Morning Weather Report: Heat Advisory until 8:00 PM
Today
Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 89. South wind 3 to 8 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tomorrow
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Sunny, with a high near 87. South wind 5 to 13 mph.
Tomorrow Night
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable.
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 30; State Positivity Rate 14.19%, Hospitalizations Down
The State Department of Public Health reported 30 more cases in Westport over the past day. The State’s daily test positivity rate was up to 14.19% while hospitalizations were down 15 patients, with 354 patients currently hospitalized for COVID-19 throughout the State.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 4,875 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 36 deaths
State Daily Test Positivity: 14.19% [up from 14.19%]
State Hospitalizations: 354 patients [-15]
Westport Property Transfers: May 2nd - May 6th; No Sales under One Million
Westport property transfers as reported by the Westport Town Clerk’s Office:
Total Conveyance Tax: $86,755.00
Total Sales: $34,702,000.00
Highest Transfer Price: 69 Beachside Avenue: $6,350,000
Lowest Transfer Price: 3 Carriage Lane: $1,000,000
Transfers:
69 Beachside Avenue: $6,350,000
56 Reichert Circle: $2,700,000
9 Wakeman Road: $2,550,000
14 Franklin Avenue: $2,500,000
1 Diamond Hill Lane: $2,400,000
40 Richmondville Avenue: $2,350,000
22 Sandhopper Trail: $2,300,000
56 Red Coat Road: $2,200,000
1 Cob Drive: $2,175,000
332 Compo Road South: $1,750,000
22 Sterling Drive: $1,700,000
15 Reichert Circle: $1,401,000
17 Maplegrove Avenue: $1,211,000
82 Regents Park: $1,105,000
10 Lockwood Circle: $1,010,000
3 Carriage Lane: $1,000,000
Superintendent’s Update
Superintendent Thomas Scarice:Good afternoon,
Just before we crash into a blast of summer weather for a couple of days, I’d like to share a couple of updates with the community.
06880 Podcast
One of my priorities as superintendent is to communicate as effectively as possible with the school community, but also with the broader Westport community. I’ve used a number of strategies in this regard. I’ve spoken to community groups, shared messages with the town in writing and video, and participated in a few podcasts, often with Dan Woog and the spectacular facilities in our public library.
In this latest 30 minute podcast, Dan and I covered the work of our equity study and the district’s facilities plans. Perhaps you might enjoy the informal dialogue, as opposed to the recent formal presentations.
In light of the recent racially motivated massacre in Buffalo, and the nearly 200 mass shootings in our nation just this year alone, schools, as a community focal point, can serve a foundational role in establishing true affiliation, belonging, and understanding for students. Continually building this sense of belonging and affiliation is a primary goal of the equity study work, which is covered in my discussion with Dan. If you are interested in hearing our discussion, click this link: https://06880danwoog.com/2022/05/17/06880-podcast-tom-scarice/
Holocaust Survivor Judith Altman Visiting Our Middle Schools
For over ten years I had the most incredible opportunity to host Holocaust survivor, Judith Altman to speak to my middle school students in my prior district. In that time I was fortunate enough to develop a friendship with Judith, quite frankly, a life changing friendship. I am so pleased to share with the community that Judith has made herself available to speak to our BMS and CMS 8th graders on Wednesday May 26. On the heels of their studies on genocide and the Holocaust, our 8th graders will not only hear directly from one of the few remaining survivors, but I assure you they will leave inspired and full of hope.
Since the pandemic Judith has moved her presentations to a remote format, yet I am confident that her story will pierce our screens and fasten our students’ attention to a truly once in a lifetime experience.
We are working on recording this very special event. If that is successful, we will post the presentation to our website and share with the community.
To learn more about Judith and her story please click here: https://hhrecny.org/holocaust-survivor-speakers/judy-altmann/
Curriculum at Glance
You might have seen a message from Dr. Anthony Buono, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, sharing our “Curriculum at a Glance” documents. Developing parent-facing curriculum documents, mostly during the pandemic, is a truly remarkable feat from our accomplished Curriculum Coordinators and faculty. These documents are intended to reflect what is currently being taught in each course or at each grade level, with a narrative overview and a unit by unit description of learning outcomes for students.
Under the leadership of Dr. Buono, I am confident that these documents will help families become familiar with the content covered and intended learning outcomes for students. For additional information, please contact your child’s classroom teacher.
You can access this information via the Teaching and Learning Department link on our district website or by following the link below:
https://sites.google.com/westportps.org/curriculum-guide/home
Enjoy the summer weekend, but remind your children that we still have about a month left in the school year!!
Respectfully,
Thomas Scarice
Superintendent of Schools
Morning Weather Report
Today
Areas of fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming southeast 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
Tonight
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Tomorrow
Areas of fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 7 mph in the morning.
Tomorrow Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 67. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 18; State Positivity Rate 14%, Hospitalizations Up 6
The State Department of Public Health reported 18 more cases in Westport over the past day. The State’s daily test positivity rate was up to 14% while hospitalizations were up 4 patients, with 369 patients currently hospitalized for COVID-19 throughout the State.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 4,845 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 36 deaths
State Daily Test Positivity: 14.00% [up from 13.76%]
State Hospitalizations: 369 patients [+4]
Police Chief: “This was the best possible outcome”
Westport Police Department:At approximately 9:00 a.m. this morning, the Westport Police Department’s School Security Officer and the Staples School Resource Officer began to investigate a report of a suspicious person on school grounds. An unknown male who appeared to be in his teens was dropped off at Bedford Middle School, but the person then left that campus and walked towards Staples High School. The incident was deemed suspicious because at the time no one recognized this individual, and it was unknown what he was doing on school property. Out of an abundance of caution, the school’s superintendent placed both Bedford Middle School and Staples High School in a shelter in place status.
Several patrol officers responded to make sure the students at both schools were kept safe and to look for this unknown person. Westport detectives also went to the scene and worked with school officials to attempt to identify the party. It was ultimately determined that the person in question was in fact a Staples student. The student was simply running late and after managing to get a ride to Bedford, he walked over to Staples.
Chief Koskinas said that “this was the best possible outcome” and further stated that the timely resolution of this incident is a testament to the excellent working relationship that the police department has with the school system.”
Superintendent: Police Activity Caused by Bus Company Miscommunications, Student Missing Bus
1:01 UPDATE - Superintendent Thomas Scarice:Good afternoon,
As a follow up message to the events earlier this morning, I would like to provide the community with clear and accurate information. I would also like to note that at no time were our students and staff in danger. The shelter in place, and coordination with the Westport Police Department, was done effectively and efficiently and the matter was resolved.
Earlier this morning a student who missed their bus walked to the Dattco bus yard and requested a ride to Bedford Middle School (BMS). Personnel at the Dattco bus yard mobilized to provide transportation for this student. Sometime thereafter, personnel at the Dattco bus yard contacted the school district's transportation coordinator to inform the coordinator about their plan to transport the student and, unfortunately, provided incomplete and inaccurate information regarding the student's identity and school. Our transportation coordinator immediately contacted the BMS and central office administration.
The administration then swiftly contacted our Westport Police Department School Security Officer (SSO) and School Resource Officer (SRO), and the Staples administration. After investigating to determine the identity and location of the student through video surveillance our SRO discovered that the student was dropped off at Bedford Middle School, but then left the bus and walked towards Staples High School. As a precaution, our SSO and SRO then sought additional resources from the Westport Police Department. Both schools were placed in a shelter-in-place.
Through collaboration with the school and district administration, the student was then correctly identified, interviewed, and it was determined that the shelter-in-place could be lifted.
The administration is committed to identifying the breakdown of the Dattco bus yard communication and protocols in this incident.
Again, I have complete confidence that at no time were our students and staff in danger. Additionally, it is clear that the positive and collaborative relationship we enjoy with the Westport Police Department, and the swift actions of our Bedford and Staples administration, along with our transportation coordinator and central office administration, all contributed to the timely resolution of this matter.
Respectfully,
Thomas Scarice
Superintendent
Superintendent: Staples and Bedford Campuses Shelter in Place while Police Investigate Possible Person on Campus
Superintendent Thomas Scarice: UPDATE 10:35 AM
“I would like to provide an immediate update to the community. Immediately after calling for a shelter in place, the Westport Police Department swiftly dispatched all resources to the Staples/Bedford campus, while also maintaining the capacity to respond to all schools if necessary. I was personally assured of this by our Police Chief. Police resources are all over our campus and school buildings. We will remain in a shelter in place until there is final resolution established in collaboration with the Westport Police Department.”
FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT 10:14 AM
Good morning,
Moments ago, as a precaution, and in collaboration with the Westport Police Department, the school district put Staples high school in Bedford middle school in a shelter in place. A report came to the districts attention of a potential person on campus that warranted this response. All students and staff are secure and we will report back to the community when the matter is completely resolved.
Respectfully,
Thomas Scarice
Superintendent of Schools