The new redistricting plan creates difficulties for middle school students

Lyah Muktavaram '22, Staff Writer

October 14, 2019

Recently with the new redistricting plan to rebuild Coleytown Middle School, the district has come to the decision that there needs to be more enrollment in the Coleytown schools. As a result, the elementary schools need to be evened out in terms of enrollment.  Consequently, students previously expected t...

Board of Education examines redistricting for elementary, middle schools

Katie Simons ’22, Arts Editor

October 8, 2019

The Westport Board of Education (BOE) discussed plans to redistrict the elementary and middle schools at a meeting on Sept. 23. Although redistricting would balance out the recent decrease in enrollment in the Westport Public Schools system, no decisions have been finalized. The BOE discussed...

BOE names Stafford Thomas Jr. principal of Staples

Andreas Lolis '21, Paper News Editor

June 25, 2019

The Board of Education unanimously approved Stafford Thomas Jr. as Principal of Staples High School on June 20.   The Principal seat was vacated by James D’Amico, who earlier this year announced his resignation effective at the end of June.   While Thomas doesn’t have any speci...

Palmer continues to receive transportation benefits, salary while on medical leave

Audrey Bernstein ’20 and Allie D'Angelo ’20

May 2, 2019

Superintendent Dr. Colleen Palmer will continue to receive her annual base salary and insurance benefits while on leave for medical reasons until her retirement on Aug. 1. Palmer will additionally be receiving a transportation allowance through her leave time, according to the Separation Agreement between Palmer...

Community Advisory Committee recommends options for 2019-20 school year

Eddie Kiev '20 and Marlo Von Der Ahe '20

December 9, 2018

After extensive research, the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) has recommended three options to the Westport Board of Education (BOE) on how to proceed in the 2019-2020 school year to compensate for Coleytown Middle School’s (CMS) mold infestation. The three options include housing sixth graders...

District staff unifies in response to contract termination decisions

April 26, 2018

By Lili Romann '19 and Daniel Harizman '19 Over 100 Westport Public School District teachers attended the Board of Education meeting Monday, April 23 after 135 non tenured district staff received email notifications Friday, April 20 that their contracts would not be renewed for the upcoming school ye...

A Passing of the Reins

Jimmy Ray Stagg, Staff Writer

April 7, 2016

Almost any weekday at around 5:30 a.m., if you look out over the Saugatuck River, you’ll see many early bird rowers taking advantage of dawn’s quiet serenity. Among these early risers there’s a face that will soon become very familiar to the Staples community: Dr. Elliot Landon’s successor as ...

February break returns despite state schedule

Sophie Call, Staff writer

March 30, 2016

On March 28, the Westport Board of Education (BOE) voted to keep February break in place for another two years. Until yesterday, the district had been told that this year’s break would be the last, due to a statewide mandated schedule. “Break is so important for students,” Jeffrey Shepard ’18 said. ...

Principal search on hold while experts are called in

Megan Doyle, Staff Writer

October 5, 2015

The search process for finding a new permanent principal at Staples is changing and is currently on hold until directed otherwise. The Board of Education suggested hiring a search firm to effectively find new, interesting candidates for this important role. Last year, as a way to find applicants, the town of Westport placed ads featured in the New York Tim...

Superintendent Landon announces his retirement after 2015-16 school year

Max Biblicoff, News Editor

June 19, 2015

Just months after Staples principal John Dodig announced his plans to retire, another public figure in the Westport school system, superintendent Elliott Landon, has announced his intentions to retire as well. Landon announced via email earlier this month that the upcoming 2015-16 school year will be...

Candidate for Principal Withdraws from Consideration

Andrew Vester, Web Opinions Editor

May 27, 2015

Shelly Somers, the principal of Central Middle School in Greenwich, withdrew herself from consideration for the position of principal at Staples High School.  The statement of Somers’ withdrawal was made by school officials on May 27. The unexpected announcement came a day after Somers met with stude...

BOE discusses health survey, continuing ed. and goals

Alexa Di Luca, Staff Writer

May 7, 2015

On May 4, the Board of Education (BOE) discussed the results of the Westport/Weston/Wilton Student Health Survey, modifications to Westport Continuing Education and the BOE’s goals for 2015-2016. The health survey required that a minimum of 100 students were tested in each grade level. The questions...

Proposed budget for 2015-16 school debated by BOE and Landon

Anders Hovstadius and Becca Rawiszer, Staff Writers

March 10, 2015

During the February Board of Education meeting, a budget increase was proposed by Superintendent Elliott Landon. The majority of the budget increase goes into two categories: literacy coaches and school security. Literacy coaches are professionals who work directly with teachers in their professional...