Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice sends this update to all Westport Public Schools families:
We’re off to a strong start! Thank you for your partnership in making the opening days safe, focused, and full of enthusiasm. Below are brief updates on several important topics.
AI in Westport: Human‑Centered, Future‑Ready
On Thursday night I provided a comprehensive update to the Board of Education on the various projects across the system, our successes, and the challenges before us. That report can be viewed here.
At the top of this list is AI. On October 23, in partnership with members of the faculty and administration, I will be presenting the district Strategic Plan for AI.
This summer a team of over 50 Westport educators began drafting our AI plans. We view AI as a human‑centered tool, not a replacement for teachers. Used well, AI will help rehumanize school by reducing routine tasks for teachers, personalizing learning for students at scale, and creating more time for feedback, relationships, and rich, authentic work.
Our approach is purposeful and ethical: strong privacy and data protections, an AI Code of Ethics, and consistent access so tools can reach all students.
AI literacy will be a primary focus so students become creative, critical, and responsible users and creators of these technologies.
We won’t chase trends. We will lead, on Westport’s terms. Our mission, not the technology, will guide our decisions.
Please join us October 23 as we present the AI Strategic Plan, a clear vision statement, and our Code of Ethics to the Board of Education.
Phone-Free Schools Update
In June of 2024, I recommended restricting access to smartphones and wearable technology during the school day across all grade levels.
Since then, our phone-free initiative has been successfully implemented across all elementary and middle schools. Students at these levels now benefit from a learning environment free from the distractions of personal devices.
In my final recommendation to the Board of Education last school year in May 15 (see pages 14-36), I continued to press for a bell-to-bell phone-free school day at Staples High School.
The Board expressed support for this direction, while requesting that a detailed implementation plan be developed before final approval.
This summer, a team of Staples faculty and administrators drafted a comprehensive implementation plan. That plan is in the process of being reviewed by a review committee composed of faculty, students, and parents.
The charge of the review committee is not to determine whether to move forward with a phone-free day, but to provide feedback on the implementation plan to maximize effectiveness.
The work of the review committee will culminate this month with a return to the Board of Education on October 9. Full implementation of a phone0free Staples is expected for the start of the second quarter.
We look forward to input from the review committee, and returning to the Board of Education, before establishing a true phone free school environment across all schools in Westport.
Please join us on October 9 at 7 p.m. in the Staples Cafeteria for the presentation to the Board of Education.
School Security
Last spring, we completed our first comprehensive security evaluation in more than a decade. The nearly 300‑page report was presented to the Board of Education in executive session at the most recent meeting.
Our schools are safe, with strong systems, secure facilities, and an exemplary partnership with the Westport Police Department. Yet we are committed to continuous improvement.
The Board will continue its review in executive session over the coming weeks, and we will develop and share an action plan with the community while maintaining appropriate confidentiality.
Early Dismissal Times
In an effort to establish consistent early dismissal times for conferences, professional development, and the day preceding vacations, these dismissal times will be implemented for all levels this year:
- Staples: 11 a.m.
- BMS, CMS, SES: 11:30 a.m.
- KHS, LLS, GFS, CES: 12 noon
Parent Square
As a reminder, WPS employees are expressly prohibited from texting students. To strengthen communication, the district introduced ParentSquare last year. ParentSquare is now our primary platform for sharing important school updates, alerts, PTA newsletters, events and reminders. If you haven’t yet signed up, or if your original link has expired, you can easily register by downloading the ParentSquare app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Board of Education Dates to Know – 7 p.m., Staples cafeteria
October 9: Review of the Staples phone‑free implementation plan
October 23: Presentation of the district AI Strategic Plan.
If Westport didn’t offer Scarice a raise, he would have stayed in his job. This is how Westport doesn’t seem to care about keeping taxes low! There’s zero chance he would have left!
It’s the usual bull shit !!!! Scarice goes with the flow.
Even when it’s is a shit show.
Another quality contribution from the Queen of Skullduggery with ZERO children in WPT public schools.
Thanks Webster.
Another quality contribution from Jack.
Thanks Jack.
Janice, I would have offered Scarice his job with 2% lower pay with an understanding that the reduction in his salary is actually a“charitable contribution “ to help improve the quality of the school and he could definitely take it as a tax deduction while we’d be saving money and helping to lower taxes! A gift to a public school qualifies for a tax deduction! Vote for me!
I am asking Mr. Scarice to use his ENTIRE raise and make it a charitable contribution to Westport’s Public Schools!! Whatya say Mr. Scarice? Will you do it for the people of Westport? You’d get a tax deduction while saving taxpayers’ money. It’s a “ win- win scenario.