By Linda Conner Lambeck

WESTPORT–Three percent raises will be awarded to 65 non-union school district positions with the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, 2026.

The school board approved the raises with no discussion at the conclusion of its May 12 meeting. They had met prior to the meeting in executive session to discuss the wage proposal.

The superintendent’s cabinet

Included in the group are the four members of School Superintendent Thomas Scarice’s cabinet, who in addition to getting three percent raises will also see their contracts extended through June 30, 2029.

With the raises, Chief Financial Officer Elio Longo will earn an annual salary of $281,949, Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Services Michael Rizzo will make $260,205, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources John Bayers will make $251,070, and Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Anna Mahon, entering her second year with the district, will make a salary of $247,200.

The remainder of the list includes 11 support supervisors, five central office secretaries, nine assistant head custodians, 11 technology assistants, 10 security aides, two athletic trainers, one college and career coordinator, 10 occupational therapists, and two physical therapists.

Five of the positions across the span are open and not filled at the moment.

The three percent raise mirrors the one given to union staff and compares to the four percent awarded for the 2025-26 school year.

Together, the 65 salaries cost the district more than $6 million.

The superintendent

The board has yet to act on a new salary and contract extension for Scarice. It is on the agenda for the June 11 meeting. Scarice, who made a base salary in the current fiscal year of $334,528, making him the town’s highest paid municipal employee.

Last year, two board members, Vice Chair Dorie Hordon and former board member Robert Harrington voted against a 4 percent increase for Scarice, calling it a bad look. Hordon also worried about long-term budget implications of escalating pay above the inflation rate.