To the editor:

Dear Dianne Baron and Tony Viveiros,

We are a small group of long-time retired residents who meet occasionally — socially and to discuss town happenings — and are very concerned with aspects of the new school status. Our issues;

1.  To spend $100 million and not provide space for the administration group seems incredible. Is this true? If so the entire operation is in jeopardy. The people responsible for it’s operation have to be on site all the time for the good of the teachers, students and us residents!

If any of you have run a large workforce you know exactly what we are talking about. I was CEO and president of four sailboat companies with over 600 associates for many years and I learned this from day one.

My niece Julia was here last night — she is a very successful teacher with over 20 years in the Arlington School system in N.Y. state (1,500 students) and she agreed 100 percent with the above and added that each administrator where possible is required to teach a class so they get to know first hand the students and all their quirks.

I also earlier asked her father — Harvard PHD in teaching and a long time teacher in the Brookline system (now retired) who afterwards started a school in Tiblisi, Georgia for the U S State Department that has become a huge success — what he thought and his reply was it would be an impossible situation that could only lead to an inferior school!

2.  What is the impact on our taxes per $1,000 of evaluation in total? We hear the earlier number is not accurate.

3.  When the design had to be changed in order to stay within budget, the architect is quoted as saying the change will not cost the town any more money. Is this true?

4.  What is the status of the water supply? We hear the Campgrounds water is contaminated?

5.  We now hear we will have to import out-of-area students in order to fill the classes. If true, use a classroom or rooms for the administration. Niece Julia says her school has done this with success.

We understand there will be a full review for us residents at the end of the month. Sorry to say our few will be out of town but we would appreciate answers, please.

Lastly forget door heights and brick colors and solve the big ones!

Thanks, 

Sham Hunt

Westport

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