By Linda Conner Lambeck

WESTPORT–Was it just campaign rhetoric or can the town and school district really use public/private partnerships to advance costly capital projects?

That was one of the questions raised when the school board sat down last week with representatives of both the Representative Town Meeting and Board of Finance.

This annual event signals the kick off of the annual school budget-making season and, as has been the practice over the past several years, the discussion was filled with compliments on both sides.

New Board of Finance Chair Danielle Dobin went so far as to say the school board’s budget presentations are so comprehensive that her panel is now using it as a model she hopes town departments use in presenting their annual requests.

New First Selectman Kevin Christie, who until last month was a member of the Board, of Education sat in the audience taking notes, but did not comment.

Schools Superintendent Thomas Scarice told the group he thinks some take for granted how collaboratively town bodies now work.

“I’ve worked for six school districts,” Scarice said. “This is incredibly unique. It doesn’t happen by accident. The feedback we have gotten over the last five years has been incredible. I know it hasn’t always been this way.”

Headed into the development of a 2026-27 operating budget, Scarice has already warned the board of several potential impacts, including health insurance, special education costs and the need for an additional position in the district’s facilities department.

Unlike districts that “throw everything out there,” Scarice said under him, the district has made judgement calls.

“Operating budgets are becoming unsustainable in general,” Scarice said. “It is up to us to provide budgets that communities can absorb on an ongoing basis and that can be sustainable.”

About outside money

During campaign season, some candidates, particularly Democrat Stephen Shackelford and his running mate Jodie Harris, floated the idea of public/private partnerships to ease the impact of some capital expenses.

“Not to put you on the spot but you talked a great deal about it,” said Board of Finance Member Allyson Stollenwerck, looking to Shackelford to elaborate on how it could come about.

Shackelford said one way would be through development or collaborations with foundations to enhance core programming.

“I look forward to speaking to the First Selectman,” Shackelford said.

The district gets thousands of dollars of support from parent-run booster clubs. Maybe there ought to be a master booster club to regulate the process, Shackelford suggested.

Board of Finance Vice Chair Liz Heyer said her only “ask” of the school board is that they provide insight into all external sources of revenues, including ticket sales for events.

“I’m not looking to audit anything,” said Heyer. But if the district is looking to public/private partnerships it would be helpful to understand first what revenues are coming in and how they get dispersed.

Scarice said the administration is already looking into that after Board Member Jill Dillon asked about it at a recent meeting. 

As for leveraging private help, Scarice said any additional funding should be used to accelerate or enhance what the district is already looking to do and that private desires don’t trump board control.

Scarice also doesn’t want to be in a position of having a “PepsiCo Field” at Staples High School.

The district does have a policy regarding naming school property, Dobin pointed out. She said she’d love to see a refresh of the policy and the regulations that go with it.

Dillon suggested the matter be referred to the school board’s policy committee.

Keeping up the good work

As for the operating budget, Board Secretary Neil Phillips asked the town officials if they want to see any changes in the process.

“My only request is that you continue to engage in it as much as possible,” Dobin said.

“Spend less money but do better educating,” quipped RTM Moderator Jeff Wieser.

Wieser said the RTM has not really turned down anything requested of the school board of late because “the RTM really trusts this board.”

Board of Finance Member Elaine Whitney said her only request is that the school board continue to think of things strategically and help town officials understand the requests that are made.

“Do the hard work upfront,” Whitney said.

Stollenwerck said she has always known what she needs about the school board proposal by the time it reaches the town side.

In recent years, district administration has switched from a line by line presentation to the board to a thematic presentation, where department heads make their case for what is requested.

Last year, several requests, including one for additional elementary school assistant principals, were cut by the board before the proposal went to the town. Hordon said the cut was about preserving what the district already has and needs.

“For me, it is important to make sure that our schools, or programs, stay strong,” said Board Vice Chair Dorie Hordon.

Preserving what the district already has is super important, added Board Member Abby Tolan.

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.}}