Last night, the Board of Education confirmed the appointment of Dr. Anna Mahon as assistant superintendent for teaching and learning.
The Brookfield educator — and former Olympic athlete — joins the Westport Public Schools on July 1. She replaces Dr. Anthony Buono, who is retiring.
In announcing her selection last night, superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice cited a “rigorous” interview process. He said Dr. Mahon impressed staff, parents, BOE members and administrators with her experience, passion, commitment to students, clarity of thought and communication skills.
A press release from the Westport Public Schools says:
Dr. Mahon brings a wealth of experience and a distinguished career in education to the Westport Public Schools.
She currently serves as assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and human resources with the Brookfield Public Schools.
Dr. Anna Mahon
Prior to this role, which she assumed in August 2022, Dr. Mahon had a long and accomplished tenure at Amity Regional High School in Woodbridge. She began as an English teacher in 2000, advanced to English Department chair in 2007, was promoted to associate principal in 2010, and served as principal from 2015 to 2022. Dr. Mahon has also taught high school English in Darien and Stamford.
She recently completed a term as a member with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. She has also served on the National Merit Scholarship Corporation advisory board and the Executive Board for the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) board of control.
Additionally, Dr. Mahon is an adjunct professor in the doctoral Program in educational leadership at the University of Bridgeport.
Dr. Mahon holds a bachelor of arts degree in English and psychology from the University of Vermont. She earned a master of arts in teaching secondary English from Boston University.
She continued her studies with a sixth year degree in educational leadership from Southern Connecticut State University and a doctor of education in educational leadership and internatiolnal educational studies from the University of Bridgeport.
Beyond her contributions to education, Dr. Mahon is also a former Olympic athlete. She competed with the US track and field team in the 4-kilogram hammer throw at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
She later served as an assistant coach for Yale University’s men’s and women’s track and field teams (2004 to 2012).
Her experiences as both an elite athlete and coach have further shaped her leadership skills and dedication to excellence. Colleagues who have worked with Dr. Mahon speak highly of her leadership skills.
Scarice said, “It is rare to find a candidate with the depth and range of leadership experience and expertise that Anna brings. She brings a long track record of success as a leader from the building level and central office level. In addition to her expertise and experience, Anna brings an extraordinary moral compass to her work. This was noted throughout the search process and across the reference checks.”
If it’s almost the new year, it’s almost time for the Board of Education to examine the budget.
The first work session is Friday, January 3. Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice will present his proposed 2025-26 budget at Saugatuck Congregational Church. The day-long work session begins at 8:30 a.m.
He will recommend an operating budget of $150,357,411. That’s a 4.69% increase over the current (2024-2025) budget. Of this 4.69% increase, “current services” represents a 4.17% increase.
The budget’s primary drivers are:
Maintaining all current levels of staffing and programming, while honoring new contractual agreements (health insurance costs, salary increases, Westport Education Association contract, etc.)
Maintaining staffing in response to regular education and special education enrollment
Maintaining the technology replacement cycle.
Scarice explains: “Maintaining current programming is essential to our continued response to student needs. Public education is a human services endeavor, which is heavily dependent on human resources. It is no surprise that the most significant funding allocation is for human resources (i.e. staffing and associated costs).”
Salaries are the primary budget driver. The projected amount for certified staff in ’25-26 is $72.2 million, a 5.1% increase. That covers 48% of the total budget, and is equivalent to a 2.45% increase to the total budget.
Non-certified salaries account for $19.6 million, a 5.3% increase, and 13% of the total budget. This is equivalent to a 0.69% increase to the total budget.
In total, all budget salaries represent a 3.22% increase to the total budget.
Employee health benefits remain a significant cost driver. This item includes a projected 8.3% increase to medical benefits, and a 5% increase to dental benefits. Final projections will come in early spring.
To maintain the technology replacement cycle and to meet software needs, the ’25-26 budget includes a $318,131 increase. This 0.22% increase in the total budget “keeps the district on a relatively smooth year over year technology funding path,” Scarice says.
School technology is constantly evolving.
Budget “assumptions” — initiatives prioritized to advance the work of the school system — include:
Restoring 2 full-time elementary school assistant principal positions
Advancing and supporting the work of maintaining facilities
Implementing action steps of district plans in areas like equity study, academic initiatives, technology, etc.).
A 2-day leadership team budget workshop earlier this cycle reduced the original budget request of a 5.26% increase to the proposed 4.69% (a reduction of $816,000).
Items in the original budget request, but not in the final recommendation, include:
1 financial literacy teacher ($104,180)
1/2 special education teacher, Kings Highway Elementary ($71,265)
1 paraprofessional to support coordinators ($79,035)
Extracurricular stipend for unified sports ($5,131)
Textbooks ($250,000)
Bedford Middle School fitness center equipment ($18,500).
Other cuts were made to unemployment benefits, and facilities (restorative and preventive maintenance, fire and security).
The district booked $180,000 in credit for providing parking for student transportation.
First Student buses, parked at the Greens Farms train station.
Key increases that remain in the recommended budget include:
Assistant principals at Coleytown, Greens Farms, Kings Highway and Saugatuck Elementary Schools ($405,888)
The budget notes that the Westport Public Schools have 7 collective bargaining agreements for nearly 1,000 employees.
An agreement was reached with the WEA (teachers union) this past summer. Negotiations with 4 non-certified employee groups will take place this spring.
Scarice says that his proposed budget “fulfills the district’s obligations to local bargaining unit contracts, local guidelines and policy (e.g. class size guidelines), and state and federal mandates.
“This recommendation responds to the learning and social/emotional needs of students, while advancing forward thinking district plans. The team honored budget drivers and assumptions, and this recommendation clearly illustrates the need for ‘tradeoffs’ as the district continues to aspire to maintain the distinction and reputation that the community has enjoyed for decades.
“Along with the administrative team, I look forward to deeper discussions towards developing a greater understanding of the budgetary needs of our district.”
(“06880” is your hyper-local source for education news, local politics, and much more. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Redistricting is on tonight’s Board of Education agenda (Thursday, 7 p.m., Staples High School cafeteria).
It’s a discussion item only. Many more steps and meetings lie ahead, before any decisions are made.
But parental anxiety is already high.
On social media and in conversations, there is concern about leaving friends, adapting to new schools, and more.
“NIMBY” might become “NIMSD”: Not in my school district!
The current Westport school district map. Hover over, or click on, to enlarge.
This would not, of course, be the first time some Westport youngsters would change schools.
It occurs every so often, over the years. Populations shift. Adjustments are needed. Stuff happens.
“Change is hard,” one parent wrote online.
Actually, kids are pretty resilient.
That was the point a Westport resident made to me recently.
He’d been redistricted when he was in elementary school. (And, he said, some kids changed schools twice during those years.)
He said he made friends quickly. (Some new classmates were already familiar, from outside activities.)
By the time everyone got together in Staples, he knew more people than he otherwise would have.
In fact, he said, he adjusted better to middle school and high school, because he’d already had the experience of change.
A sample size of one proves nothing, of course.
But I wonder: What the redistricting experience was like for others?
Was it stressful? Stress-free? Something in between?
Were your parents more worried than you were?
What helped you adjust to your new school? What hindered a quick adjustment?
If you changed schools during your youth in Westport — or anywhere else — click “Comments” below.
Fire away. As a new school year — with redistricting on the table — your stories are important.
(“06880” will cover the redistricting story regularly — along with the rest of the education beat, and everything else in town. If you appreciate our work, please support it by clicking here. Thank you!)
With the start of school Tuesday, the Westport Police Department, Board of Education, and Parks & Recreation Department remind residents about new school security guidelines.
On school days, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., only students, staff and people conducting school-related business are allowed on school property.
This includes Wakeman Park at Bedford Middle School, the Community Gardens at Long Lots Elementary, and all athletic fields on school property.
People involved with Wakeman Town Farm can use the parking area located at Wakeman Park.
School security officers and school security guards will monitor all sites.
Wakeman Field — a popular dog-walking site — is closed to the public when school is in session.
Officials have confirmed that the body of a man found Thursday in the Aspetuck River, near Easton Road and Bayberry Lane, is that of Westonite Robert Macisaac.
His vehicle was swept away in Fairfield during last Sunday’s torrential rains. It was discovered several hours earlier, behind Aspetuck Falls. A police diver found the car unoccupied.
Macisaac’s body was recovered during a search-and-rescue team led by Fairfield police. Westport, Weston, State Police aviation and K-9 units assisted.
Submerged vehicle, in Fairfield. (Photo courtesy of Fairfield Police)
================================================
I have no idea idea why “I slept like a baby” is supposed to be a good thing.
Babies get up every 2 or 3 hours. So neither they nor their exhausted parents “sleep like babies.”
The $500 million company — which emphasizes excellent, no-hassle service, at non-premium prices; sustainability, and free delivery — started online, with a direct-to-consumer model. The goal was to counter the pervasive (and not exactly sparkling) reputation of the mattress industry.
In 2019, Saatva opened their first viewing room, in Manhattan: a relaxed, pressure-free environment
There are now 20, in upscale locations like San Francisco’s Union Square, Washington’s Logan Circle and Boston’s Back Bay.
The newest one opened a month ago — right here in Westport.
Ron Rudzin
It’s about time. The firm’s founder, Ron Rudzin, has lived here for nearly 30 years. (Click here for his back story.)
The site is next to Walgreens, in the former Citibank.
That’s where I met a very helpful, and knowledgeable, mattress consultant. Iranie provided plenty of options, asking questions about my sleeping habits I’d never even thought about.
The process went exactly as promised. Delivery by a “white glove team” was quick, efficient, and exactly when scheduled.
Saatva representatives — in Westport and New York — called several times, to make sure everything had gone okay.
Shopping at Saatva was a wonderful breeze. I made a good, informed decision with the mattress I chose.
One of the many aid organizations that Westporters volunteer their time and money with is Filling in the Blanks.
The non-profit works on a variety of fronts to eradicate childhood hunger in Fairfield and Westchester County. They support 8,600 youngsters, and have distributed 300,000 pounds of food to families in need, primarily in Norwalk and Stamford.
Two Westport moms — Maddy Travers and Ashley Dowling — are chairing a big FITB fundraiser: Plates with Purpose. Westporter Meghan Ready leads the auction committee.
Well-known Westporter Mar Jennings hosts the event. Set for October 5 (The Loading Dock, Stamford), it’s a “culinary adventure” designed by chefs like Anthony Kostelis of The Whelk, Luke Venner (Elm), Damon Sawyer (29 Markle Court), Jared Falco Bar Rosina’s), Andréa Stevenson (Abigail Kirsch), and Hannah Gorman (Revel). plus specialty cocktails, a silent auction and dancing.
The 2nd annual MoCA Gives Back and MoCA Summer Camp Kaleidoscope Exhibition opens tomorrow (Sunday, August), with a reception (12:30 to 3:30 p.m.).
The event includes music by DJ Justin and DJ Joe, the Taste of Grill food truck and treats from South Norwalk Ice Cream, plus a fashion show with designs by MoCA Gives Back participants (3 p.m.).
And finally … in honor of my new Saatva mattress (story above):
(We hope you enjoy this “06880” Roundup, today and every day. Here’s our dream: That every reader feels a part of our online community, by clicking here to support our work. Thank you!)
Diana Capellán has been following the Board of Education’s discussion of a new Code of Conduct for students.
Tomorrow night (Thursday, May 16, 7 p.m., Staples High School cafeteria), they’ll have a third reading of the policy.
Diana writes:
Back in 2016, our community mourned the tragic suicide of a 14-year-old Staples High School freshman.
In an open letter to then-superintendent of schools Dr. Elliott Landon, his parents wrote:
Several current Staples students have reported observing bullying, humiliating or inappropriate behavior by one or more peer or peers toward others, and these students report that [they] do not know how to respond or intervene.
They feel guilty and ashamed of their inaction and passive consent to the blatantly behaviors.
We wish to address school policy regarding mandatory electronics access and usage during class. We spoke with our son’s team of teachers and guidance counselor about limiting his access to his phone and laptop during the day to enhance his focus on his work. We were told that he had to have his laptop with him.
Frankly, there should be more and better options available. Such policy presently seems to result in social media access during school hours, which is counterproductive to the learning environment and subjects kids to additional cyberbullying. “
Fast forward to today. We still have similar challenges with our children being constantly online, and their safety.
Our children have access to their phones and social media during school hours, affecting not only their mental health but also increasing their likelihood of being exposed to hateful content.
Those online exposures inevitably bleed into the real world. In the last couple of months, we have seen concerning cases of racist and antisemitic hate incidents in our schools. Yet students still don’t know how to report or intervene when they see a peer being harassed in school or online.
Along with over 40 concerned parents, and at the behest of our school administrators at the March 13 Temple Israel event on bias, we have been contributing to the code of conduct process to find ways to address the issues of hate-based harassment we’re seeing in our schools.
We launched a website to raise awareness of 4 points that need further consideration in order to have a comprehensive code of conduct and rollout plan.
After further research, we realized that the single most impactful policy is implementing an anonymous reporting system, as has already been done by Darien, Greenwich and Norwalk.
According to a recent study by researchers at the University of Michigan, an anonymous reporting system increases the likelihood of students reporting signs of concerning behavior so it can be promptly investigated and addressed by administrators before it escalates to harassment.
Specifically, we’d like to bring the evidence-based Say Something program by Sandy Hook Promise to our schools.
Their website says: “Sandy Hook Promise’s no-cost Say Something program teaches elementary, middle and high school students to recognize the warning signs of someone at risk of hurting themselves or others, and how to say something to a trusted adult to get help.”
This training and app would not only empower bystanders to take action and help children feel more comfortable reporting bullying, but is also designed to be a powerful tool to keep our children safe from the threat of gun violence.
Tomorrow’s Board of Education agenda includes cellphone use during school hours and voting on the new code of conduct, which includes a provision to implement an anonymous reporting program in our schools.
Comments about a no-cellphone use police during school hours, and an anonymous reporting system to keep our children safe can be sent to boe@westportps.org, and/or made during the BOE’s public comment period.
As first reported by the Westport Journal this morning, the Westport Board of Education ended last night’s meeting when several speakers continued beyond the 15-minute public period.
As they’ve done at meetings since February — when a Westport couple described racially based incidents directed at their Staples High and Bedford Middle School daughters — parents, students and others have used the public comment time to talk about the treatment of minority students in the district.
This time, when they continued after being asked to finish their comments, chair Lee Goldstein left the meeting. Other board members, and school officials, followed.
Board member Kevin Christie stayed, and listened as the speakers continued.
When members returned, the Board voted 4-1 to adjourn.
This afternoon, Christie told “06880”: “I believe we have to create space for our community to be heard, while also ensuring the Board of Education can live up to its mission of preparing every student to reach their potential as lifelong learners and socially responsible contributors to our global community.
“We have to be able to balance these things, and when that didn’t happen in last night’s BOE meeting, the board recessed and ultimately voted to adjourn.
Kevin Christie
“It is understandable why our community was and is upset. When members of our community are in pain and speaking up on issues that are important to them, and our bylaws put time limits on comments and prevent us from responding and reacting, it can feel like a lack of human decency, interest or care.
“We do care. We also want to ensure that we can make space for the challenging work of the BOE. Last night’s agenda included things like restorative practices (generally, and in the context of hate-based incidents), ensuring productive public comment, and student research projects, which we know are important to our community.
“Public input is important. The work of the board is important. Let’s find a way to do both.”
Speaking of education: Westport Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice gave an insightful talk Tuesday, at the Westport Rotary Club lunch meeting.
After briefly mentioning increased school enrollment and capital improvement projects, he pivoted to a topic he spent most of his time on: “outside pressures” that impinge on students and schools more than ever before.
Scarice said the internet has “a debilitating impact on kids,” and that “the innocence of childhood is being violated.”
The role of schools is now critical in dealing with the issues of hate speech and bigotries that are fostered online, Scarice noted. But he said that parents must be the front line of defense for their children.
Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
The Westport Center for Senior Activities needed a new logo. Director Wendy Petty and Department of Human Services director Elaine Daignault wanted it to be identifiable as the Senior Center — but close to the town of Westport’s logo too.
Designer Shari Barnhart is a former Westport teacher and media specialist, who designed the Friends of the WCSA logo.
Her creation highlights the warm, welcoming building, with its recognizable windows and front entry arch.
She incorporated Westport’s blue and orange colors and the Westport font, to tie things together.
The new logo was rolled out recently. Coming next month: a new website.
Both the logo and website are funded through a state ARPA grant dedicated to senior centers.
Yesterday’s Roundup contained confusing information about Weston residents’ applications for Westport Parks & Recreation beach emblems.
The correct information is this: Beach parking emblems go on sale online, and in the Westport Parks & Recreation Department office, at 9 a.m. next Monday (March 11) for Westport and Weston residents. The number of sales to Westport and Weston residents is not limited, and they are not required until May 1.
Sales of emblems to people not living in Westport or Weston began online, and in the Parks & Rec office, at 9 a.m. today (Wednesday, March 13). A limit of 450 will be sold.
If you have purchased emblems or registered for Parks & Rec programs in prior seasons, you already have an online account established. Click here to log into your account. Then choose memberships; in the search box, type “Resident.” This brings all Westport resident vehicle packages to the top page. Weston residents should type “Weston” in search box.
After verification (Parks & Rec may request a copy of your current registration, or updated proof of residency), online purchases will be mailed to you. It may take 14-21 days.
Speaking of Compo Beach: 29 Danbury Avenue may not be a teardown after all.
Though a demolition sign hangs prominently outside the home with the famed “Beach House” sign, sources say it is a formality the owners must go through to sell, as it “could be” an option for a future homeowner.
“You won’t see a bulldozer any time soon,” we are told. Fingers crossed …
(Photo/Jimmy Izzo)
=================================================
Have you ever wanted a peek behind the Westport Country Playhouse curtain?
How about a chance to see the scene shop and wardroom room? What about the dressing rooms and green rooms, where every star from Henry Fonda and Olivia de Havilland to James Earl Jones and Paul Newman hung out?
“From the Page to the Stage” guided tours are available now by reservation, on select Friday and Saturday mornings.
Tours are scheduled for March 29 and 30, April 20 and 26, May 17 and 18, June 28 and 29, and July 26 and 27, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Each tour is limited to 25 people.
The tour guide is special: Bruce Miller, Playhouse archivist. He is familiar with every nook of the historic theater. And boy, does he have stories.
The tours are free, though donations are encouraged.
To reserve a group tour, click here. For a private group tour, email krichards@westportplayhouse.org.
The Westport Country Playhouse green room has hosted nearly every stage star. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Westport Police made 4 custodial arrests between February 28 and March 6.
A man was charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, criminal mischief, conspiracy to commit criminal mischief, larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny, following break-ins at Westport Cigar & Vape, and Mohegan Smoke Shop. During the first burglary, the suspect also fled after an attempted traffic stop.
A man was arrested for burglary and criminal mischief, based on DNA evidence, following an investigation into an attempted residential burglary in November 2021.
A woman was charged with larceny and identity theft after 2 checks were stolen from the mailbox outside the Westport post office, then altered and deposited.
A woman was charged with failure to appear to answer a previous arrest.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
Failure to obey traffic control signals: 5 citations
Traveling unreasonably fast: 4
Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 3
Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 3
Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 2
Failure to obey stop sign: 2
Unsafe movement of a stopped vehicle: 2
Texting while driving: 1
Improper turn: 1
Improper use of markers: 1
Operating a motor vehicle without proper instructor: 1
Littering on public property: 1
Don’t litter!
=================================================
A few tickets remain for next Wednesday’s evening with Geno Auriemma at Mitchells of Westport.
The legendary University of Connecticut women’s basketball coach will bring his current team to the Post Road store.
Tickets to the benefit for Bleeding Blue for Good — the organization that provides name, image and likeness opportunities for UConn student athletes (and Connecticut charities) — are $100 each. Children under 12 (maximum of 2 per adult) are free. Click here to purchase.
Light appetizers, wine and beer will be available.
Speaking of sports: The Staples-Westhill-Stamford co-op girls ice hockey team’s bid for a state championship was derailed last night.
New Canaan captured the title with a 3-0 win. But it was a remarkable season for the Westport/Stamford squad. Big props to coach John Fay, and his girls!
The Staples-Westhill-Stamford girls ice hockey team celebrates their state quarterfinal victory.
To celebrate, Office Evolution — the bright, airy co-working space in the Post Road office building opposite Westport Fire Department headquarters — invites all freelancers to enjoy an (of course) free week in their shared workspace.
Click here to register. For more information on the Westport location, click here.
The Joggers Club is stretching out, getting ready for an active spring.
Among the offerings:
Connecticut’s Biggest Kids Running Camp: Sundays, April 21- June 2 (4-5:15 p.m., Staples High School track). Learn the basics of good running, in a fun environment. Kindergarten-8th grade; $125.
The Joggers Club “Race Of The Year”: The Minute Man 5K & 10K, April 28 (Compo Beach). All proceeds benefit local charities, through the Westport Young Woman’s League. Click here to register.
Free Joggers Club Track Night: Run with friends at Thursday night workouts (Norwalk High School track).
Fun Running is The Best Running: Every Saturday at Compo Beach. All paces and levels; all are welcome. No rules, no judgments, all smiles.
Join the Joggers Club for $50 a year (it works out to $4.16 a month — plus a free Lululemon shirt for all new members).
This month’s Westport Book Shop Drew Friedman Art Place exhibit features 2 local artists: Veronica Hauresz and Karen Kallins.
The women collaborated on a series of photographic artworks called “Immiscible.” They are striking images based on simple elements like oil, water, and colorful backgrounds.
A reception is set for March 13 (6 to 7:30 p.m.). Their work will be on display at the Jesup Road store throughout the month.
Veronica Hauresz and Karen Kallins, with their works.
===============================================
Alert “06880” reader Chris Grimm sends this photo from the Sherwood Island Connector …
(Photo/Chris Grimm)
… and adds: “I have as much holiday spirit as anyone. But it is March!”
In the wake of last month’s allegations of racist behavior by students at Bedford Middle and Staples High School, over 30 Westporters signed a letter sent yesterday to the Board of Education, and Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice. It says:
Based on the call for participatory policymaking during the town hall meeting on February 27 of the Westport BOE Policy meeting, we have short-, medium- and long-term proposals to address the increasing prevalence of antisemitism, racism, and overall protected class harassment.
Short-term policies to be approved by the BOE and implemented immediately:
Block students who violate the protective class harassment governance from sports and leadership positions during their suspension period. Remove VI. Procedures Governing Suspension 13: “unless the responsible administrator or the administrator’s designee specifically authorizes a student to enter school property for a specified purpose or to participate in a particular school-sponsored activity” and specify that students will not be able to participate in sports, orchestra, Staples Players, or leadership-related activities during suspension.
Modify VI. Procedures Governing Suspension 9 and 10. Notice of suspension specific for protective class harassment shall be recorded in the student’s cumulative educational record and not be shortened for students with first-time suspension. In both cases, the suspension notice should remain in the educational record until the student completes a bias training specific to the offense (i.e., ADL training, NFHS bias training) and submits a teacher-reviewed 250-word reflective essay for middle school and 1,000 words for high school.)
A group of parents urges that students who violate harassment policies should complete bias training through a group like ADL.
Medium-term policies to be implemented before the next academic year:
Review the middle school and high school social studies curriculum to make sure it equips students with an understanding of biases and how they can avoid harming others with their behavior.
Make community service/volunteering, preferably outside of Westport, and bias training mandatory for ALL students.
Review the mission and vision of the school district to ensure that kindness, good character, and civic-mindedness are part of our school’s culture.
Support and empower school diversity initiatives that increase cross-cultural and identity understanding.
Report protected class harassment indicators such as relapsing rates, number of suspensions, number of reported cases, etc., on a quarterly basis.
Long-term policies to be implemented in the next five years within the context of the restorative justice procedures that will become law in CT next year in lieu of expulsions for “non-safety related offenses” that prevent the district from adopting a zero-tolerance policy:
Assign up to 180 hours of specifically outlined community service and a reflective 1,000-word essay as a restorative sanction within the context of a restorative circle to middle and high school students who violate the code of conduct’s policies on protected class harassment. The student should have a note in their file about their violation and be blocked from student leadership positions and sports until the completion of this requirement. Completing community hours should be a requirement to shorten the suspension period of first-time-suspended students and remove a notice of suspension from the cumulative educational record (180 assigned hours.)
The current code of conduct has two salient loopholes that enable the concerning behavior (VI. Procedures Governing Suspension 9. And 10.) We find it’s of utmost urgency to address the gaps in these rules to deter protected class harassment and keep children who are being victimized safe. Notices of suspension should not be expunged from the cumulative record by just graduating high school.
This policy overlooks an opportunity to educate children about the consequences of their actions and how they can make amends for the harm caused by their behavior. We are also advocating for the suspension of individuals from leadership positions including athletics until they complete their required bias training/service hours.
Parents also say that students suspended for harassment should not be allowed in leadership positions — including athletics — until they complete bias training/service hours.
One of the Westport parents backing this proposal emphasizes the importance of this policy: “As a former member of my University’s judicial board where I held a judicial role for 4 years, we found that over 80% of primary perpetrators of civil rights infractions and sexual assaults on campus were members of a sports team or fraternity. These peer-led and often pressured organizations have been seen to insulate young adults enabling behaviors such as these infractions and often protect them from being held accountable. Suspension from these activities would have a tremendous impact on behavior.”
In order to help students avoid disciplinary action in the first place and promote a culture of belonging and respect, the Westport School District should require community service/volunteer hours and bias training for ALL students.
Recent research suggests that schools offering a variety of diversity education activities, such as diversity clubs, lessons, or special events, are associated with lower rates of bias-based bullying among students. Specifically, attending schools with more diversity education opportunities was linked to reduced odds of bullying related to race, ethnicity, or national origin among boys of color, bullying related to sexual orientation among gay, bisexual, and questioning boys, and bullying related to disability among boys with physical health problems.
These results indicate that diversity education may help protect vulnerable students from specific types of bias-based bullying and promote health equity. Therefore, implementing diversity education as a fundamental part of anti-bullying efforts and policy is recommended.
Anne Van Goethem’s research indicates that community service positively influences adolescents’ behavior and attitudes towards school, self, others, and society. She found that intensive service experiences enhance learning outcomes, especially when accompanied by frequent reflection. The impact of community service on adolescents is influenced by the amount of service performed; adolescents derive greater benefits from community service when they engage in it more frequently.
There is no apparent threshold where the benefits plateau or become negative, and the positive effects of community service can extend up to 180 hours of participation. Whether the service was mandatory or voluntary doesn’t impact the overall positive effects. Community service hours would be a restorative sanction within the context of a harm repair circle, where students “are guided to understand the harm their actions caused, take steps to repair the harm, and make a plan to avoid making the same mistakes in the future.”
The community service hours should ideally be in communities outside of Westport. Some hours could be integrated with the activities of the school. For instance, a California school district offers community service hours to students who participate in Black History Month events.
We believe in the potential of these policies to address the increasing cases of racism, antisemitism, and overall protected class harassment within the district. It expands on the restorative practices efforts while giving victims a sense of justice, keeping victims safe, and educating students so they graduate from the Westport School System, being kind members of society. Please let us know if you have any questions about the impact measurement of our proposed policy.
The letter writers specifically requested that the 2 “short term” policy items above be placed on the Board of Ed agenda for the next meeting.
Last night, the Board of Education addressed a recent Newsweek opinion piece in which a Westport parent described antisemitic bullying, and its aftermath.
The Board met in executive session, to explore details that privacy laws prohibit from being made public.
The Board of Ed then adopted this statement. The public vote was 6-0, with one abstention (Robert Harrington):
This evening, the full Board met in executive session and discussed the steps taken by the administration in response to a recent allegation of antisemitic bullying. We are deeply sorry for the pain this child and their family have experienced.
Each of us has had an opportunity to ask questions, specifically about this matter and generally about our bullying and harassment policies. Based on our review, we are confident that the district handled this matter in a manner that fulfilled its legal obligations, complied with our policies and met the high expectations of professionalism we all share.
While federal privacy laws generally prohibit Board of Education members from accessing student records, state law requires an exception in this situation so that we can ensure compliance with laws related to bullying, nondiscrimination, and discipline.
We affirm that our administrators acted promptly, ensured safety and support for the students, investigated thoroughly, imposed discipline, and provided learning opportunities to help students understand the impact of their words and actions. It is also clear that the matter was handled with care and sensitivity to all the children and families involved.
We are concerned about the recent rise in reported antisemitism, and our school system is focused on preventing its spread and educating our students about hate. Our board and administration know that student safety and well-being are our top priority and that antisemitism and other forms of hate cannot be tolerated.
Westport Public Schools aspires to be a national leader when it comes to educating our faculty and students on hate, bias, and antisemitism, including Holocaust curriculum. We further understand the frustration that many members of our community feel right now and that many questions remain, not just related to this specific matter but the broader set of issues related to how we as a district address challenges of this nature.
As we enter the new year, we intend to take proactive steps to engage with the community, increase awareness of our policies and practices, solicit feedback, look for opportunities for improvement, and do everything we can to prevent and effectively address all incidents of bullying and identity-based offenses. We will not wait, and have already scheduled a community conversation about antisemitism in January.
We owe it to every child in Westport to make sure we are delivering a learning environment that is safe, supportive and responsive when problems develop.
This morning, “06880” posted a letter from Rabbi Cantor Shirah Sklar, regarding Andrew Goldberg’s Newsweek story about his son’s experience with antisemitism in middle school.
Westport Board of Education chair Lee Goldstein responds:
As a member of the Westport Jewish community and chair of the Board of Education, I personally feel the real and understandable fear, anger and anguish many Jews are currently experiencing.
I am also deeply troubled by the rabbi’s letter today on “06880.”
I feel compelled to respond publicly, because the compassionate, professional teachers and administrators who run our school district and support our children are being unjustly accused of ignoring antisemitism.
Lee Goldstein
No one should minimize the pain that antisemitic bullying causes – and no one did that here. If we are going to fight antisemitism, we must encourage people to report it, and we know they won’t unless they trust us to respond and take action.
In this situation, our administration did just that. Our educators not only followed all applicable laws, policies, and procedures, they also worked respectfully and compassionately with all the families involved to try to reach acceptable solutions and address with sensitivity the interactions among minor children.
For good – but very frustrating – reasons, under federal law only individuals directly responsible for the education and safety of our students can be privy to details of student incidents. All schools are legally bound to protect the privacy of all students and families. I would like to say I wish that the rabbi had reached out to the district before publishing her letter, but the hard truth is that even if she had, we could not have shared any additional information.
In this case, our team gathered the facts; considered the needs, feelings, and well-being of the children involved, and implemented appropriate safety measures, supports and corrective actions, including consequences.
At a time when some leaders may hide behind jargon and policies, that is not what we are doing. We prohibit antisemitism and take action against it, including in this matter. I fear that accusing people of ignoring or minimizing antisemitism without having all the facts will make matters worse.
In partnership with ADL and other experts, we will continue to engage with the community, combat antisemitism, and do all we can to prevent and respond to incidents when they occur.
The importance of these steps cannot be overstated. I have great faith in our Westport Public Schools and broader community to learn from these challenges and come together to lead the way in the fight against antisemitism.
Click here to help support “06880” via credit card or PayPal. Any amount is welcome, appreciated — and tax-deductible! Reader contributions keep this blog going. (Alternate methods: Please send a check to “06880”: PO Box 744, Westport, CT 06881. Or use Venmo: @blog06880. Or Zelle: dwoog@optonline.net. Thanks!)
GET THE “06880” APP
The “06880” app (search for it on the Apple or Android store) is the easiest way to get “06880.” Choose notifications: whenever a new post is published, or once or twice a day. Click here for details.
Her experiences as both an elite athlete and coach have further shaped her leadership skills and dedication to excellence. Colleagues who have worked with Dr. Mahon speak highly of her leadership skills.
Scarice explains: “Maintaining current programming is essential to our continued response to student needs. Public education is a human services endeavor, which is heavily dependent on human resources. It is no surprise that the most significant funding allocation is for human resources (i.e. staffing and associated costs).”
Their website says: “Sandy Hook Promise’s no-cost Say Something program teaches elementary, middle and high school students to recognize the warning signs of someone at risk of hurting themselves or others, and how to say something to a trusted adult to get help.”
