Norwalk Will Run Westport Continuing Education Programs

An announcement from Westport Public Schools:

The Westport Board of Education last night voted to have the Norwalk Public School System assume responsibility for State Mandated Programs under our Continuing Education Program beginning with the start of the 2015-16 school year.

This decision will have the effect of reducing the school district’s per student costs for its Continuing
Education program.

While the Westport program serves very few adults, the Norwalk Continuing Education program is geared to serve larger numbers more efficiently. Additionally, while our programs are offered only a few nights during the week, the Norwalk Continuing Education program serves adults six days and evenings per week, including Saturdays.

As a result of this reorganization, the current operating budget which reflects an expenditure of $150,000, will reflect a much reduced expenditure of $25,000 beginning with the start of the next fiscal year.

Board of Education chairman Michael Gordon stated, “Our Continuing Education Program will be far more productive and efficient as our staff focuses all of its energies only on our full year and summer programs.”

This decision comes in advance of an audit of the program requested by Director of School Business Operations, Elio Longo.

Gordon said, “This decision will enable the Westport Public Schools to take a giant leap forward in assuring the long-term health of a program that has been valued by the residents of Westport for many years.”

As noted by Vice-Chair of the Board of Education, Jeannie Smith, “Although we are transferring this function to Norwalk Continuing Education, we will now be able to maintain our robust full year and summer adult and continuing education program for children and adults for many years to come. Moreover, our decision puts the program firmly on the positive side of the fiscal ledger for the foreseeable future.”