By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — A $129.5 million education budget for 2022-23 was approved Thursday by the Board of Finance after about $800,000 was cut from school officials’ request.

The Board of Education in February had approved a $130.3 million spending request, about 3.75 percent more than the current budget.

The finance board, however, reduced that amount to $129,500,574, a 3.1 percent rise over the current  $125.6 million budget.

That amount also hinges on the hope that changes in the school district’s health plan, and savings they would bring, will be embraced by unions.

Board of Finance members made it clear that if ongoing talks with unions are not successful, full funding would be restored to the budget. Negotiations are expected to be complete in the coming weeks, one schools official said.

The finance vote for the $129.5 million plan was unanimous, 7-0. 

Thursday’s discussion proceeded more smoothly than the finance board’s last hearing on the budget, when emotions ran high over the issue of diversifying the school district’s teaching staff.

“This process is often fraught,” finance Chairwoman Sheri Gordon said Thursday. “Because there’s push-and-pull trying to balance all the different needs that come under the budget.” 

But, she added, “this has been the most smooth and direct budget process I’ve ever had, and we really appreciate how everyone was so forthright about the challenges, and about the successes, and the areas where we need to focus for the children …”

The ’23 school budget, and other appropriations approved Thursday, need final approval from the Representative Town Meeting before the July 1 start of the new fiscal year.

Coleytown modular classrooms funded despite setback

The Board of Finance also approved a $148,656 special appropriation to install two modular classrooms at Coleytown Elementary School, which is experiencing an enrollment spike.

The money approval came despite the Zoning Board of Appeals’ denial of the plan March 22, based on security concerns.

Finance board member Lee Caney asked about the ZBA action. 

Supt. of Schools Thomas Scarice said the finance board’s action would be contingent upon all other approvals, and said school officials had not heard about the ZBA rejection of the proposal prior to Thursday’s meeting. 

He said a second meeting on the modular classrooms is planned, and he expects the proposal to succeed.  

ARPA money OK’d for playgrounds

The finance board also approved a $439,000 allocation from the town’s American Rescue Plan Act pandemic-relief money to install FitCore Extreme playgrounds at Coleytown and Bedford middle schools.

Such a playground, a packet handed out at the meeting stated, is “an innovative obstacle course that has benefits for people from teens to adults.” The facilities will provide social and emotional benefits, according to the promotional material.

“Students need movement during the course of the day,” said Anthony Buono, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction.

“When they do have it, learning increases,” he said. “So, I think when we don’t provide these opportunities during the course of the day students take their own breaks, you know, fidgeting under a desk or whatever it is, and they’re not paying attention so our plan is, and has been, to provide planned opportunities for these breaks and for movements and exercise throughout the day so that when we are focused on the academics students are really at their optimal.”