A small crowd got a big look yesterday at the new Long Lots Elementary and Stepping Stones Preschool.
Building Committee chair Jay Keenan, with his committee and representatives of FCA Architects, presented exterior and interior plans of the new school, and an update on construction.
Aerial rendering of the new school. Hyde Lane is at the bottom.
Work on the foundation has begun. Geothermal wells on the lower fields have been completed.
Work on the lower athletic fields at Long Lots (right). The former baseball field as at left.
The school — set to open in January of 2028 — is on target to meet or exceed state sustainability targets.
The architecture — with gabled roofs and warm colors — aims for a “cozy and classic New England setting.”
Because the school is built on a hill, both the lower and upper levels will have at-grade access.
The lower floor will include 2nd through 5th grade classrooms, with a gym at the rear.
Gymnasium.
The upper floor will have separate entrances for kindergarten/1st grade, and the Stepping Stones preschool. The cafeteria is on that level.
The upper level, with a 2-story atrium and plenty of light.
Interior features include a double-height atrium, a multi-purpose room, a media center with 2 classrooms and 2 tiered reading areas, and quiet “nooks” throughout the school.
A courtyard will offer benches, an amphitheater, and areas for teaching.
Courtyard.
There will be 3 playgrounds: one for Stepping Stones, one for elementary students, and the current playground named for Sandy Hook victim Dylan Hockley, which will remain.
The bus loop and parent drop-off areas will be completely separate.
Parent drop-off (left) and bus loop (right). Hyde Lane would be at the bottom.
Attendees — a mix of Long Lots parents, school neighbors and curious residents — gave the plans and computer renderings high marks.
A main corridor, leading to the gym. Multi-purpose room is at left.
Multi-purpose room.
Classroom corridor.
Cafeteria.
(“06880” will report regularly on the new school’s progress — as we do 24/7/365, on everything from education and real estate to local politics, entertainment and more. Please click here to support us!)
Thursday night’s Board of Education meeting included a discussion of an upcoming evaluation of the Westport Public Schools’ special education program.
Several parents asked that the review be fully independent, and devoid of any financial ties to the district. They advocate for a transparent review of administration, leadership and governance of special education, overseen directly by the BOE, led by a steering committee that includes parents with lived experience, to ensure a “credible and effective” process.
One student also addressed the BOE. Staples High School senior Wynston Browne — a non-speaking student who communicates by spelling — made a strong case for systemic change in the Special Education department.
Wynston spoke about the need for genuine collaboration, individualized access, and a commitment to “presumed competence,” so all students can fully participate in the decisions that shape their education. He typed this message, shown on a screen:
I would be interested in addressing the Board. The most important idea that I would like to express is that at every PPT [Planning and Placement Team meeting] my input was ignored.
My name is Wynston Browne, and this June I will become the first non-speaking autistic student who communicates by spelling to graduate from Staples HS with a fully credited diploma.
I am proud of this accomplishment and excited to continue my education in college, pursuing the broad range of subjects that inspire and challenge me.
Wynston Browne
While I celebrate this milestone, I must also speak honestly about the barriers I faced along the way. I have always entered my PPT meetings and educational discussions with a collaborative mindset. As the first speller in my district, I was consistently willing to demonstrate my abilities to my entire educational team, from paraprofessionals to administrators and even the superintendent. My goal was never to fight the district, but to work together to create an educational experience that reflected my true abilities and learning needs.
Unfortunately, despite advocating consistently and providing clear evidence of what accommodations were necessary for me to access the curriculum successfully, most of my requests were denied or delayed, even when they required no additional staffing or financial burden.
Wynston Browne and his date, Nina Meehan, before Staples’ senior prom.
One of the greatest barriers I faced was the lack of presumed competence. My outward physical movements, due to severe apraxia, do not reflect my intellectual ability. I have repeatedly explained that presuming competence is the foundation of understanding spelling and non-speaking autism.
This became especially clear in subjects like geometry. When I was denied accommodations that supported my ocular planning challenges, my grades suffered. Yet when I demonstrated how materials could be organized in a way my brain could process, my grades became As. That success was not accidental. It was evidence that individualized access works.
Next week, Wynston Browne will become the first non-speaking autistic student who communicates by spelling to graduate from Staples.
I experienced similar challenges in Spanish. Although I demonstrated fluency, I was placed in a B level class and denied access to a Spanish-speaking Communication and Regulation Partner (CRP). This left me feeling underestimated, dismissed, and intellectually stifled.
A CRP is not simply someone supervising typing. It is a partnership built on trust, rhythm, and skilled inquiry. Like ballroom dancing, success depends on being in sync. The way questions are asked directly impacts my ability to access and express higher level thinking. I do not struggle with intelligence! I struggle with motor planning and access to proper communication support.
When I am not challenged appropriately, “doing busy work” or placed in classes that aren’t reflective of my true abilities, I become fatigued which causes dysregulation. So being underestimated does not support my learning; it limits it.
Three years ago, Wynton Browne starred in a movie, “Presumed Incompetent,” about his journey. He holds a film poster with his parents, David Browne and Lynda Kommel-Browne.
My hope is that Staples HS will do better! That Staples HS will reflect on my experiences and make the necessary changes that benefit all students. Students like me deserve collaboration, individualized access, and educational decisions guided by demonstrated ability rather than disability stereotypes or outward appearance.
These supports are not special treatment. They are necessary steps toward an equitable education and toward schools to recognize and nurture the competence already present within every student. After all, it is our civil rights.
“06880” has chronicled Wynston and his journey several times. To read 2 stories, click here, and click here. For a short film starring Wynston, click here. (The password is Chance.) For a movie about the spelling movement, click here. In 2023 — shortly after he began using a spelling device — Wynston was a guest on our “06880” podcast. Click here to see (and note: His communication skills have increased dramatically since then).
Wynston Browne, with (left) his Communication & Regulation Partner Elisa Feinman, and Mayim Bialik, star of “Big Bang Theory.” She hosted Wynston and his parents at her Los Angeles home, when Wynston filmed “Days of Our Lives.” She invited him onto her “Breakdown” podcast.
This afternoon, “06880” honored the life of Jack Klinge with a special story.
His family offers this obituary.
John Gorman “Jack” Klinge Sr. died peacefully this morning, surrounded by his family. He was 87.
Jack Klinge
A gifted student and lifelong learner, Jack graduated from Cornell University with a degree in chemical engineering.
He served as a commissioned officer in the Navy aboard the USS Thetis Bay during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Following his military service, he earned an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Jack enjoyed a distinguished career in marketing, including leadership roles with General Foods, Arm & Hammer, Topps Chewing Gum Company and Score Baseball Cards. He combined creativity, strategic thinking, and a love of sports throughout his professional life.
Jack Klinge and his wife Jeanne.
While his professional accomplishments were many, Jack’s greatest impact was felt in the community he loved. A resident of Westport for more than 50 years, he devoted countless hours to public service and civic engagement.
He coached youth baseball and softball for many years, mentored students, served as a substitute teacher, and became the longest-serving member of Westport’s Representative Town Meeting. He was deeply involved in the development and growth of the Westport Center for Senior Activities, helping create a lasting resource that continues to enrich the lives of older residents.
Jack believed strongly in giving back. Whether delivering holiday meals to homebound seniors, mentoring young people, advocating for thoughtful public policy, or volunteering his time wherever it was needed, he approached every endeavor with integrity, humility, and optimism.
Jack Klinge at the Senior Center with former and current directors Sue Pfister (left) and Wendy Petty.
Above all else, Jack cherished his family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, mentor and friend. His kindness, wisdom, humor, and unwavering support shaped the lives of those who knew him.
Jack’s legacy lives on through the family he loved, the community he served, and the countless lives he touched through his generosity and leadership.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jeanne Bange Klinge; son John Gorman Klinge, Jr. of Lake Forest, Illinois; daughter, Courtney Klinge of San Francisco, California and her husband, Eric Prosnitz; son Jeff Klinge of Rumson, New Jersey and his wife, Stacey Klinge, and grandchildren Cassie Longo, John Gorman “Jack” Klinge III, and Will Klinge; Paulina, Eliana, and Alexa Prosnitz; and Logan and Davis Klinge.
Family and friends are invited to attend services at St. Luke Church this Friday (June 12, 12:30 p.m.).
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Westport Center for Senior Activities (21 Imperial Avenue, Westport, CT 06880).
As many of you know, Bedford Middle School received a threatening phone call at approximately 10:31 a.m., prompting an immediate lockdown of the school. Based on information provided by the Westport Police Department shortly thereafter, the district was informed that the call appeared to be part of a series of suspected swatting incidents reported across Connecticut today, including reported incidents in Killingly and Greenwich.
While early information suggested this was likely a hoax, Westport Public Schools and the Westport Police Department followed all established safety protocols, and responded as though the threat was real until proven otherwise.
A lockdown was immediately initiated at Bedford Middle School, and because Bedford and Staples High School share a campus, Staples High School was placed into a shelter-in-place as an added precaution.
Throughout the morning, we provided updates to the community as information became available:
10:31 a.m. – Threatening call received at Bedford Middle School; lockdown initiated.
10:57 a.m. – Initial communication (#1) sent to families informing the community of the Bedford lockdown and Staples shelter-in-place.
11:24 a.m. – Staples High School shelter-in-place lifted.
11:40 a.m. – Community update (#2) distributed regarding the lifting of the Staples shelter-in-place.
11:58 a.m. – Bedford Middle School lockdown lifted after law enforcement cleared the interior of the building.
12:09 p.m. – Community update (#3) distributed announcing the lifting of the Bedford lockdown.
Once the interior of the building was cleared, Bedford transitioned from a “lockdown” to “secure the school” status, while first responders completed their work outside the building.
For those unfamiliar with these terms:
A Lockdown is used when there is a potential threat to safety. Students and staff immediately move into secured rooms, doors are locked, and students and staff are expected to remain silent until first responders or administrators provide direction.
Secure the School status is used when there is no identified threat inside the building, but access to and from the building remains restricted while law enforcement continues to investigate or address activity outside the school. Teaching and learning activities may continue during this status.
I arrived at Bedford Middle School just before 11:00 a.m. I remained with the building administration and emergency response team for the duration of the incident.
After the lockdown was lifted, I walked throughout all 9 instructional pods. Along with the Bedford administrative team, I had the opportunity to observe classrooms, speak with staff, and interact with students across the building.
Students demonstrated resilience, maturity and cooperation throughout an extraordinarily stressful situation. Teachers and staff provided exactly what students needed: calm, reassurance, consistency and care.
Our mental health support team was available throughout the day to support students, recognizing that some were understandably affected by the events of the morning. These resources will remain available tomorrow and in the days ahead for any student who may need additional assistance processing today’s events. We encourage students and families to reach out if support would be helpful.
In accordance with our guidance to faculty, many classrooms shifted their focus toward community-building conversations, reflection, and relationship-building activities. The professionalism and compassion displayed by our staff helped restore a sense of normalcy and security for students.
At 3:30, Bedford faculty and administration met to conduct an initial debrief of the day’s events. In the coming days, Westport Public Schools and the Westport Police Department will conduct a more comprehensive after-action review to evaluate our response, identify lessons learned, and continue strengthening our emergency preparedness efforts.
I want to express my sincere gratitude to the Westport Police Department for their leadership and professionalism throughout the incident. We are also deeply appreciative of the support provided by emergency responders from Fairfield, Norwalk, Stamford, the State Police and our many regional partners who assisted today.
Most importantly, I want to thank our students, faculty, staff and families. While today’s events were unsettling, our school community responded with patience, trust, and cooperation. The effectiveness of any safety response depends upon people working together, and today that partnership was evident throughout our community.
The investigation into the source of the call remains active and is being handled by the Westport Police Department.
While we hope never to experience an incident such as this, today demonstrated the strength of our emergency procedures, the professionalism of our staff, the partnership of our law enforcement agencies.
UPDATE: A similar swatting incident was reported early this afternoon at Greens Farms Academy. The campus has been evacuated, though classes have already finished for the academic year.
A “swatting” incident disrupted Bedford Middle — and nearby Staples High School — this morning.
“Swatting” is a malicious hoax emergency call about a violent crime or explosive device. The fake report sends multiple first responders to a location. Sometimes it is an ill-advised prank; others times it is a diversionary tactic, diverting law enforcement from another crime.
The BMS call was received at 10:32 a.m. The caller said that explosive devices had been placed inside the school, and armed individuals were inside.
There were multiple swatting reports this morning, all across Connecticut.
The school was locked down. Parents were asked to not go there, so first responders could act efficiently and quickly.
Westport Police and the Westport Public Schools responded with all necessary precautions, to investigate and secure BMS. They were assisted by officers and canine units from Fairfield, Norwalk and the Connecticut State Police. The Stamford Police Department’s Bomb Squad conducted sweeps and searches of the premises.
Bedford Middle School. The Staples football field can be seen at the top right. (Drone photo/Brandon Malin)
A “shelter in place” order was issued for Staples, just down the hill from Bedford, out of an abundance of caution. Classes continued, but entering and exiting the building was prohibited.
The lockdown at Bedford was lifted at 11:57 a.m., after a thorough investigation of the building.
A modified schedule was adopted for the rest of the day
Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice said, “While instruction may continue as appropriate, faculty are encouraged to prioritize activities that help students feel safe, connected and regulated.
“Community-building conversations, opportunities for reflection, stress-management strategies, relationship-building activities, and any activities that create space for students to process the day are encouraged.
“I want to thank our first responders team, led by the Westport Police Department, in addition to the support provided by police and emergency responders from Fairfield, Norwalk, Stamford and the State Police, for their actions in helping us resolve ”
He promised a more comprehensive report later today.
Namhee Stokvis is the mother of 2 children. She moved to Westport 2 years ago from New Jersey, in large part because of the school’s special education program. She writes:
My son is 11 years old, and requires round-the-clock support. He is greatly impacted by the adults who guide him.
Since he entered public education at age 3, his communication, socialization and learning skills declined significantly. At age 5, within just 2 months he came home with 2 ripped jackets, a torn backpack, and tears in his eyes.
We raised concerns, offered strategies, and asked for collaboration. Instead, we were dismissed or minimized. The dominant tone was, “You are a hot parent” (their actual language), “and we are the experts who know better.”
Namhee Stokvis
In 2021, without our agreement, the district moved our son to a different classroom and changed his program. When we discovered this, the response was simply “exercise your rights,” a phrase that made clear nothing would change unless we pursued legal action.
We were frightened and confused. We had worked collaboratively through COVID, and believed partnership was possible. But from that moment on, what we encountered was nonchalance, ignorance and deception.
We met other parents experiencing similar problems, but most were too afraid to confront the district directly. They feared retribution. They kept their struggles private. We felt completely alone. Every day became painful and unbearable.
We began searching for a better place — somewhere our son could be safe and supported. After years of comparing districts, we chose Westport. We sold our home, and left everything we had built.
When we arrived in the summer of 2024, the district contacted us within days. We took that as a good sign.
And when we met our son’s new child study team, we felt something we had not felt in years: relief. Every teacher, therapist, paraprofessional and administrator treated our son with care and professionalism.
For the first time in a long time, my husband and I could focus on our work without worrying whether our son was safe or respected. He adjusted quickly, something that surprised us given his history. Our gratitude for Westport grew with each passing month.
But as we approached the one year mark, my worries returned.
Once my son’s adjustment and well-being were established, I began advocating for his education. I noticed that most decisions were already made before I entered the room. My role was often to be informed, not to make decisions.
When I requested an expert observation, it was denied. When I asked to observe my son myself, I was allowed 30 minutes in an isolated room — nowhere near the environment where he learns, plays and struggles.
I found myself worrying: If I advocate more strongly, will we still be treated collaboratively? If I raise concerns about the academic program, will I be ignored or misled? Will the same patterns that traumatized us in New Jersey repeat themselves here?
I am too afraid to test that boundary.
This year, during a community discussion at the Westport Library, I met parents who described the exact problems I experienced in New Jersey: ignorance, defensiveness, and dismissive narratives about families who speak up.
Narratives like “those parents are crazy,” “we are perfectly professional,” and “sue us if you don’t like it.”
It feels like the nightmare is returning. Sleepless nights, financial strain, and the emotional toll of simply trying to do right by my child.
I ran from New Jersey, believing Westport would be a safe place. Are we safe here?
Screenshot from Westport Public Schools’ special education page.
When a district denies and minimizes issues to avoid accountability, we lose our space to have honest conversations. And when parents are pushed toward legal battles, we are at an inherent disadvantage.
No parent has more financial power than a school district (unless you are Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos). And even when parents “win,” children still lose. The critical time for intervention passes. Opportunities to learn and grow disappear while we fight.
That alarms us. It suggests that problems are being handled through conflict rather than collaboration, consuming time and resources that should be utilized for our children.
Some parents are scared. Others are already suffering, just as I once was.
We chose Westport because we believed it is a better place for our family. And in so many ways, it truly is. The dedication of teachers and professionals here is extraordinary. I bow to their daily devotion. The richness of this town, its food, art, music and people, has made us feel welcomed and grateful.
But we can do better in how we handle conflicts and communications in special education.
When we improve the way we resolve disagreements, everyone benefits.
Students gain stronger outcomes. Teachers feel supported and confident. The district’s reputation grows. And children who rely on us the most receive the timely interventions and education they desperately need.
This is not about blaming. It is about responsibility and courage. It is about refusing to let fear, defensiveness, or bureaucracy stand in the way of our children’s future.
Let’s do better together.
(Our “Opinion” page is open to all readers. Email submissions to 06880blog@gmail.com. To make a tax-deductible contribution to this hyper-local blog, click here.)
And if life hands you antisemitism, make shawarma.
Last month, someone across from The Blondinit restaurant yelled “F— Israel! You’re committing genocide” as Jonny Daniels left the Israeli restaurant. He posted about the incident on social media. The video went viral.
Now, The Blondinit invites the community to come together on Thursday (June 11) for “Stars, Stripes & Shawarma.”
The day and evening are dedicated to raising awareness about antisemitism, and its growing impact it on communities here and abroad.
Daniels — a British-Israeli activist and advocate for Jewish communities and the State of Israel — will be at the event.
Organizers say, “While the incident was deeply troubling, it also sparked a conversation about the importance of education, dialogue, and community engagement in confronting hatred and misinformation.
“Rather than allowing the moment to divide, The Blondinit and Daniels chose to transform it into an opportunity to bring people together, raise awareness, and support organizations dedicated to preserving Jewish history and combating antisemitism.”
Guests are encouraged to gather with friends and family for dinner at The Blondinit. Daniels will discuss modern antisemitism, the importance of education and remembrance, and the need for meaningful conversations rooted in understanding and humanity.
A portion of proceeds from sales throughout the day will be donated to From The Depths, an international organization dedicated to Holocaust remembrance, Jewish heritage preservation, education and humanitarian initiatives.
Shonda Rhimes gives plenty to Westport. She supports many great causes — some publicly, others behind the scenes.
We’re in good company.
She’s just given something to the Obama Presidential Center Museum: the Oval Office set from “Scandal.”
It’s the same one — noted here and below in this Bluesky post — used by “President Fitzgerald Grant” for 7 seasons.
Not gonna lie, this is a badass museum donation.🇺🇸 Shonda Rhimes donated the Oval Office set from Scandal, the same one fictional President Fitzgerald Grant called home for seven seasons.Now it’s part of the Obama Presidential Center Museum
The Long Lots School Building Committee offers a presentation of the elementary school and Stepping Stones pre-school project next Wednesday (June 10, 7 p.m., Town Hall auditorium).
The opening date has been pushed back to January 2028.
Artist’s rendering of the new Long Lots Elementary School.
For many people, the Westport Library is a home away from home.
And “home” is the theme, as Storytelling Sundays returns to the Library on June 28 (2 p.m.).
Five great storytellers will share their interpretations of home: Jennifer Munro, a National Storytelling Network’s Circle of Excellence recipient; Nina Lesiga, Women’s Storytelling Festival and Generation Women participant; Wendy Mages, professor at Mercy University; Rona Levine, yoga teacher, energy healer, and herbalist, and ChaChanna Simpson, curator, host and writer. For more information, click here.
Also at the Westport Library: a Pride Month combination of stand-up comedy and life story, on the big screen.
“Miss Personality: An Evening of Big Laughs, Big Heart & Big PRIDE” (June 18, 6:30 p.m.) with Mina Hartong is “a hilarious and heartfelt look at identity, reinvention, community, and finding your voice.”
Following the screening, Mina will join writer Susan Rukeyser and comedian/ activist Jamie Machotka in a conversation about storytelling, comedy and LGBTQ+ experiences. Click here for more information.
Westonite Chris Fuller’s “Cheese Fries & Chili Dips” — a moving and hilarious 2-person cabaret-style show — comes to the Westport Woman’s Club next Friday (June 12, 5:30 p.m. reception, 6:30 show).
The production follows Chris as he chases his lifelong dream of playing on the PGA Tour while navigating the challenges of bipolar disorder, and the nonstop commentary inside his own head.
A talkback immediately after the show with mental health experts will focus on healing, and breaking stigmas.
In 1993, Representative Town Meeting member Andrew Colabella’s cousin John DiGiovanni was killed in the first World Trade Center bombing.
Yesterday — in the aftermath of the victory by New Jersey congressional candidate Adam Hamawy, a plastic surgeon whose life-saving work in the Army has been contrasted with his former association with a Muslim cleric who masterminded the attack — Colabella was interviewed on Fox News’ “The Faulkner Focus.”
He called Hamawy’s victory “a disheartening threat to democracy,” and “an insult to injury” for victims’ families. Click here for the full segment.
Screenshot of Andrew Colabella on Fox News.
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“Looking for History: Rick Shaefer, Ellen Harvey & Michael Borders” — MoCA\CT’s next exhibit, exploring how history is remembered, imagined and contested through monument, memory, and labor — arrives just in time for America’s 250th anniversary.
An opening reception — celebrating Shaefer’s “Colossi” and Harvey’s “The Disappointed Tourist” — is set for June 25 (6 p.m.).
Three days later (June 24, 6 p.m.), the Westport Book Shop’s Short Story Club selections are — discusses selections about fathers and children. They are “Midair” by Frank Conroy, “Today Will Be a Quiet Day” (Amy Hempel) and “The Hare’s Mask” (Mark Slouka).
Registration is required. Call 203-349-5141, or email RSVP@westportbooksaleventures.org.
“Stressed Self to Best Self” — co-written by Westport author Nick Propper — will be published in October.
But it’s already available for pre-order.
Propper works with senior leadership teams at leading organizations like Procter & Gamble and Goldman Sachs. He is also a high-level advisor and facilitator in the US Air Force and federal intelligence community, on building sustainable human performance.
The book focuses on “how to show up at our best, for the people and things that matter most to us, in today’s highly volatile world.” It introduces practical frameworks and tools to help readers manage stress, recover more intentionally and optimize their human energy. Click here for more information, and to order.
And finally … on this date in 1968, presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy was killed.
That night, he won both the California and South Dakota primaries. He told supporters in Los Angeles’ Ambassador Hotel ballroom, “My thanks to all of you, and it’s on to Chicago and let’s win there.”
Walking through the kitchen, he was shot 3 times by 24-year-old Sirhan Sirhan. Five other people were also wounded. Kennedy died 25 hours later.
Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice provides this update:
AI Powered, Human-Centered
One of the most important questions facing education today is no longer whether artificial intelligence will shape the future. The more important question is whether we will prepare students to thrive in that future while preserving the wisdom, integrity, adaptability, and humanity that will matter more than ever.
Our response as a school district is embodied in the guiding principle of our strategic plan: “AI Powered, Human-Centered.” We believe our responsibility is neither to resist technological change nor surrender to it, but to lead thoughtfully through it. Doing so requires ongoing learning and dialogue among students, educators, parents, and the broader community. The updates below reflect several ways we are advancing that conversation together.
Strategic Plan Update – June 4 Board of Education Meeting
This Thursday (June 4), the Board of Education will receive a comprehensive update on the first year of implementation of our district’s strategic plan.
Over the past 18 months, Westport Public Schools has engaged in one of the most important conversations in public education: how to prepare students for a world being fundamentally reshaped by artificial intelligence while preserving and strengthening the uniquely human capacities that define an exceptional education. Our belief is simple: AI should not replace human potential, it should help amplify it.
The June 4 presentation will highlight the significant work completed during the first year of implementation, including:
An Academic Integrity Framework for responsible AI use
A K–12 AI Literacy Framework
A student pilot of Google’s NotebookLM platform
AI-powered tools supporting special education services and staff
Growth Mindset and leadership development initiatives
Preserving and elevating the Humanities: efforts to strengthen literacy, critical thinking, communication, and other essential human capacities in an AI-enabled world
AI-powered leadership and decision-making tools
Ongoing research into emerging AI trends and their implications for education engaging student voice and community expertise
We will begin the presentation with the voices that matter most, our students. A group of Staples High School students will share examples of their academic work using AI and discuss the opportunities, challenges, and future direction of AI in our schools.
In addition, the Board will receive the results of our district-wide Screen Time Audit, conducted in response to one of the foundational questions that emerged during strategic planning: How can we leverage the power of AI while minimizing screen time?
The audit establishes a baseline understanding of current technology use, stakeholder perceptions, and instructional practices. It will help guide future decisions to ensure that AI enhances learning, preserves human interaction, and reduces unnecessary or low-value screen time.
Community members are encouraged to attend the meeting or view the presentation online.
Parent Seminar: Raising AI-Ready Students — Learning, College, and Careers in a Changing World
As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms education, higher education, and the workplace, many parents are asking important questions:
How should my child use AI? What skills will matter most in the future? How can AI support learning without becoming a shortcut around it?
To help families navigate these questions, Westport Public Schools is pleased to host a special parent seminar featuring Casey Cuny, the 2024 California Teacher of the Year, on Monday, June 22 (7 p.m., Westport Library)
“Raising AI-Ready Students: Learning, College, and Careers in a Changing World” will explore how artificial intelligence is already reshaping how students learn, study, and prepare for their futures, and how parents can help guide them toward thoughtful and responsible use of these powerful tools.
During this interactive presentation and Q&A session, Casey will discuss:
How AI can be used to deepen learning rather than replace thinking
Research-backed learning strategies such as retrieval practice, reflection, revision, and productive struggle
Why curiosity, inquiry, and critical thinking are becoming even more important in the age of AI
Practical examples of tools students are already using, including Google NotebookLM, custom GPTs, and other emerging AI applications
What colleges and employers are increasingly expecting from students entering an AI-enabled world
Casey is a nationally recognized educator and speaker who has advised educators, parents, and educational organizations across the country on the intersection of artificial intelligence and teaching and learning. His work is grounded in a simple but powerful belief: AI should strengthen human potential, not replace it.
Whether you are excited about AI, concerned about it, or simply trying to understand it better, this evening will provide practical insights and a framework for helping your child navigate a rapidly changing world with judgment, integrity, and confidence.
We hope you will join us for what promises to be an engaging and informative evening.
Student Voices and Community Conversations About AI
One of the most important aspects of our AI work has been listening to the perspectives of students and engaging in thoughtful dialogue with members of our broader community.
Last week, I had the opportunity to participate in a series of conversations for WWPT, Staples High School’s student-run radio station. (A special thank you to the amazing Staples Media teacher Geno Heiter, and his talented team of student producers!)
During the evening, I interviewed 3 groups of students about artificial intelligence. Students shared their experiences using AI, discussed both their excitement and concerns about the technology, and reflected on how they believe AI may influence their future learning, careers, and lives. Their insights were thoughtful, nuanced, and incredibly encouraging.
I also had the opportunity to speak with Dan Bikel, a technology expert and member of our community, about the emerging field of agentic AI and its potential implications for education, work, and society.
These conversations exemplify the type of dialogue we hope to foster throughout our community: thoughtful, balanced, future-focused discussions that place learning, ethics, and human judgment at the center.
A full house listened eagerly last night, as StartUp Westport honored Marc Lasry as its Innovator of the Year at the Westport Library. The event was the 3rd annual for our town’s public/private entrepreneurship/innovation organization.
The financier and philanthropist — chair, CEO and co-founder of Avenue Capital Group, a former owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, a director of the 92nd Street Y and the Big Apple Circus, and a trustee of Mount Sinai Hospital — chatted with fellow Westporter and ”Today” co-anchor Craig Melvin about entrepreneurship, investing, leadership and philanthropy
Club203 — the non-profit serving adults with disabilities — was honored for their work in areas like employment opportunities, life skills development and community engagement. They received the Community Impact Award.
Dan O’Keefe — the state Department of Economic and Community Development commissioner — highlighted the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship to Connecticut’s economic future.
The evening featured meaningful connections with past honorees. Andrea Pecoriello, founder of Sweet P Bakery and recipient of the previous Community Impact Award, introduced Club203 and spoke about the organization’s transformative impact on the community. Mark Shapiro, StartUp Westport’s 2025 Innovator of the Year, introduced Lasry.
Marc Lasry and Craig Melvin, at StartUp Westport’s Innovator of the Year ceremony. (Photo copyright DinkinESH Fotografix)
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Also last night: 81 students — soon-to-be Staples High School graduates, and alums currently in college — were awarded $420,000 in scholarships, at Staples Tuition Grants’ annual ceremony.
The average scholarship — $5,186 per recipient — is a record in STG’s 85-year history.
The evening included powerful speeches by James Delorey and Philip Sullivan, father and cousin respectively of Perrin Delorey.
Perrin was a 4th grader at Greens Farms Elementary School in 2018, when he died in an automobile accident. He would have graduated this month, with Staples’ Class of 2026.
Philip worked with his uncle and aunt, James and Angela Delorey, his mother Kara Sullivan, and his and Perrin’s classmates, to endow the new Perrin Delorey Do Your Best Award. Both spoke lovingly of the legacy Perrin set, and of the importance of remembering and honoring him.
2008 recipient Michael Wolson also spoke. A triplet who could not have attended college without STG’s help — now a managing director at an investment firm — he described the lifelong impact a scholarship can make.
When Frank Pepe Pizzeria opened officially yesterday, the very first customers were Jay Babina, his father and grandfather.
That’s cool.
But it’s only part of the story.
Jay’s father John III and grandfather John Jr. were also the first customers when Pepe’s opened their second location — the first outside of New Haven — in Fairfield in 2006, 20 years ago.
The trio planned to be first in line here, ever since Pepe’s announced they were coming to Post Road West.
Jay’s grandfather started going to Pepe’s on Wooster Street in 1948, when he was 4 years old. Jay’s great-grandparents went too — starting in the early 1930s.
Now the 4th generation is a fan.
Star 99.9 radio interviewed the Babinas. And Pepe’s gave the family the ribbon they cut, at the grand opening.
Jay, John III and John Jr. Babina, at Pepe’s in Westport.
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The rainbow flag has been raised at Jesup Green for 7 years, during the Pride Month of June.
But yesterday marked the first official ceremony.
First Selectman Kevin Christie welcomed the crowd. He thanked Westport Pride — the organizers of the event, and of the June 14 festival, also set for Jesup Green — noting, “Westport is at its best when everyone feels a true sense of belonging and inclusion.”
1st Selectman Kevin Christie and Westport Pride president Brian McGunagle.
Besides Pride members and town residents, the flag-raising drew State Senator Ceci Maher, State Representatives Jonathan Steinberg and Dominique Johnson, state legislature candidates Sam Nestor and Lee Goldstein, and several RTM members.
Attendees at yesterday’s Pride flag ceremony at Jesup Green — including Yogi Bear. (Photos/Dan Woog)
Ten students from Long Lots and Kings Highway Elementary Schools have won Access Awareness Awards. The student video contest is sponsored annually by the Area 9 Cable Council and Optimum of Connecticut.
The contest honors original student video productions broadcast on Optimum’s Educational Access Channel 78. It encourages students to build storytelling and video production skills, through projects connected to school and community life.
In addition, Long Lots earned the John M. Repicky Award for best overall elementary entry for “Girls On The Run,” created by Ella Rossi under the direction of instructor Samantha Hubbard.
Other awards included:
Animation/Stop-Motion, 1st place: “An Average Week of Robots” (Chase Bittinger)
School News Story: “Girls On The Run” (Ella Rossi)
General Interest Story, 1st place: “Space invaders! Look Out!!” (Lucy Apton), 2nd place: “Fall Favorites” (Cora Lask and Layla Perkel)
Narrative Fiction, 1st place: “TOAST” (Hazel Crockett and Charlotte Visconti)
PSA, 1st place: “KHS Goals” (Cameron Kim, Ava Giambanco, and Timothy Sheehy)
Congratulations to all — and instructors Samantha Hubbard, Barbara Eilertsen and Tara Doyle.
From left: Ella Rossi, Layla Perkel, Cora Lask, Chase Bittinger.
Eleish Van Breems celebrates heritage craftsmanship next Monday (June 8), with their annual “Day of Design.”
After 10 a.m. coffee, there’s a conversation on “Keeping Craft Alive.” New England Home editor-in-chief Jenna Talbott will moderate, with Edie Van Breems, Rhonda Eleish and Mary Emery Locoursiers of the Nantucket Historical Society.
At 11:30, guests can meet makers, and other heritage movers and shakers. Other events include demonstrations of heritage crafts, updates on preservation, a presentation on Benjamin Moore’s Heritage Paint Collection, and a chance to meet founders Renata Singh (Artistic Ironworks) and Todd Woodward (Woodward Millworks).
Bites and beverages are provided by Allium and the CupBearer.
Lauri Weiser sends today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo.
She says of this beautiful peony in her garden: “You can almost smell it from here!”
(Photo/Lauri Weiser)
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And finally … welcome to Westport, Frank Pepe Pizzeria!
(June began with a rush of activity. As we’ve done since 2009, we cover it all. But we can’t do it without our readers’ support. If you enjoy this blog, please click here to donate. Thank you!)
Caroline Banks is a senior at Staples High School. She is a soprano in the Staples Choralaires ensemble, and an honors music student.
She is also organizing a fundraiser for KEYS Music — Kids Empowered by Your Support — a nonprofit that has provided free music education to Bridgeport students since 2004. Caroline writes:
“06880” has recognized 433 Unsung Heroes.
i propose Sung Heroes #1: the Westport music teachers.
Westport has a deep bench of musical talent. Beyond the (at least) 9 Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award winners who have lived here, hundreds of Westport students have music in their DNA before it ever appears in their curriculum.
That was not me. Everything I know about music, I learned from Westport Public School music teachers and Dianna Betit, my voice coach.
Caroline Banks (right) and friend Lily Franklin, before this month’s Staples spring concert.
The rhythm of my 13 years of WPS music education will be familiar to many:
Kindergarten–2nd grade: I was shy and intimidated by performing. But music was embedded throughout our school day, so I sang because everyone else did. Each December, we performed at the Long Lots holiday sing-along. My mom still remembers the chorus to “A mi burro.”
3rd grade: Our whole class began the recorder. I enthusiastically practiced at home, which terrified our dog.
4th grade: Signed up for orchestra (violin) and chorus. 7:25 am rehearsals several times per week.
5th–6th grade: Played clarinet. Marched in the Memorial Day parade with Bedford Middle School Band.
7th grade–present: Committed to chorus, and developed my soprano range.
Throughout there were fall, holiday and spring concerts, and 4 Candlelight performances. On June 5, I’ll walk onto the Levitt Pavilion stage to sing with the Choralaires at the Pops concert for the final time before graduation.
Signs honoring all senior music students line the Staples entrance.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about who helped me along the way. My music teachers showed up with real craft, a lot of patience, and the genuine belief that music belongs to every student — not just the ones who were born into it.
So in the spirit of this blog’s Unsung Heroes, I’d like to give some long-overdue recognition to my “Sung Heroes”:
Former teachers Ann Hadden, Betsy Tucker and Luke Rosenberg;
Current Staples High School choral director Lauren Pine
Dianna Betit, who has been a supportive presence in my life for the past 3 years.
Like us, Bridgeport students can get an excellent music education. They have a chorus, and can join a jazz band or orchestra. They have performed at venues like the Bijou Theatre, and events like the Bridgeport Jazz Fest. Last fall, KEYS orchestra students performed on instruments that survived the Holocaust as part of the “Violins of Hope” program.
Staples (right) and Bridgeport concert programs.
What’s different is not the quality of the program — it’s who pays for it, and how many students can access it at all.
The opportunity gap between Westport and Bridgeport is clear by the numbers:
Westport Public Schools employs 28 music teachers for a district of roughly 5,000 students.
Bridgeport Public Schools serves roughly 20,000 students — 4 times the size — with approximately 45 music teacher positions, not all of which were filled this past year. That works out to around 450 students per music teacher.
Bridgeport students receive 19% less per pupil than other Fairfield County students, and 12% less than the CT state average.
KEYS has spent 22 years filling that gap, serving over 6,800 Bridgeport students since 2004, entirely through private donations and grants.
They receive no funding from Bridgeport Public Schools — even though they operate as a pull-out enrichment program in over 20 schools during the school day. In 2024 they delivered 12,753 hours of music instruction, maintained an average 5-year relationship with each of their high school students, and saw 100% of their seniors graduate.
The 41 professional teaching artists on the KEYS faculty are the peers of my teachers in Westport — skilled, dedicated educators who show up every day with the same belief that music belongs to every child.
This spring, I’m raising funds for KEYS as a tribute to my own music teachers — paying it forward in their honor to support their professional colleagues in Bridgeport.
Next fall I’ll head to Wesleyan, where I hope to keep singing. My voice was built in Westport classrooms and in private lessons with a teacher who believed it was worth developing.
The best way I know to thank all of them is to make sure the teachers 8 miles away — doing the same work, with the same commitment — have what they need to keep doing it.
If a Westport music teacher changed your life, consider naming them in the comments below. Hopefully, they will see it and feel appreciated!
And consider honoring them by donating to KEYS. On the donation page, there is a space to donate in honor of another. If you include their email address, your honoree will receive a note.
(“Students Speak” is a regular “06880” feature. Any student living or studying in Westport or Weston can submit a piece. Email 06880blog@gmail.com. To support this local blog, click here.)
Staples conductors at the 2025 Candlelight concert (from left): Carrie Mascaro (orchestra), Caitlin Serpliss and Kevin Mazzarella (band), Jen Brima (orchestra), Lauren Pine (choral). (Photo/Dan Woog)
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For the first time in a long time, my husband and I could focus on our work without worrying whether our son was safe or respected. He adjusted quickly, something that surprised us given his history. Our gratitude for Westport grew with each passing month.
In addition, the Board will receive the results of our district-wide Screen Time Audit, conducted in response to one of the foundational questions that emerged during strategic planning: How can we leverage the power of AI while minimizing screen time?
