Westonites Ask For Lower Taxes at BOE Forum

“Weston is in trouble — the reality is that we are going in the wrong direction. Get ready for 2,000 kids and one less building.”

That was one Westonite's sentiments at Tuesday’s open forum hosted by the Weston Board of Education, swhere everal town residents asked questions, raised concerns and expressed thanks for the work performed by the board and staff.

Held at the Weston Intermediate School, the delicate balance of quality education with declining enrollment and high taxes, the new teacher evaluation rubric, and response to the AIM initiative were common themes.

Several Weston residents – most of whom are familiar faces at board of education meetings – expressed a desire for lower taxes, that, they feel, drive home values.

Board President Philip Schaefer responded that Weston “has no commercial tax base and a very small school system [with] high expectations and needs.

“It’s a juggling act,” Schaefer conceded, allowing that Weston is unable to take advantage of economies of scale as other, larger districts do.

Many residents commented on the ubiquitous declining enrollment worry as well, with some estimates running as high as 40 students district-wide.

“Keep in mind that those numbers are distributed across all grades, not one grade,” board member Dana Levin commented. “We are dependent upon realtors who don’t live or work in Weston to introduce people to Weston.”

In May, the board hosted a get-to-know-Weston forum for area real estate agents who may be unfamiliar with the town.

Superintendent Dr. Colleen Palmer, who will present updated enrollment forecasts at the upcoming board meeting scheduled for Nov. 21, noted that enrollment numbers are down statewide, not just in Weston.

“Overall, Connecticut is losing children, seven percent as a state,” Palmer commented. “Part of the strategic plan is to look in the future,” she added, observing that these numbers “may not be reliable.”

Board member Richard Bochinski felt that the district is “moving in the right direction.”

“Our school budget [increases] have been significantly lower” than comparable districts, Bochinski said, and average near one percent. “Other districts are asking for five to seven percent [increases] and expecting three percent … there is a convergence that’s taking place.”

Denise Harvey, another board member, added that Weston – like most districts – must “deal with” contractual costs and “the famous unfunded mandates.”

Resident wondered if the district is continually “reevaluating” teachers, and if so, is the district “afraid to take on a teacher who doesn’t meet district standards?”

“The answer is an absolute yes,” said Vice Chairman Ellen Uzenoff.

Assistant Superintendent Thomas Scarice observed that while “teachers are always learning,” the district recently implemented a new performance rubric that more thoroughly evaluates Weston’s educators.

The new rubric, which took two years to develop, requires administrators to spend more classroom time evaluating the teachers. In addition, the rubric incorporates the objectives of the AIM initiative, regardless of whether or not the teacher undergoing evaluation has participated in AIM.

If a teacher fails to perform at an acceptable level after appropriate interventions, then the superintendent has the right to terminate or “counsel out” the teacher, according to Palmer.

“The best way to ensure that the ‘pocket of excellence’ is filled is by hiring the right people,” added board member Richard Bochinski, who said that Weston rigorously scrutinizes its applicants.

Regardless of these issues, most who commented stated their appreciation for the board and Director of Finance and Operations Dr. Jo-Ann Keating, who have worked hard to save the district money during challenging economic times.

Despite low public turnout for the forum, some felt that this indicated overall satisfaction with the direction the schools are heading, according to WIS Parent Teacher Organization President Ruth Oshin.

“They aren’t here because they’re busy with their families, and happy with the quality of the education in Weston,” Oshin said. “They don’t want to see that change. 

“When they’re not happy or worried, they turn up,” Oshin added.