The superintendent of schools has long been the town of Westport’s highest paid employee.
Next year, Thomas Scarice will make 3% more.
Last night, the Board of Education voted unanimously to raise his base salary to $344,563. His rolling 3-year contract has been extended every year since he took the Westport Public Schools’ top job in 2020.
The action came after the Board offered similar 3% raises to 4 top district officials.
Chief financial officer Elio Longo will make $281,949. The 3 assistant superintendents are: pupil services Mike Rizzo ($260,205), human resources John Bayers ($251,070), and teaching and planning Anna Mahon ($247,200).
Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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Speaking of schools: The Coleytown Company curtain is closing on the directing career of Ben Frimmer.
After more than 30 years of leading the middle school drama troupe, the program’s founder is stepping off stage.
Frimmer says, “This program has been one of the greatest joys of my life. It has been an honor to work with so many talented students and supportive families over the years, and I am incredibly proud of the community we have built together.”
His work as a Broadway and West End producer has grown significantly, he says. With “The Hunger Games: On Stage,” “John Proctor is the Villain” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” — plus other projects in development — he must “devote more time to this exciting chapter of my career.”
Katie Bloom will take over as Coleytown Company director.
“Katie brings tremendous experience, having spent more than 20 years as a Westport educator while also running her own successful theatre company in Newtown,” Frimmer says.
“She is an outstanding teacher, director and leader, and I know the program will flourish under her guidance. She will also be supported by our experienced Coleytown Company staff, who know the program and its traditions well.”
Frimmer will continue to teach at CMS. And, he says, he will watch “with great excitement as Katie leads the next chapter of this remarkable program.”
Ben Frimmer
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As the thermometer soars past 90, severe thunderstorms threaten and air quality deteriorates, Westport preparing for the next 3 days.
These cooling centers will be open:
- Senior Center: Friday only, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Westport Library: Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.
- Westport Weston Family YMCA (14 Allen Raymond Lane): Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Westport Museum for History & Culture: Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For help or transportation, call 211 or click here.
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The moment Patty Haberstroh was diagnosed with ALS, her family leaped to help her. And to raise funds for every other person battling the disease, and their families.
Her son Steve is gearing up for his 3rd 100 Holes to Defeat ALS golf event.
In just 4 years, it’s grown from 2 golfers to 32. This year alone, they’ve raised $650,000 — and, Steve says, “we haven’t even teed it up yet.”
The corporate sponsor outing at The Country Club of New Canaan this Monday is already sold out.
The next day (Tuesday, June 16) Steve plays the “100 holes” at Keney Park in Windsor. (Hey, someone’s gotta do it!)
That evening Steve’s brother Chuck and ESPN’s (and Westport’s) Dan Orlovsky emcee a gala, with a live auction. They hope to raise $100,000.
There are Westport connections to the events, besides the Haberstrohs and Orlovsky.
Experience Camps –headquartered here — is one of 3 fundraising recipients. “100 Holes” co-founder Cory Sullivan attended a camp — for children who have lost parents — years ago, after his father died from ALS. It was so impactful, he later spent years as a counselor.
Several Westport families are now battling ALS. “We won’t stop fighting until there are cures,” Haberstroh says.
For more info on the events, and to contribute, click here.
The Haberstrohs remember their mom.
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Greensky Bluegrass brought their special magic to the Levitt Pavilion last night. The skies cleared just in time for a well-received show.
The Disco Biscuits play 2 ticketed shows, tonight (Friday) and tomorrow.
Sunday’s free show is “Seth Sikes: Everything’s Coming Up Rainbows – A Broadway Pride Concert,” with special guest Rose Levine.
Click here for a full Levitt Pavilion calendar, and ticket information.
Greensky Bluegrass (Photo/Lou Weinberg)
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For the 47th year, the Point to Point Swim takes place this summer. Save the date: Saturday, July 25.
And — as it has for nearly 5 decades — the Compo Beach event brings together swimmers of all levels. First-time open water participants join seasoned competitors, for a fun and meaningful morning.
Funds raised help children and families access camp, swim lessons, water safety, and youth development programs.
Registrants by June 15 get a race t-shirt. Click here for details.
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A good crowd turned out yesterday for the Westport Farmers’ Market.
Held every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through November, at the Imperial Avenue parking lot, it’s a true community event.
Live music and lunchtime food stalls complement more than 2 dozen vendors. Fresh produce, breads, herbs, flowers, juices, honey, coffee … it’s all there, and more.
Plus knife sharpening!
Click here for details, including a full vendors’ list.
A tent keeps everyone cool. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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It’s a big month for Owen Daniel.
He’s graduating from Weston High School. And the singer/songwriter just released his second single, “Hundreds of Miles.”
The track captures the emotional experience of entering a new chapter of life. It’s available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music.
Produced in collaboration with Factory Underground Studio in Norwalk, the song reflects on distance, growth and connection, at a time of life transitions.
While strongly resonating with the Class of 2026 — and called “the graduation song of the year” — “Hundreds of Miles” is relatable to anyone navigating change or separation. The song balances nostalgia with optimism, offering reassurance that meaningful relationships can endure even as people move in different directions.
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On Tuesday — after, no doubt, thinking about it for a while — someone decided it was “time” to take this piece from home to the transfer station.
(Photo/John McKinney)
No word on whether it was recycled, or someone (wisely) decided to reuse it.
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Jillian Elder’s Westport-themed designs are always popular.
Her new collection includes 6 designs that she’s been thinking about for years, and finally brought to life. Inspiration came from Robert Indiana’s “LOVE” statue, and the classic I ❤️ New York logo.
The pieces blend bold, nostalgic pop art with a modern, wearable twist.
Click here for designs, and to order. PS: Saugatuck, Greens Farms and Compo Beach options are available too.
3 of Jillian Elder’s new designs.
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Congratulations to Westport’s 4 newest Eagle Scouts.
Evie Bory, Lucas Gomez, Harrison Sydor and Charles Beckwith — members of Troops 39 and 139 — were recognized at a Court of Honor recently, at Green’s Farms Church.
From left: Evie Bory, Lucas Gomez, Harrison Sydor, Charles Beckwith.
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Lior Raz — co-creator and star of Netflix’s hit series “Fauda,” is coming to Westport.
Hosted by Chabad of Westport, the July 21 event is a chance to hear from one of Israel’s most recognized actors and storytellers. He will discuss his service in an elite IDF unit, the creation and global success of “Fauda,” and his perspective on current events in the Middle East.
A VIP reception begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by the main program at 7:30 p.m. The location will be provided upon registration. Proceeds from the event support Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency medical service.
For event details and tickets, visit click here. or click here.
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This is the season when Westport is both its bluest, and its greenest.
John Richers captured the contrast, for our daily “Westport … Naturally” feature.
(Photo/John Richers)
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And finally … in honor of a beautiful grandfather clock (item above):
(Thanks for taking the time to read today’s Roundup. We hope you learned something, were inspired, or at least entertained. Now, please take time to click here, and support “06880.” Thank you!)
The Board of Education’s March 19, May 21, June 1, and June 11 evaluations of Superintendent Tom Scarice (variously referred to as “Mid-Year Superintendent Review” and “Performance Evaluation of the Superintendent of Schools”) took place in executive session. That’s a historically high number of executive sessions devoted to one person’s performance review.
We can safely assume there were no written questions or answers, and we can assume the board has not summarized the evaluation in writing. We can assume no written record of any kind exists. Which means parents, taxpayers, students, and voters can’t make a FOIA request to find out the questions the board asked and the answers Mr. Scarice provided.
That’s what the rules are. That’s the process. We get it.
How Mr. Scarice is doing—and how board members are assessing it—remains hidden. Is he addressing recent disparities in engagement scores, and various dips in some math, science, and reading scores? The scores seemed important to board members when they were presented. Is the board still concerned? Is there a plan? And there are other questions.
Any follow-ups to these overarching, big-picture concerns are generally secret; residents are left to draw imperfect conclusions.
Is there a way for Westport’s seven elected board members to provide taxpayers with basic insight into the performance of the town’s most highly compensated official, who—as we know—is in charge of 63 percent of the Westport town budget?
Transparency is important to voters, and I’m hoping there’s a way to respect Mr. Scarice’s rights as well as ours, to find a middle ground between privacy and opacity.
For those interested, here is some appropriate language for a FOIA request:
“Copies of the superintendent’s most recent annual evaluation, performance goals, evaluation rubric, summary evaluation, board findings, and any documents presented to the Board of Education in connection with the superintendent’s contract extension and compensation review.”
Further:
“For Westport, if the Board relied on student performance measures when extending Superintendent Thomas Scarice’s contract or awarding compensation, you could request:
* The superintendent’s annual goals.
* Any student achievement metrics tied to those goals.
* Board reports or presentations discussing goal attainment.
* Evaluation summaries and scoring rubrics.”
And, putting it all together:
“Subject: FOIA Request – Superintendent Evaluation Metrics and Student Performance Data
Pursuant to the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act, I request copies of the following records relating to the evaluation of the Superintendent of Schools:
1. The Superintendent’s annual goals, objectives, performance indicators, and success criteria for the most recent evaluation cycle.
2. Any reports, scorecards, dashboards, presentations, memoranda, spreadsheets, or other documents used by the Board of Education to assess the Superintendent’s performance against those goals.
3. Any student achievement, academic performance, attendance, graduation, college readiness, school climate, or other district performance metrics considered by the Board in evaluating the Superintendent.
4. Any summaries, findings, ratings, or conclusions presented to the Board regarding the Superintendent’s attainment of performance goals.
5. Any documents presented to or relied upon by the Board in connection with decisions regarding the Superintendent’s compensation, contract extension, contract renewal, or other employment actions during the most recent evaluation cycle.
If any portion of a requested record is claimed to be exempt from disclosure, please provide all reasonably segregable non-exempt portions and identify the specific statutory basis for each redaction or withholding.
I request that records be provided electronically whenever possible.”
Scarice would have stayed even if you didn’t give him a raise! More money wasted! Do you actually think he would have quit without that 3% raise?
Jack,
We’ll never know if “Super” Scarice would have quit or not because he didn’t quit. I’ll bet Dan (Woog, not Katz) would give you a lot more than 3% to quit. If he gives you 10% (using the rule of 72) you’ll double your money in only 7.2 years. I’m thinking of quitting (but I’m already retired).
I’m sure he would have stayed getting a 1% raise! He laughed all the way to the bank! Of course we do know Superintendents brown nose Board Members, especially the head of the Board. I’ve seen so much flattery and brown nosing from Superintendents! They’re professionals at this. They know where their money comes from!
Ben Frimmer, wow, generated with our young people and help from adults, has created so many wonderful theatrical events, enjoyed by the schools, the students, the parents and all who know of Ben’s work. Ben is sort of moving on. Let us hope his highest of high standard will continue, indeed grow. Thank you Ben, Ben’s parents are also super.
Ben, congratulations and thank you for all you do for our community. From Coleytown to EMS, we are lucky to have you my friend.
To Chuck and Steve Haberstroh and family, rock stars who continue to fight against ALS. Another great family, always giving back to our community.
That old grandfather’s clock looks like it’s in pretty bad shape. Mechanical movement clocks that you wind up with a key only will last for so long before failing. Repair is expensive and new replacement movements (usually German made) are not cheap so the owner must have decided the cost wasn’t worth it. It is possible to swap out for a battery operated quartz movement without a lot of difficult. Some of these even chime and will move the pendulum to maintain the illusion of the old works being still in place.