Westport school district to offer adult education program

WESTPORT — The incoming 5 through 12 school building has been marketed as a place for the whole community.

In line with that, Superintendent Gary Reese will be starting a continuing education program in April, as well as drivers education courses at the high school. He claims that this new building was a motivating factor behind these decisions.

“The district decided to explore an adult education program because we recognized a need in the community to expand program offerings for adults. As we look to opening a new school building in two years, we wanted to create offerings which would allow all of the community to utilize our schools as a resource,” he wrote in an email.

School building officials stressed last year, before the community approved the project, that the new 174,000-square-foot structure would be a community center. As an add-on — which looks as though will be incorporated into the building's final design — school building authorities proposed an indoor community walking track in the building.

Reese also told the School Committee that the community will not wait for 2021 and the new school building to begin a continuing education program. At the Feb. 6 meeting, Reese told the School Committee that starting this April at the current high school, the district will begin offering eight-week courses for the community, including yoga and other low-impact exercise classes, a guitar class, a computer class, a sewing class and creative writing, among other offerings.

Reese mentioned that these courses running are subject to enrollment numbers.

Reese said that the district is still working on a brochure and flyers. They should be available soon on the school website, as well as hard copies at Town Hall, the library and other locations throughout town.

Reese mentioned that he will oversee the program and it should lead to a financially neutral venture, just making enough to run these courses. However, he mentioned that if the program grows, it could generate some revenue for the district.

Reese and school officials are also planning on running drivers education courses at the high. Reese said Business Manager Michelle Rapoza is coordinating that effort, and it will be convenient for district high school students, who could report to training classes right after school.

As for the incoming new school building, school building authorities reported that due to the mild winter, the demolition of the former middle school and the abatement of the site are ahead of schedule and should be completed next month.

Construction of the new building is scheduled to begin in the spring, officials mentioned.