Westport Board Of Education To Resume In-Person Meetings

WESTPORT, CT — The Board of Education announced Wednesday they will return to in-person board meetings beginning next week.

The announcement comes as coronavirus vaccinations continue to roll out across the state and many of the restrictions put in place last year have been lifted.

"With [coronavirus] transmission rates down, vaccination rates up and most pandemic-related restrictions having been lifted, we are pleased that we are able to resume meeting in person with mitigation measures in place," board members said in a letter, "and we welcome the public to join us."

The letter also indicated board members, as well as anyone joining a meeting in-person, must wear a mask and maintain three feet of social distancing. Those who require a mask exemption, in accordance with legal requirements, can present required documentation in advance to Director of Human Resources John Bayers.

Board Chair Candice Savin told Patch everyone on the board was looking forward to resuming in-person meetings, their first since the spring of 2020.

"In-person meetings allow us to engage on a more personal level and interact with one another and with members of the public before and after the meeting," Savin said. "In addition, in-person meetings protect us from distractions like our phones and whatever else might be on our computer screens. Overall, in-person meetings will make us more effective."

Savin also noted she did not expect the board to use a remote meeting format in the future unless forced to due to safety concerns again.

According to the board's letter, they will continue livestreaming meetings on the board's website and Channel 78, as well as posting recordings of meetings on the website, for any members of the public would prefer to continue viewing them remotely.

The board will also return to its previous procedures for public comment, and opportunities for written comments from the public will no longer be provided during board meetings. Comments or feedback can still be submitted through email.

Patch has reached out to town officials and other board members for more information.