Tag Archives: Westport Board of Education

A Student’s Plea

Posted on May 3, 2010 | 48 comments

Last year, in the fierce budget battle over education, Staples freshman JJ Mathewson emerged as a strong voice against cuts. This year’s debate has been less contentious — but JJ still has something to say.

He asked “06880” to share his thoughts with the town. JJ wrote:

As Westport struggles to create the town’s budget for the 2010-2011 year (the RTM meets on May 4), there is still one large area of contention: What will the state of education be?

One year ago, JJ Mathewson (left) was a leader during a Town Hall rally against education budget cuts.

Last year the public school budget was cut by 2%. Then an additional $1.4 million was cut by the RTM. As a result, the public schools have experienced increases in class sizes, and many cutting edge courses at Staples have been removed.

This year the Board of Finance proposed a $1 million cut. It was reduced to $500,000 after the Board of Education announced it would seek full restoration of the original $1 million. The Board of Ed still seeks full restoration, to avoid further cuts in the school programs next year.

If a $500,000 cut is allowed to pass, Westport schools will notice another increase in class size. The proposed budget is already bare, and staff shortages are likely.

In addition, over the past few years Staples has had a noticeable increase in enrollment. Because of higher enrollment next year, further budget cuts will have a significant impact on our schools. At greatest risk are courses that teach cutting-edge interdisciplinary skills and are not state mandated.

These potential changes threaten the quality of Westport’s education. Our school system is a pillar of our community, and important to attracting residents to our community. To contact your RTM members, click here.

48 Comments

Posted in Education, People, Staples HS

Tagged JJ Mathewson, Westport Board of Education, Westport RTM

A Taxpayer’s Lament

Posted on April 13, 2010 | 5 comments

Here’s an open letter to the Board of Finance and RTM from a Westport taxpayer. The writer does not wish to be identified, due to the personal information revealed.

To the Board of Finance and RTM:

I have followed with interest and dismay the decisions made by the Board of Finance on the town and Board of Education budgets. As an employee of the Board of Education, as well as a Westport property owner, I am directly affected by their decisions.

I had planned on paying my property taxes this year (and next). I know that times are tough and money is tight. Now I will lose my full-time job with the Board of Ed, at worst, or have my take-home income reduced, at best.

But that’s okay; I’m industrious. I am lucky enough to have a part-time job, in addition to my full-time job. As long as I don’t actually lose my job, I may be able to make up my reduced take-home by taking extra hours at my part-time job.

Uh-oh. The Board of Finance cut the Library budget. My boss said that if the library is closed on Sundays, he will close because he will lose so much business. So not only can I not get additional hours, I will make less money at my part-time job this year as well.

Gee. I had planned on paying my taxes, I really had. And if the Board of Finance hadn’t done such a good job of protecting me, I still might be able to.

Comments, as always, are welcome encouraged.

Morris Jesup might be lonelier on Sundays, if the Westport Public Library is forced to reduce hours due to budget cuts.

5 Comments

Posted in Economy, Education, Library, Local politics

Tagged Westport Board of Education, Westport Board of Finance, Westport Public Library, Westport RTM

The Education Budget — Remember That?

Posted on March 19, 2010 | 6 comments

In 2009, Westport was engulfed in a battle over the education budget.

This year: not a peep.

There have been a couple of articles in the local press, and 1 or 2 letters to the editor. Beyond that: nada.

If you missed it, here’s what’s happening:

The Board of Education has requested a 2.13% increase for 2010-11. Word on the street is that the Board of Finance — which votes next Wednesday (March 24) — intends to keep the Board of Ed budget flat to this year.

Earlier this month, the Board of Ed made its case to the Finance men and women.

The main points:

Recent district awards include “Best High School in Connecticut” (Connecticut Magazine and Business Week); national honors for Science Research; a nationally recognized theater program; a Gold Medal for Inklings; a national “Blue Ribbon School” honor for Bedford.
54% of graduates attend Barron’s “Top Rated” colleges; graduation rate is near 100%
An extensive World Language program includes Mandarin; AP test participation has increased 130% over 8 years, with strong results.
The middle school has a successful “team teaching” concept, and elementary school class sizes work well
Staples’ “Spectacular Student Challenge” and Moody’s Math Challenge illustrate the success of collaborative learning and real-life analytical, problem-solving skills.

Turning to actual figures, the Board of Ed cites:

An increase of $2,011,002 over the 2009-10 budget
Projected staffing is flat compared to the current budget
The new Westport Education Association contract — with a net 2% annual increase — is included in the proposed budget
Ongoing negotiations with 4 other unions will impact the 2010-11 budget
During the budget review process, $374,000 was removed from the initial recommendation; this includes bus savings of $225,000, heating savings of $148,000, and lowered supplies and equipment costs of $112,000
Salaries and benefits account for 82% of the proposed budget; supplies and equipment count for just 3.6%
Of the 15 full-time equivalent school positions eliminated last year, none were added back this year, and none will be added back next year — despite protests from parents who have seen services reduced
In Westport’s District Reference Group of 10 similar districts, the 2-year budget increase of 2.67% (0.54% in 2009, 2.13% in 2010) is the 9th smallest. Redding’s is 8.10%; Darien’s is 8%; 3 others are more than 5%, and Wilton, Ridgefield and New Canaan are all at least 1% more than Westport. Weston, at 1.64%, is less than Westport.
In that District Reference Group, Westport’s cost per student of $16,325 is squarely in the middle. Region 9 leads at $17,895; Greenwich, Weston and New Canaan all have higher costs per student. Redding, Wilton, Darien, Easton and Ridgefield all have lower costs per student
The 2.67% increase over 2 years has been accomplished by adjusting school start times; eliminating 4th-grade paraprofessionals; reducing library paraprofessionals; consolidating department chairs; reducing individual music lessons at Staples; reducing the gifted program staff levels; lowering school building utility costs via aggressive contract management; negotiating a new bus contract; negotiating a new WEA (teachers union) contract, and implementing a townwide telephone system

The Board of Ed’s final points addressed key reasons to approve the budget as submitted:

With 82% of the budget related to personnel, any reduction will impact employees, students, and programs that define the schools
Benchmark data show Westport to be District Reference Group leaders in cost containment
The Board of Ed works with the town to seize opportunities to lower costs without impacting services
Westport’s schools are the town’s most significant attraction; property values reflect the strength of the schools
“A move from Great Schools to Good Schools is in no one’s interest.”

The Board of Ed has presented its case. The Board of Finance votes Wednesday.

Speaking out after that point — about class size increases, program eliminations or anything else — is less effective than making opinions known now.

It’s been a silent budget process so far. Feedback is welcome; click the “Comments” link at the top or bottom of this post. To contact Board of Finance members directly, click here.

6 Comments

Posted in Education, Politics

Tagged Westport Board of Education, Westport Board of Finance, Westport Public Schools

So Sue Me

Posted on January 28, 2010 | 6 comments

The Planning and Zoning Commission’s recent hissy fit — resolving to sue the RTM for exercising what is probably their legal right to overturn a decision — has spawned a new Westport trend.

Yesterday, “06880” learned of 3 other bizarre intra-town lawsuits.

Emergency Medical Services is suing the Fire Department, for responding to a choking victim before the EMS arrived. Referring to the incident earlier this month, an EMT said, “We’re sick and tired of those firemen with their big red trucks thinking they’re like medical personnel. They should stick to putting out fires, and we’ll save people’s lives. Am I right?”
The Highway Department is suing the Board of Education, after a teenage driver crashed into a stop sign while texting. It was Martin Luther King Day, causing a road crew to come out — at triple time — to repair the damage. “What the hell are they teaching at Staples these days?” a Highway Department spokesman asked. “Don’t they friggin’ know anything?”
First Selectman Gordon Joseloff is suing Second Selectman Shelley Kassen for dereliction of duty, and gross incompetence. “I sent her to Starbucks for a vente skinny cinnamon mocha latte frappuccino smoothie tea, half soy, half skim, half decaf, half Half-and-Half, and she comes back with a Dunkin’ Donuts small black coffee,” the chief executive thundered. “WTF?”

6 Comments

Posted in Local politics, Totally random, Westport life

Tagged Westport Board of Education, Westport EMS, Westport Fire Department, Westport Planning and Zoning Commission, Westport RTM

A Kindler, Gentler Budget Process

Posted on October 16, 2009 | Comments Off

“06880” is not Nostradamus. But if Wednesday night’s candidate debate is any indication, the 2010 budget process will be far less rancorous than ’09.

The Board of Finance candidates — 4 are competing for 3 seats — oozed civility and reasonableness, at the LWV-sponsored event. More importantly, all acknowledged — in fact, stressed — the crucial role of our schools in keeping the town vibrant, and our property values high.

To varying degrees, all said: Education is important. And it is important that we pay for the high-quality education our school system provides.

The Board of Ed candidates reiterated the need to focus on programs, courses and class size. Whatever goes on each day in our classrooms — from kindergarten through high school — is the key component of education.

Candidates for both boards emphasized the need to communicate with each other — and with other departments, and the town at large — long before budget votes are taken.

On paper, those words can sound like the promises we hear every year. But the measured tones in which they were conveyed — and the memory of last spring’s harsh meetings and votes — makes us hopeful that this year’s budget process will be civil, efficient and relatively stress-free.

Santayana said, “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” If last May can be considered “history,” it seems Westport has learned its lesson well.

Last spring, Staples students protested proposed budget cuts. Will this year's budget process be less confrontational?

Comments Off on A Kindler, Gentler Budget Process

Posted in Education, Local politics

Tagged Westport Board of Education, Westport Board of Finance

No Race, But Running

Posted on October 10, 2009 | 1 comment

A couple of days ago I moderated a forum with 3 of Westport’s 4 Board of Education candidates.

It was a “forum” — not a debate — because the 3 are running for 4 seats. All — plus the 1 candidate who could not attend — will be elected. I guess there’s not much competition for the job of overseeing a $95 million budget, 1,000 staff members and 8 buildings — all for a salary of $0.

Westport PTA Council Though the outcome is already decided, the forum — sponsored by the PTA Council — drew a respectable crowd. They asked excellent questions. And the candidates responded thoughtfully, respectfully, realistically and collaboratively.

No, I’m not kidding.

Because there are no contested seats, it doesn’t really matter which candidate said what. (Besides, I forgot to take notes.) But here is the gist of where our Board of Ed candidates stand:

Budget priorities. Class size; programs, and how those programs are delivered; maintenance.
The physical condition of older schools. In the current economy, new school construction is unlikely. But the Board’s commitment to equality among all schools is strong. The Board realizes our schools are long-term assets, and is exploring needs over a long period of time.
The recent alcohol-infused Homecoming at Staples. This is a community-wide issue, extending far beyond the Board of Education. At the same time, Westporters should support the efforts of Staples administrators as they address drug and alcohol issues at and around school functions.
Bus parking.

The town has to help with a solution — including finding state or town property, or perhaps a site outside Westport. (One interesting, related idea: Reduce costs by allowing families to “opt out” of bus transportation.)
School start times. Everything is on the table in the search to find cost savings.
Major challenges over the next 4 years. Crafting curricula that teach life and career skills; maintaining our buildings, and structuring them for the future; incorporating green technology; managing enrollment; ensuring continued effective leadership.

Handling stress levels in the upper grades. Westport offers a wide range of courses, for a wide variety of needs; it’s important to communicate options well. It’s crucial to continue to offer opportunities and outlets beyond the classroom, and to try to relieve stress surrounding the college application process.
Admininstrators’ salaries. Westport’s 3 top administrators did not receive salary increases last year. We expect excellence in the system, and have to pay well for leadership of it. There is a strong evaluation process in place.
Finding economic efficiencies by combining school and town functions. Many combinations have already taken place. We must identify “best practices” wherever we can. It’s not easy for anyone to give up power — but it’s imperative in certain areas to do so.

1 Comment

Posted in Education, Politics

Tagged Westport Board of Education