American flag onesie is coming out.
There is zero transparency ! As you well know.
I have attended multiple meetings that are hours long. Meetings that are on zoom give the antendee the ability to do their life. first to be able to move during the meeting, busy parents can bath their kids and tuck their kids in and still be at the meeting. you can see the speakers and hear them clearly. there are so many positives. So many people have trouble driving at night too. I was SO grateful that the 5 hour p and z meeting was on zoom, I spoke at 1 am right around the time of the LLS parents. I work in a school and wake up at 5, and I didn’t feel offended that I wasn’t called on first. Everyone got heard and everyone was treated the same. I was grateful that I didn’t feel crippled from sitting in a chair for 5 hours or like at staples cafe those horrible benches.
I agree with Janine. Also, given to influx of flu/covid/rsv, zoom prevents a town superspreader during the height of respiratory season. Their meetings are also live-streamed through westportct.gov if you just want to watch and not “zoom” in. How easy is that?
P&Z has set the bar for transparency and informing as well. If you can navigate a blog, you can certainly google “8-24 Westport CT” to get the P&Z Town site with each application listed (like posts in a blog) with all documents hyperlinked under each application (like the comments section here). Might be a great “how to navigate Westportct.gov” or Zoom session for the constituents. Had the LLSBC been on Zoom after multiple requests, perhaps their last meeting could have proceeded as originally scheduled.
You Jimmy and Andrew, anyone supporting the first selectwomans insanity are out of your mind !sorry… the circus clown
These actions are narcissistic… crazy… incredibly damaging to the town.
We do not need an anti BUSINESS, authoritarian leader.. sure to send us into the abyss.
If there’s anything she is, it is anti business !
Full on assault on businesses.. all because she cannot stand to get her own way !
she is literally out of her mind with her ideas..
all I can think is vendetta !
If you allign herself with this tragic frame of mind Westport is doomed!
To not get her own way.
No one wants to hang out in a crowded room with a bunch of unvaccinated Republicans spewing their usual spittle.
Lmao… exactly.
Republicans. Take a hint ! We aren’t drinking yo cool aid.
I am not a Republican, I am a Democrat, and your mouth and attitude should be nowhere near children. It is vile and abrasive.
As are you !
Ciara,
What does being a Republican have to do with Long Lots? What kool aide are you speaking of? Why are you dropping f bombs left and right? Why are you talking about excrement? None of this is productive for your cause or the town. If this has something to do with being a Republican, like book banning attemptsp did, please explain. Again, I am for a new build and I am a Democrat.
I’m glad I don’t live in Westport anymore. I lived in town during the golden years, especially the 1950s and 1960s. It seems the “tear down” mentality is now ingrained. I believe I read there were 69 For Rent signs, or For Sale signs just on the Post Rd? Is there even a movie theater in town anymore?
This thread is closed to comments. I am appalled at some of the incivility shown by some readers. Enough is enough. If the Long Lots students were acting like these, they’d get a time out. The Comments section may be headed that way permanently.