BoE Meeting: $126.9 Million Budget Passed - Languages Saved, 5 Positions Cut; Full Time High School in March; KHS Principal Leaving
Health Update & High School Full-Time Learning
The Health and Safety Update announced that COVID-19 cases were still on the decline, with about 17 cases reported in the past week and only 58 staff and/or students quarantined. Sue Levasseur described a state-wide trend that is positive to families and the district. Levasseur also said that talks about upcoming graduations are beginning as the end of the school year comes into view.
Superintendent Thomas Scarice said that Staples High Schoolers could expect some form of full-time learning to begin in the beginning of March, with a “Cohort Model” of about 75% of high school students.
Another Elementary School Principal Leaves; Dr. DiBella of Kings Highway Elementary School leaving by end of year.
Dr. Mary Lou DiBella, of Kings Highway Elementary School, announced her leaving of the position at the school year’s end this upcoming June. This marks the second principal to leave the district this year, with Long Lots Elementary School principal Dr. Debra Dunn announcing her resignation just over one week ago.
Parents, Board of Education members, and Administrators thanked Dr. DiBella for the work that she did for the KHS community - it being described as leaving the school “better than when she arrived” according to BoE member and KHS parent Jeannie Smith.
2021-2022 Budget Passes BoE
After voting on each proposed reduction line-by-line, Board of Education members were able to pass the 2021-2022 Westport Public Schools Budget, which will now be sent to the Westport Board of Finance, and Westport Representative Town Meeting.
Board Members in Attendance: Candice Savin (Chair), Karen Kleine (Vice Chair), Elaine Whitney (Secretary), Jeannie Smith, Youn Su Chao, Lee Goldstein, Liz Heyer
Snapshot
Approved Budget: $126,942,298
4.11% ($5,005,810) Increase from 2020-2021Initial Budget Proposal: $128,013,115
4.98% ($6,076,627) Increase from 2020-2021Reductions & Savings: $1,070,817
Staff Positions Removed:
Two High School Teachers
Two High School Paraeducators
One Elementary School Assistant Principal
Staff Positions Saved:
0.5 Special Education Teacher
0.2 Speech & Hearing Teacher
Five Elementary School Paraeducators (one per school)
Four High School Grade Level Assistants
Four Elementary School World Language Teachers
Full Budget Items with Outcome, Member Votes
Item/Position Passed (accept reduction) or Failed (remain as-is)
Yes Votes (Y: Name)
No Votes (N: Name)
Unverified (Name)
0.5 Special Education Teacher FAILED
0.2 Speech & Hearing Teacher FAILED
Defer Creation of 1.0 Communication Specialist PASSED
2.0 High School Teachers PASSED
Y: Goldstein, Chao, Heyer, Whitney
N: Savin, Smith, Kleine
Implement Pay-to-Play Intramural Sports FAILED
5.0 Elementary School Paraeducators FAILED
Y: Goldstein, Chao, Heyer
N: Savin, Smith, Kleine, Whitney
2.0 High School Paraeducators PASSED
Y: Goldstein, Chao, Heyer, Whitney
N: Savin, Smith, Kleine
4.0 High School Grade Level Assistants FAILED
Y: Goldstein, Chao, Heyer
N: Savin, Smith, Whitney, Kleine
1.0 Elementary School, General Education Assistant Principal PASSED
Y: Chao, Heyer, Smith, Goldstein
N: Savin, Kleine, Whitney
4.0 Elementary School World Language Teachers (Cut K-2 World Languages) FAILED
Restore Daily pay rate for permanent substitutes to $100/day from $130/day FAILED
Y: Whitney, Chao
N: Savin, Goldstein, Smith
Heyer, Kleine
No New Instructional Equipment Purchases PASSED
Y: Whitney, Chao, Goldstein, Heyer
N: Savin, Smith, Kleine
No New Non-Instructional Equipment Purchases PASSED
Y: Whitney, Chao, Goldstein, Heyer
N: Savin, Smith, Kleine
No New Furniture Purchases PASSED
Y: Chao, Savin, Heyer, Kleine, Whitney
N: Smith
Goldstein
Defer/reevaluate purchase of 38 SmartBoards:
Whitney: reduce by 200,000, leave $73,600 for pilot program PASSED
Y: Chao, Whitney, Goldstein, Heyer
N: Savin, Kleine
Smith
No New Athletics Equipment Purchases PASSED
Y: Chao, Heyer, Goldstein, Whitney
N: Savin, Smith, Kleine
Implement Pay-to-Play Athletics Program to $150/student/activity FAILED
Carryover Fund Draw FAILED
This record is not verified by the Westport Board of Education, and should not take the place of the official meeting minutes to be released at a later date. Please contact the editor for corrections on information transcribed.State’s Assessment of Saugatuck Bridge Says “Replace the Bridge”; Full Report Forthcoming
Press ReleaseFirst Selectman Jim Marpe announced today that Connecticut Department of Transportation Deputy Commissioner Mark Rolfe has contacted the Selectman’s Office to advise that the Department of Transportation (DOT) is completing the Environmental Assessment (EA) of Bridge No. 01349, a/k/a William F. Cribari Memorial Bridge (Cribari Bridge) and will release the report in mid-March.
Deputy Commissioner Rolfe further indicated that the EA’s conclusion and the DOT’s recommendation is to replace the bridge with a new on-alignment structure which meets Federal Highway Administration standards rather than preserve the existing structure. This recommendation was one of five design alternatives that were developed by the DOT and the Cribari Bridge Project Advisory Committee in May 2019.
Mr. Marpe noted that in October 2020, at his request and given the uncertainty of the State’s plans, the funding for the DOT’s rehabilitation or replacement was removed from the Western Connecticut Council of Government’s (WestCOG) Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). Consequently, the DOT’s recommendation will be subject to further review and approval.
During the discussion, Commissioner Rolfe offered an alternative to replacing the bridge in the form of transferring its ownership from the State of Connecticut to the Town of Westport and re-routing Route 136. This approach would ultimately require the use of Town funds to operate, maintain and repair the bridge.
The Selectman’s Office will make another announcement as soon as the EA Report and Recommendation is finalized and available to the public.
Superintendent: Kindergarten Registration Underway
Press ReleaseThe 2021-2022 Kindergarten Registration is underway. If your child turns five years of age on or before January 1, 2022, please register him/her as soon as possible. Registering now allows the District to optimally plan for your new kindergartener. All registration information is located on the district website under the Kindergarten Registration link on the homepage https://www.westportps.org.
All information regarding Parent meetings will be forthcoming. If you are unsure as to what elementary school your child should attend, please go to our school locator website: https://www.westportps.org/parents/school-locator-and-directions
If you need further assistance, please contact the Superintendent’s office at (203) 341-1026.
10.8 Billion Dollar 2020 Grand List Announced; Down 5.4% from 2019
Town Assessor Paul Friia announced today that he signed the October 1, 2020 Grand List as required by state statute.
The net 2020 Grand List of $10,830,370,714 represents a decrease of approximately 5.4 percent from the net 2019 Grand List of $11,445,273,580 and was due mostly to the recently completed revaluation of October 1, 2020. The Grand List is the sum of the net assessed value of all taxable property – real estate, motor vehicles, and personal property.
While the overall Real Estate Grand List declined from the 2015 assessments, the actual percentage of change without the revaluation influence was an increase of just under 1.0 percent. This increase is a result of continued new residential and commercial construction as well as renovation activity that occurred within the last assessment year. Work was completed on the new assisted living facility at 1141 Post Road East and the gas station at 1830 Post Road East, while work continues on the condominium development at 500 Main Street and residential units at 41 Richmondville Road. Westport remains a community of great interest to businesses and new residents as evidenced in the significant increase in sales since the beginning of 2020.
While real estate is updated based on the market values determined every five years, motor vehicles and personal property is valued annually. The increase in the Motor Vehicle Grand List was approximately 3.9%. The Personal Property Grand List remained largely unchanged from last year, due to both the closure of businesses and a slowdown of new business openings resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Totals:
Real Estate: $10,148,497,205 (93.70%)
Motor Vehicle: $364,441,700 (3.37%)
Personal Property: $317,431,809 (2.93%)
TOTAL: $10,830,370,714 (100%)
Top 10 Taxpayers 2020:
Connecticut Light & Power Inc. : Pers. Property ($140,509,070)
60 Nyala Farms Road LLC: Real Estate ($83,338,970)
Bedford Square Assoc LLC: Real Estate ($53,321,200)
Equity One Westport Vill. Center: Real Estate ($ 33,126,100)
Byelas LLC: Real Estate ($24,856,700)
Aquarion: Real/Pers. Prop. ($24,148,760)
LCB Westport LLC: Real/Pers. Prop. ($22,302,600)
1735 Ashley LLC: Real Estate ($20,310,860)
285 & 325 Riverside LLC: Real Estate ($19,470,500)
Ronnie F Heyman Trustee: Real Estate ($ 18,214,400)