By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — A discussion between the Board of Finance and school officials about the 2022-23 budget grew heated Thursday night when questions were posed about what is being done to diversify the teaching staff.

Westport, like districts statewide, has struggled to recruit teachers with minority backgrounds.

Despite recruiting efforts, the school district last year had a teaching staff that was 94.6 percent white, according to information provided to the Board of Finance. That percentage has declined slightly from five years ago, when 95.5 percent of the local teaching staff was white.

“A lot of work to do”

“Obviously, we have a lot of work to do. What are we doing to really work to increase the diversity of our teaching staff?” Board of Finance Chairwoman Sheri Gordon asked.

“Because we, you know, we can say all the right things to our students, but if they keep coming in year after year and they’re not seeing any people of color in the front of the classroom, that’s obviously not sending the right message,” she said.

Supt. of Schools Thomas Scarice said the district takes part in the Capitol Region Education Council’s Teacher Residency Program, recruiting and training teachers of color. District officials also attend job fairs, he said.

Board of Education Chairwoman Lee Goldstein came to the podium to defend the school district.

“I do want to go back, to Brown v. Board of Education,” she said. “This country lost 35,000 black educators and we haven’t recovered.” (The 1954 landmark Supreme Court case desegregated schools nationwide, but many teachers from all-black schools lost their jobs and were not hired by formerly white schools.)

Goldstein: “Absurd” to single out school officials on diversity

“All the districts are fighting over the same people,” she said of the limited pool of racially diverse teachers.

“Do you know there’s a website in this town dedicated to criticizing the Board of Ed for the work we do on behalf of diversity?” she asked. “So, this is the area you pick at us for? It’s absurd.”

“Every company in America right now is having diversity, equity, inclusion initiatives,” Gordon said. 

“Give us some cover when we’re under attack every single day for the work we’re doing,” Goldstein said.

Gordon said all departments that came before the Board of Finance are being asked similar questions.

Caney: “Offensive” to take offense over questions on diversity

“We’re not picking at you, I don’t like that characterization,” said finance member Lee Caney. “We’re elected officials here. This is a concern of ours, we ask every single group that comes before us about this issue. We’re not saying that you’re not trying.”

“I take offense that you’re going after us for asking the question,” Caney said. 

“I think we think we’re spending the appropriate amount on diversity hiring,” said school board Vice Chairwoman Liz Heyer.

Gordon said part of the finance board’s responsibility “is to ensure that we’re living up to the ideals of being an inclusive community that is making opportunities …” 

Hordon: School board is more diverse than finance board

At that point, Board of Education member Dorie Hordon interjected, “I understand that you are asking all the areas of the community about diversity, but we are very into hiring diversity,” she said. “If you look at the Board of Ed, we are a very diverse board compared to the Board of Finance.

“So, if you’re so concerned about diversity one or two of you should step down and have your parties nominate diverse people,” Hordon added.

A few minutes later, the finance panel took a five-minute break.

The Board of Finance is reviewing the schools’ proposed $130 million spending plan for the new fiscal year.

The requested education budget is 3.75 percent more than the current year. But if several unions agree to health plan changes, the spending increase could drop to 3.1 percent.

That figure is closer to the 2.5 percent rise that finance board members had told school officials they wanted to see as the budget season got underway.