Tag Archives: Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice

Roundup: Blog Party, Summer Stroll, Scarice And CMS …

Posted on July 25, 2024 | 12 comments

Tonight’s the night!

From 6 p.m. until dark, everyone in our community — online and real — is invited to Compo’s South Beach, for our 11th annual “06880” blog party.

It’s a very casual, very fun, bring-your-own-food-and-drink (and chairs) event. Meet old friends; make new ones; watch the sun set (if the clouds part), and enjoy a summer evening with people drawn together by this hyper-local blog. See you there!

PS: Don’t worry. The clouds will be gone by the time we begin 🙂

Bring yourselves (and a bit of food) to tonight’s “06880” blog party! (Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)

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But the fun doesn’t end when our blog party is over.

This Sunday (July 28, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) marks the first-ever Soundview Sidewalk Stroll.

The family-friendly street festival is a gift to Westport, from “06880” and the Compo Beach Improvement Association. We’ve got help from the Parks & Recreation Department and Westport Police.

With Soundview Drive closed to traffic, Westporters are welcome to walk, bike, rollerblade and play, from the Soundview parking lot to the Compo Road jetty.

In addition to music from 4 great bands, youngsters can enjoy face painting, a balloon artist, craftsand more.

Volunteers from the Compo Beach Playground Committee will run this schedule, all day long:

  • On the hour: Tug of war
  • 20 minutes after: Water balloon toss
  • 40 minutes after: Inflatable relay race.

Old Mill Grocery & Deli will offer favorites from their menu.

The Soundview Summer Stroll is a great chance to meet old friends, make new ones, join the cool street scene, and enjoy Compo without worrying about traffic.

Best of all: It’s free! (Beach emblem required to park.) Don’t miss this one!

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Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice got a raise, and an additional year on his contract, this week.

The Board of Education vote was unanimous. His new salary — retroactive to July 1 — is $321,661. His contract runs through the 2026-27 school year.

Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice

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Speaking of education: Coleytown Middle School has a new principal.

Her commute will scarcely change. Janna Sirowich moves to her new post from Coleytown Elementary School, where she has spent the past 16 years as principal. Before that, she was a literacy leader and classroom teacher in Westport.

“While Janna is overwhelmed with gratitude for her years at CES, she is equally excited about this new opportunity and what lies ahead for her and CMS,” says superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice.

Janna Sirowich

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Westport Police made 3 custodial arrests between July 17 and 24.

A 58-year-old Westport man was charged with assault, disorderly conduct, and tampering with a witness following a June incident at Birchwood Country Club. An employee was pushed to the ground by the man, who he did not know. Despite being warned not to contact the complainant, he did so twice.

A 48-year-old Westport man was charged with driving under the influence following a complaint by a passenger in the vehicle.

A 22-year-old New Britain man was charged with burglary, criminal mischief and larceny, and conspiracy to commit those crimes, following the early morning theft of an ATM from the Wheels gas station and convenience store on the Post Road in February.

Westport Police also issued these citations:

  • Failure to obey state traffic control regulations: 17 citations
  • Traveling unreasonably fast: 8
  • Failure to obey stop sign: 6
  • Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 6
  • Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 5
  • Driving while texting: 3
  • Illegal shellfishing, closed area: 3
  • Illegal shellfish taking at night: 3
  • Violation of local shellfish regulations: 3
  • Failure to obey traffic control signals: 2
  • Reckless driving: 1
  • Speeding: 1
  • Distracted driving: 1
  • Failure to yield to a bike at an intersection: 1
  • Following too closely: 1
  • Driving while texting, 2nd offense: 1
  • Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 1
  • Failure to carry a license: 1
  • Failure to have headlamps: 1

Watch out for bicyclists at intersections!

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This beautiful butterfly flitted past Lauri Weiser.

It alit just long enough for her to catch it, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.

(Photo/Lauri Weiser)

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And finally … John Mayall, the pioneering British bluesman best known for influencing some of rock’s biggest names, died Monday in California. He was 90.

Click here for a full obituary.

(“06880” looks forward to 2 great events: tonight’s “blog party,” and Sunday’s Soundview Summer Stroll [stories above]. As always, we look forward too to readers’ support. Please click here. Thanks!)

12 Comments

Posted in Beach, Education, Police

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Schools’ Smartphone Ban: Scarice Talks Tech, Teens & Tweens

Posted on June 24, 2024 | 28 comments

Last Tuesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom proposed a statewide ban on smartphone use in public schools.

Tom Scarice beat him by 2 weeks.

Earlier this month, Westport’s superintendent of schools offered a plan like Newsom’s, on a smaller scale: our town’s 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools — and Staples High.

It’s a stark reversal from current policy.

But it comes on the heels of a nationwide debate on smartphone use by children and teenagers.

It’s in line too with a drive by Greens Farms Elementary parents — and at other schools — to not give smartphones to youngsters until after 8th grade.

Currently, all smartphones (and wearable technology) is banned at the elementary level. Middle school students must put them in lockers or backpacks for the school day.

Staples students are required to put personal technology devices in wall-mounted holders during class time.

Smartphone holder.

Scarice’s proposal would make all Westport Public Schools “completely ‘phone-free’ environments” (including wearable technology).

The district would use “tools and/or methods that do no require faculty and staff to be responsible for the primary enforcement” of those restrictions.

That is the superintendent’s “unequivocal recommendation,” as conveyed in a memo to the Board of Education and parents. (Click here for the full document.)

However — mindful of the importance of community input — he will withhold any implementation plan until he determines there is “sound consensus (not necessarily unanimity)” supporting the move.

Scarice cites many reasons for the recommendation. They include the dangers of smartphone addiction; distraction and lack of focus; adverse effects on mental health; the potential for cyberbullying. and improved academic performance in “phone-free” schools.

He adds that smartphone use currently accounts for “a preponderance of student discipline matters,” and that teacher enforcement of the current policy is “unsustainable.”

There will be exceptions. They include students who need smartphones because of medical conditions like diabetes or disabilities.

Students may bring their own laptops and tablets. The district’s technology department will continue to block access to certain websites and apps.

Scarice understands that parents want to communicate with their children during the day. Tools exist to allow alternatives to smartphones. “It will be a matter of finding the most effective, if there is the collective will,” he says.

Addressing concerns that smartphones may be needed in the event of an emergency, the superintendent notes that there are hardwired phones throughout the schools — and over 300 smartphones in the hands of adults at Staples.

It has taken a few years — and a great deal of thought — for Scarice to come to his present position.

Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice.

He expects a robust discussion on his proposal, involving all stakeholders: students, parents, teachers, administrators, first responders, pediatricians, child psychologists and more.

He wants people to weigh in. But he holds no illusions that there will be easy answers.

“It’s like school start times. This is a heavy lift,” he says.

He also notes that there may be differences within groups. Older parents, he hypothesizes, might have one predominant view; younger ones, with elementary and middle school students, may have another.

Scarice hopes the debate will be thoughtful, and nuanced.

“Will students be against it?” he asks rhetorically.

“They could be. But the question shouldn’t just be ‘should we ban phones?’ We can ask, ‘How might your school experience be different without smartphones?'”

Scarice — who prefers conversations to surveys — plans to engage teachers and administrators in small-group settings. At Staples, he may meet with each department separately. The technological needs of science teachers, for example, may be very different from English or art instructors.

There are plenty of solutions, he says. And many of them may be obvious.

“Look at what a smartphone does. There are other devices for a lot of them. You can do a lot with a calculator and camera.”

The issue of smartphone use is not abstract. Scarice is not just the superintendent of a district with over 5,300 students.

He’s also the father of 3. Two of his children are in college. One is in high school.

“I relate to all this. I text my kids all the time,” he admits with a laugh. “I’m guilty.”

Not long ago, Scarice was about to address a PTA meeting. His phone vibrated. His son texted that he did not have enough money in his lunch account.

Scarice transferred funds, texted his son that it was done, then spoke at the meeting.

“Would it have been better if he sucked it up for a day? Sure,” Scarice says.

“And I suspect he was in class when he texted me.”

Scarice knows too that the district itself has made technology an integral part of the school day.

“Google Suite, Schoology, PowerSchool for grading — we use all of them to ‘conduct school.'” The IT department is looking into ways to use those tools without smartphones.

Superintendent Scarice (and Governor Newsom) did not start the debate about smartphones in schools. It’s simmered for a while.

But recently — sparked in part by Jonathan Haidt’s “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” — a national conversation has blazed.

The body of research is still small, Scarice knows.

But, he says, “I wanted to open the conversation. I dug into that nascent research. I collected information, and made my recommendation to the Board of Ed.

“Now we have to engage all the stakeholders. Then we’ll come to a consensus, and figure out operationally how to make it work.”

 (“06880” is your place for hyper-local journalism. If you value our work, please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)

28 Comments

Posted in Children, Education, Staples HS, technology

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Scarice’s Update: Cell Phones, Security And More

Posted on May 23, 2024 | 3 comments

Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice sent this update to all Westport Public Schools families today. It addresses — among other items — campus access, cell phones, redistricting, security and transportation. He writes: 

Living with two high school teenage boys, I can fully relate to the challenge of keeping our kids fully engaged until the last day of school.  As I look at the calendar, I see that we have just about three weeks left of the 2023-2024 school year.  The weather is turning and our collective attention span is pointing towards summer.  In the spirit of a strong finish, we ask for your partnership in keeping our students engaged over the final few weeks.

Here are some updates for our school community:

Graduation Date and Official Last Day of School
Staples will host the Graduation of the Class of 2024 on the evening of June 10. As a result of two snow days, the official last day of school is June 14.

Campus Access During School Hours   
Recently, our Chief of Police, Foti Koskinas, and I made recommendations to the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Board of Selectwomen, and a number of RTM Subcommittees, to restrict access to school grounds from 7:30am-4:15pm.

Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice.

This recommendation was made to keep school grounds accessible only to faculty, students, and invited guests (i.e. those attending scheduled events, deliveries, parent/guardian meetings/business, etc.).

This recommendation was met with a petition from a community member to the RTM requesting to modify the parameters, thereby putting these new regulations on hold until the RTM rules on the matter. It is expected that this matter will be resolved at the June 4 RTM meeting.

If the petition is rejected, the new regulations will go into effect.  If the petition is approved, modifications will be reconsidered. More to come after the June 4 RTM meeting.

Student Cell Phones/Wearable Technology
Interest has grown nationally, regionally, and here in Westport regarding student cell phones/wearable technology in schools. This topic has garnered a great deal of attention in the form of articles in national publications, and the release of a recent book that covers this topic in detail, “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt.

In response, last week I asked the Board of Education to include this topic on the agenda for open discussion. I have not made a recommendation, and given the polarizing nature of the topic, I believe it is important to surface this matter in the public to better understand the range of perspectives. Additionally, student and faculty perspectives are important to consider and I intend to work to understand those as well.

To be clear, there is no definitive plan in place for the 2024-2025 school year, yet I would like to pursue this further as I see this as a critically important matter that impacts all in the school community.

The Board of Education asked me to provide a recommendation on the practice of student owned technology devices in the school setting. I will provide that for the June 6 Board of Education meeting and will share that with the community.  As with all topics, discussion and debate will then ensue.

I encourage you to stay involved on this matter, and to share your thoughts if you are so inclined via email to my attention (tscarice@westportps.org), or to the attention of the Westport Board of Education (boe@westportps.org), or by sharing public comment at the Board of Education meeting as the community engages in this dialogue.

Redistricting Site
As the district embarks on the redistricting of our elementary schools we have developed a tab on our website with general information and FAQs. Please visit this site for more information.

School Security Reminder
We are all polite and accommodating when entering our schools. Often, these courtesies extend to holding open doors for each other when entering the building. As much as we encourage this measure of kindness, we ask that you do not hold open doors for others on the way into our schools.

The district maintains a protocol employing a school visitor management system that scans and screens each visitor’s identification information against the sex offender registry and other databases. I understand it is counterintuitive, but I ask that we all honor our visitor management protocol.

Transportation App
I want to recognize the work and performance of our transportation provider, First Student. This week local blogger Dan Woog recognized the performance of our new team with this “Unsung Heroes” story where the district hosted a Driver Appreciation Breakfast. The move to First Student proved to be very successful after the expected trials at the beginning of the transition.

One element of this transition that continues to get attention is the use of our transportation app, FirstView. Although there are many families benefiting from the use of this app during those precious morning minutes, there are improvements yet to be made. That will be a focus for the upcoming school year.  As a reminder, if bus routes are combined, the app will not track your child.

I will likely provide one more update to the school community prior to the end of the school year. In the meantime, I hope that each of you have a restful and relaxing long weekend with your families.

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Posted in Education

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Addressing Antisemitism And Bias: The View From Our Schools

Posted on March 14, 2024 | 5 comments

The Westport Public Schools address antisemitism and other biases in many ways: in and out of the classroom, and during and outside the school day.

But educators know they can do more.

That was one takeaway from last night’s “Addressing Incidents of Antisemitism and Bias in our Schools” forum at Temple Israel.

A large crowd — and more watching the livestream — heard Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice, and nearly every member of his leadership team, discuss an array of efforts the district takes to confront a problem that is ongoing, rising, and part of American society as well as its schools.

Some of those efforts are proactive. Others are reactive. All, Scarice and others stressed, rely on the support of parents and the community, as well as educators.

Introducing the evening, Rabbis Michael Friedman of Temple Israel and Jeremy Wiederhorn of TCS told the audience — which included members of the Board of Education, 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker, Police Chief Foti Koskinas and state legislators — that Scarice and his administrators work as partners with local clergy to address hate incidents.

Rabbi Michael Friedman welcomes forum attendees to Temple Israel.

The presentation was divided into 2 parts. Much of it was devoted to antisemitism, though other types of prejudice, such as racism and homophobia, were mentioned too.

The first part  — “Prevention” — described staff training and professional development; curriculum and instruction; social emotional learning; student clubs and activities; special events, and parental outreach.

The second involved schools’ responses to incidents of bias. It includes prioritizing the safety of targeted students; gathering facts; education; communication with stakeholders; consequences and accountability, and restoration and training.

Scarice noted the importance of holding students accountable for their actions, while at the same time helping them understand the meaning and import of what they said or did.

Privacy laws prohibit schools from discussing individual incidents, or revealing specific consequences.

“We don’t behave a certain way because we’re fearful of being sued,” Scarice said. “We’re following the law.”

And, he acknowledged, “We can do more. We will still have bias incidents that are unacceptable. Kids will be kids.” But he committed the Westport Public Schools to continuing to address hate-based words and actions, wherever and whenever they occur.

(From left): Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice, Staples High School principal Stafford Thomas, Westport Public Schools Grades 6-12 social studies coordinator Lauren Francese. (Photo/Dan Woog)

One way is through a tightened, clearer Code of Conduct. “It’s squishy now. It needs to change,” the superintendent said.

The code is being revised and reviewed, with Board of Education oversight. Scarice urged residents to provide input, throughout the process.

“Westport is a competitive community,” Scarice noted. “Sometimes this does not bring out the best in people.

One result: students “exclude others, based on things like socioeconomic status, ability, race, religion and ethnicity.”

A new Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging page on the WPS website offers more information on the school district’s efforts to provide education and resources to combat hatred, bias and misunderstanding, in all forms.

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Posted in Education, Politics

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Long Lots Update At Tomorrow’s Board Of Ed Meeting; Scarice Urges Timely Action

Posted on January 17, 2024 | 39 comments

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.

39 Comments

Posted in Education, Local politics

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Newsweek Column Alleges Antisemitism In Westport; Scarice Addresses Concerns

Posted on December 14, 2023 | 25 comments

A Newsweek “My Turn” column alleging antisemitism in Westport — and charging the school district with a lack of response — has turned a national spotlight on the town.

Andrew Goldberg begins:

I didn’t know what hurt more: The antisemitism directed at our seventh-grade son or our public school administration’s attempts to silence us about what happened to him.

Both seared like a brand.

Goldberg — identified in a bio note as “an Emmy Award-winning documentary producer and director” — says that his son was taunted in 6th grade.

It escalated, Goldberg says, in 7th grade, and progressed to “targeted antisemitism.”

A friend invited him to sign up for “Camp Auschwitz,” with “great showers,” Goldberg writes. The same boy then began saying “We must exterminate the Jews” — a chant he heard watching “South Park” with Goldberg’s son.

Goldberg says the school responded with an “interrogation” of his son, and a safety plan that included sitting at another lunch table. He did not think the school was addressing antisemitism, or using it as a teachable moment for students and faculty.

Goldberg continues, “Word spread in our town. In its retelling, we were villains.”

He says that the bullying of his son continued. Friends dropped away. Feeling out of options, Goldberg and his wife enrolled their son in a private Jewish school.

Goldberg hired an education attorney, who asked the Westport Public Schools to help offset some of the tuition of the new school, and answer questions about training and policies to deal with what had happened to Goldberg’s son.

Their answers, he says, were “far too little, much too late.”

Goldberg and his wife felt the confidentiality clause in a settlement agreement was too prohibitive. They refused to sign,

In the aftermath of Hamas’ attack on Israel, Goldberg writes, “Now, more than ever, speaking out about antisemitism is needed. Remaining silent was simply something we could not do.

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“06880” asked superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice for a comment. He says:

“The Westport Public Schools categorically rejects antisemitism and has no tolerance for antisemitism or any other form of hate. We address each issue and report head-on as they arise. Our response is done in a manner designed to help students feel safe and welcome in our schools.

“It is deeply saddening to know that our community members, specifically members of our Jewish community, have concerns that we do not take these matters seriously, particularly at this point in time. Although our hope is that the words below convey our commitment to no tolerance for any form of hate, we know that it is the actions that we take, proactively and responsively, that matter most.

“Across our schools, the district provides student programming and staff training from reputable institutions such as Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and other organizations to help foster a school climate in which students feel a sense of safety and belonging.

“It is understandable that community members will have serious concerns when they hear stories that paint a very different picture. In full disclosure, this is a challenge because we have a duty and commitment to honor student privacy rights.  However, we can assure the community we are absolutely vigilant in addressing discrimination, harassment, and other forms of hate-based conduct.

“When reports are made with us about student interactions, in school or outside of school hours, including allegations of bias or hate-based discriminatory conduct, our schools immediately respond with our Identity-Based Incident’ protocol, established to implement the Board of Education Hate-Based Conduct’ policy (#0525).

“The response is centered on the following steps: (1) thoroughly investigate and ensure student safety, (2) address (i.e. consequences for substantiated acts, learning experiences), (3) restore relationships.

“Our response to these concerns always includes prioritizing the safety of students first, which usually means creating a safety plan, while incorporating parent feedback, for the students involved as we investigate.

Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice.

“We then conduct a thorough investigation and, depending on our findings, address substantiated findings in a variety of ways. This includes disciplinary consequences, longer-term safety measures, interventions to address the school climate, training for staff, and learning opportunities for students. When all parties are ready, we create and facilitate opportunities for the students involved to restore relationships within the school community.

“While our response to concerns of hate-based conduct is critical, a vitally important aspect of our program includes implementing proactive measures for students that foster a school climate in which students feel safe and welcome.

“To that end, we have provided programs to our students to help them understand the impact of their words and actions on others. Some of these programs include the Second Step SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) curriculum (e.g. empathy and kindness lessons, and perspective taking), ADL ‘identity-based’ anti-bullying lessons, the Responsive Classroom model, the Ruler program, heritage month celebrations, using our 6-12 advisory programs (e.g., ‘Connections’) to lead discussions on these topics.

“Staff professional development programs addressing this need have included: ADL scenario-based training (i.e. responding to bias/hate-based incidents), training on microaggressions/subtle acts of exclusion, and school-based DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging) committee book clubs. In addition, given our commitment to this work, the district has begun to explore the pathway for a ‘No Place for Hate’ designation by the ADL.

“As always, we invite community members to share any concerns about their experiences in our schools. We are committed to maintaining a school climate that is safe and welcoming to all, and we recognize that there is always more work to be done.

“We look forward to partnering with the community in confronting these difficult issues.”

Click here to read the full Newsweek column by Andrew Goldberg. 

25 Comments

Posted in Education, religion

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“06880” Podcast: Tom Scarice

Posted on October 17, 2023 | 1 comment

Westport’s superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice stopped by the Westport Library the other day, for a return visit to “06880: The Podcast.”

As another school year begins, we discussed a host of issues: moving beyond COVID; students’ mental health; social and emotional learning; parents’ roles, rights and responsibilities; police and security; buses and start times, and much more.

As always, the schools’ chief administrator was direct, clear, and armed with plenty of real-life examples.

Click below, for a very educational half-hour.

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Posted in Education, Library

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Scarice Details School Security, Support Efforts After Attack On Israel

Posted on October 14, 2023 | 4 comments

In the wake of last weekend’s attack on Israel — and several security issues that followed this week, at schools across the country — superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice offers these words to the Westport community:

Like all of you I have watched and listened in horror to the atrocities committed in Israel over the past week. Categorically together with you, the Westport Public Schools stand against, and condemn, all forms of hate and violence.

Our job as public educators is to support the growth and development of our students. That work is optimized in an environment marked by physical and emotional well-being, one in which students feel safe, and an abiding sense of belonging and affiliation. This is the foundation of all learning.

As much as we try, the chaos and evils of the outside world penetrate the walls of our schools. When this happens, we respond to the best of our abilities.

Rather than divide and scatter, as chaos and evil can do, we work to pull closer together as a wider Westport school community to serve our students. This is evident in how our teachers and support staff earnestly seek resources to support our students, in how our police and first responders organize to ensure our schools remain safe, and in how local community groups, such as our faith community and town Human Services Department mobilize in times of need.

In the Spirit of Our Shared Humanity
I came across this last night.  In the spirit of our shared humanity, in the face of inhumane acts, I find this to be someone who can sometimes say the difficult things out loud while transcending whatever boundaries exist between us.  I’m dating myself a bit here, and I’m not even a diehard U2 fan, but as I experienced a range of emotions this week, from abject sadness to outright fury, his voice and language spoke to me, and I hope it resonates with you.

School Security
Given the current and enduring climate of social media, I’d like to reiterate my security message to the school community from September. I expect a continued assault on our senses from social media in the coming weeks and months. Social media has proven to exploit some of the very worst of humanity. These messages will likely stir profound fear.

Yet I want to assure our school community that we have tremendous resources in place to ensure the safety and well-being of our students and staff.

Last month the town approved funding for additional armed police officers who are assigned exclusively to our campuses. These 4 school security officers are dedicated entirely to patrol our campuses.  They do not act as general patrol officers for our town, but as police officers for our school campuses.

One SSO is assigned to each of the following:  Coleytown Middle and Elementary; Kings Highway/Saugatuck Elementary, Staples High/Bedford Middle, and Greens Farms/Long Lots.  Their schedules align with arrival and dismissal times of the schools.

In addition to these 4 police officers assigned to our schools, the district hosts another police officer, a school resource officer at Staples High School. This officer implements the “triad model” of “school resource officer policing”: educator, informal counselor, law enforcement officer.

Ed Wooldridge is Staples’ highly regarded and very popular school resource officer.

Furthermore, each school has a full-time security guard who is assigned to the interior of our schools.  Together with the building administration, each security guard is in close contact with each campus assigned SSO.

As the building administration and security guards work to ensure safety inside our schools, the SSOs are assigned to patrol our school campuses, school grounds, and assist with traffic, pedestrians, and overall safety measures. SSOs are invited in our schools by building administrators when necessary.

Above all, these additional officers significantly increase response time in the event of an emergency, a critical strategy in school security.

We are on high alert every day. This is the reality of school security in the modern world. We are well resourced and prepared each day to provide a safe learning environment.

Other Responsive Efforts to Coordinate Support for Students
In order to coordinate our responsive efforts, I discussed our approach with the PTA presidents from all 8 schools in our monthly meeting on Wednesday. This group is instrumental in providing me feedback from the parent population.  Furthermore, this group of parent leaders/volunteers offers consequential input into the district’s decisions and has an ongoing opportunity to share insights and feedback from the parent population. I am a better educational leader as a result of their critical feedback.

In addition, I reached out to Rabbi Jeremy Wiederhorn, president of the Interfaith Clergy Association of Westport and Weston, to schedule a meeting next week with the local rabbis as I seek additional guidance on how to best support our Jewish students. This will be followed by a subsequent meeting with the Interfaith Clergy Association of Westport and Weston.

Our team has been in contact with Jewish Family Services in order to coordinate and provide support to Jewish families or staff in need. Jewish Family Services provides open office hours with trained social workers who offer clinical support in the following areas for those in need:

  • coping with emotional responses to trauma
  • expressing grief and fear
  • finding comfort in community

Finally, I held the monthly meeting of our district Leadership Team, composed of all 45 district administrators. We reviewed our security protocols, discussed how to best support students and staff, and coordinated resources within, and outside, the school buildings.

Support for Families In Talking with Your Children
One of our roles as educators is to provide parents with resources to support the development of your children. Although this is a very challenging topic, the following resources should prove helpful if you are struggling with a discussion with your child:

Please do not hesitate to contact one of our counselors, school psychologists, or building administrators if you need additional support and guidance with your child.

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Posted in Education, Police, Politics, religion

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School Bus Fleet Solution: Greens Farms Station

Posted on September 28, 2023 | 6 comments

The school buses parked at Staples High School that have annoyed neighbors with early morning noise and idling — and impacted parking in front of the building — may soon move.

Other buses may join them.

Their destination: the Greens Farms train station.

Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice says, “We have worked collaboratively with the town. We expect by the beginning of next week to have most of the fleet stationed at Staples to be relocated to the Greens Farms train station. We are doing our best to get the entire fleet there. Concurrently, we continue to pursue permanent options.

Buses parked during the day at Staples High School. (Photo/Stefanie Lemcke)

“On a separate note, the last couple of weeks have shown demonstrably better arrival and departure times to and from school. The service continues to improve, and we are getting significantly more positive feedback from our school and our families.

“It is remarkable to continue to improve the level of performance in the face of some significant headwinds, such as pervasive traffic volume in town that is likely the new norm, a decentralized bus parking model at the schools at the current moment, and be continued struggle to fully staff our bus drivers.

“That said, given these challenges, we will never be perfect, and delays will occur from time to time. However, our focus is on the pattern of performance and ensuring we can deliver a consistent pattern over time high performance.

Several years ago, utility crews used the Greens Farms railroad station as a staging area. (Photo/Robert Cornfield)

“We have now had 2 separate bus companies recommend 45 minutes between our tiers. We have operated with 30 minutes between tiers for years.  Given what we see as a new normal for volume and traffic in town, this may need to be revisited again at some point. I shared this observation with the Board of Education recently.

“Since the contract was approved, and we had approval to park at our schools, we have continued from that moment on to pursue a range of long-term options.

“We knew that changing transportation providers, which had been a community priority for many years, even with special committees at the town and Board of Finance level, we would have to persist in resolving the parking challenge.

“We currently operate in an interim plan with a long-term plan being pursued. We will go back to Planning & Zoning on an ‘as needed’ basis to bridge the time between now and establishing a permanent parking solution.

“I am most optimistic. We will do this, and we will continue to provide markedly better service to our schools and families, as evidenced by the performance over the last couple of weeks.

“I could not be more appreciative of the patience of our families and schools in the interim.”

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Posted in Education, Staples HS, Transportation

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[OPINION] First Student Is New Nightmare

Posted on September 14, 2023 | 47 comments

Dr. Stefanie Lemcke lives on North Avenue. She is the founder and CEO of Gokid, a carpooling technology for schools. Stefanie writes:

When my husband and I learned (after the fact) that Mary Young, director of Westport’s Planning & Zoning Department, had issued a permit allowing the new school bus company First Student to park at Staples and other Westport schools, we were concerned.

First, there had been no notice or public hearing on the matter. In fact, we only learned of the permit when P&Z issued a press release.

Second, we believed any such decision properly lay with the Planning & Zoning Commission, and not with Ms. Young.

And third, we were concerned that this was a backhanded way to save money by permanently moving the parking to school property. (The previous company provided  a parking lot on the Post Road).

We were assured, however, that this was only an interim measure, and that the conditions attached to the permit would protect neighbors and adequately address our concerns. 

It turns out that we were right to be worried. Not only are these buses creating additional traffic around schools, but every weekday since school started, our entire North Avenue neighborhood has been awakened at 5:45 a.m. by the sound of buses firing up, then beeping and backing up, as well as the sound of motors idling.

Every morning, way before school starts, we have also been treated to the toxic pollution produced by those engines. Here’s a video:

Ali Stanley of Willow Walk says: “Since the first day of school I have been awakened by the beeping and honking of the buses parked at Staples. I look forward to October 31 when they can find an alternate home. The noise pollution is unsustainable.”

We raised the problem with the schools, the town and the Board of Education over the past week. We believed that we were on firm ground in doing so. After all, the permit expressly prohibits any activity that “adversely impact[s] the students, neighbors, and the community at large.”

Moreover, the permit states that any complaints will be resolved within 7 days.

Yet the town has done nothing to remedy the situation. In fact, when we raised the issue of idling buses, we were told that this was simply the company “doing their maintenance thing.” (Never mind that maintenance is specifically prohibited on school grounds.) 

We are particularly concerned because the permit is due to expire on October 31, and to the best of our knowledge, the town has done nothing to procure alternative sites for the buses.

Buses parked during the day at Staples High School. (Photo/Stefanie Lemcke)

We believe that it would be unconscionable (and potentially illegal) for the town to extend this permit, given the lack of public input at the time it was adopted and the environmental and health consequences for residents.

It is time for the town to become more transparent about these types of decisions, to include neighbors in the process, and to reveal what efforts have been undertaken to find a permanent location for the buses.

We are a leading school district, so let’s lead by example: We are asking to bring back dedicated, off-campus parking for buses, which will decrease traffic around school sites, improve access, air quality, and safety for students and staff, and generally improve our quality of life. 

Last week, in response to numerous concerns about school buses — including not only school parking, but routes and reliability —  superintendent of school Thomas Scarice addressed the bus question. In an email to Westport Public Schools parents, he wrote:

The district has officially transitioned transportation providers from Dattco to First Student. Our efforts certainly are not perfect, particularly at the beginning of the school year, but performance is much improved and will only continue to get better as the days and weeks ensue.

Bus Parking:  The district secured temporary authorization to park in our school lots through October 31 and we are actively pursuing options for the permanent parking of buses. An extension of authorization for school-based parking may need to be pursued in the interim.

New Buses:  A completely new fleet of buses will roll off the assembly line and into our schools in December. When that happens, the transportation app will return. The current fleet does not have the technology to support the transportation app.

First Student buses. (Photo/Amy Schneider)

Drivers:  There is a full roster of drivers this year, which significantly contributes to more reliability. Many Dattco drivers have been hired by First Student. However, there could be a time where a combined route is necessary if a significant number of drivers call out on a given day. There are a couple of routes that continue to need attention to improve performance and I can assure our families that this work is underway. Improvements will continue to be felt in the coming days and weeks.

Traffic: One pervasive challenge that has only worsened is the traffic volume around town. As we moved beyond the pandemic, traffic patterns became problematic. These problems are worse this year than any of my three previous years. We will work to reroute as needed to mitigate the effects of town traffic.

Overall, the entire transportation operation is better, but there is still plenty of room for improvement, particularly at this point in the school year. Communication will improve and parents should look for messages from building administrators when there are delays.

To support our ask to bring back a dedicated school bus parking lot, please email me: stlemcke@gmail.com.

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47 Comments

Posted in Education, Local politics, Transportation

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