By Linda Conner Lambeck

WESTPORT – Ten more students attend Westport Public Schools this school year than last, but that is 58 students fewer than the school board anticipated would show up when the 2026-27 school year budget was built.

Even so, the district’s preliminary 5,193 student headcount was characterized as stable when the numbers were presented to the school board on Thursday.

In addition, two additional classroom teachers had to be added at Saugatuck Elementary School because of where the numbers fell, Assistant Superintendent John Bayers told the school board at its regular meeting held at Staples High School.

Saugatuck enrollment exceeded projections by 35 students, requiring an additional kindergarten and third grade class.

Districtwide, there are now 121 elementary school classroom sections instead of the 119 in the budget.

Although an official headcount won’t be sent to the state until October 1, Bayers said he does not anticipate much change between now and then.

The number reported out last week doesn’t count students in preschool or who are placed out of district.

At the district’s five elementary schools there are 12 students more than last year with a total headcount of 2,675.

Saugatuck’s higher than expected enrollment was tempered by lower than expected headcounts at Coleytown and Greens Farms elementary schools. Kings Highway and Long Lots saw slightly more students than anticipated. Those four schools were able to live within their budgeted classroom allotments despite enrollment variations.

At 480 students, Saugatuck is said to be in good shape space wise even with the new students and the addition last year of about 50 students who were redistricted from Long Lots.

In the 2013-14 school year. Saugatuck had 523 students and 26 sections, Bayers pointed out.

At the middle school level there are 1,202 students, seven more than last year. Bedford, which has 722 students, gained one while Coleytown Middle gained six. Its headcount stands at 480.

At Staples there are 1616 students, nine fewer than last year and 40 fewer than what was projected by demographers used by the district.

Historically, Staples has seen kids transfer into the school to complete their senior year, Bayers said. That did not occur this year.

Board Vice Chair Dorie Hordon called the 438 student enrollment head count at Coley El–15 fewer students than projected ..surprising. She wondered if the district tries to find out why some students leave.

Are they moving or going to privates, she asked.

Bayers said the district generally is told where students are transferring to but not why.

Schools Superintendent Thomas Scarice said the district can start trying to find out.

Staffing

While many other school districts are facing struggles trying to fill vacancies, Bayers said in an email after the meeting that Westport has all positions covered.

Two teachers resigned at the start of this school year–one a middle school art teacher and the other an elementary teacher–but both are contractually bound to remain with the district for up to 30 days while searches for replacements are under way, Bayers said.

“One was hired as an administrator in a neighboring town, and the other teacher lives over an hour away and was able to land a position 20 minutes from her house,” Bayers said of the departing staff. 

“I am confident we will fill the vacancies,” Bayers said.

In all, the district hired more than 80 new staff members over the summer, including 32 new certified staff members across every level of the school system, according to a memo provided to the board.

The district also hired Jill Grego as its new supervisor of health services. Grego previously was a supervisor of school health services in West Haven.

In addition to about 30 other non-certified hires, Bayers said the district welcomes 15 interns and student teachers this fall from the University of Connecticut, Fairfield University, Sacred Heart University, and Southern Connecticut State University. 

Linda Conner Lambeck

^{_{Linda Conner Lambeck covers education for Westport Journal. She was a reporter for more than four decades at the Connecticut Post and other Hearst publications. She has covered education throughout Fairfield and New Haven counties. She is a proud member of the Education Writers Association.}}