By Linda Conner Lambeck

WESTPORT — Weeks after expressing strong reservations about administering a youth substance use survey, the Board of Education on Thursday gave unanimous support to a revised version that removes some questions about illegal behavior and includes fewer questions for middle schoolers.

The Westport Youth Survey 2024 will also now come with a script to be read to participants that warns them of online safeguards that are in place, an opt-out letter to parents and the option for students to take the survey on paper instead of a computer.

“I appreciate the changes made,” said board Chair Lee Goldstein.

Goldstein said the paper-and-pencil option is important because of her concern about sharing personal data online that could be linked back to students.

“If that’s an option, then I am in,” Goldstein said.

Vice Chair Dorie Hordon, meanwhile, appreciated that the middle school version of the survey would be stripped of a section inquiring about use of specific substances, such as ecstasy, molly, acid and fentanyl.

Those questions now will be included only in the high school survey and also will give students an option of answering that they don’t know what the substances are.

“Are these substances taught?” Hordon asked, in middle school health lessons.

Chris Wanner, the district’s health and physical education coordinator, said some may be.

Hordon said she didn’t think students should learn about such substances through a survey.

Both Goldstein and Hordon had raised questions about an earlier version of the survey when it was reviewed by the board last month.

Administered periodically for more than two decades, the survey is used by school and town health officials to address substance abuse issues among local youth.

It asks students specifics about any drug and alcohol use, where the substances were obtained, where they were used and their perception of parental disapproval.

Assistant Supt. of Schools Michael Rizzo said, based on board feedback, a section on risky behaviors that asked if students had ever been suspended, stolen something, sold drugs or skipped school was removed.

Board member Jill Dillon said she thought the survey is great, but would have liked a question asked about stress.

Rizzo said the school district has other surveys that ask about that issue.

Board member Robert Harrington called the survey central to the prevention work being done to tackle a serious alcohol and drug problem in Westport and Fairfield County.

He also said he was uncomfortable with the idea that Westport might skip the survey and instead use data gathered from neighboring communities.

“I want Westport data, not someone else’s,” he said.

Nat Smitobol, a parent, said he also is a strong supporter of the survey and how the data collected help to inform curriculum.

“In my professional life I design curriculum for students — health curriculum,” Smitobol said, adding he knows of instances where it has helped students in crisis.

Plans call for the approved survey to be administered in mid-February to a sample of students in the town’s middle and high schools.

Freelance writer Linda Conner Lambeck, a reporter for more than four decades at the Connecticut Post and other Hearst publications, is a member of the Education Writers Association.