Schools

Contracts for Non-Tenured Teachers Not Renewed

Layoffs are not definite, says superintendent, but could become a reality.

The future of more than 150 non-tenured teachers was made uncertain on Monday when the Board of Education, upon a recommendation by Superintendent of Schools Elliott Landon, voted not to renew teaching contracts.

And while layoffs are not guaranteed, the lack of job security apparently weighs heavily on teachers.

“Some people have said it's something that they won’t recover from. I know I will not feel the same,” said Kathy Sharp, an educator and president of the teachers union.  “I think it’s left Westport teachers with a great sense of uncertainty and foreboding as they think about not only their personal futures, but the futures of an incredible education system.”

Find out what's happening in Westportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Landon sent out letters to 144 non-tenured teachers, 10 long-term substitutes and 24 permanent building substitute teachers earlier this month warning of the fate of the contracts. He said at Monday’s meeting that the letter was a legal requirement in case of layoffs.

In past years, the letters have gone out to substitutes, but he said an uncertain economic climate and a lack of openings created by retirees necessitated the letters.

Find out what's happening in Westportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“I sent them a number of letters trying to assure them that we’re going to do everything we can," Landon said in an interview after the meeting. "It’s all dependent on how our budget goes. It depends on what the Board of Finance does, what the [Representative Town Meeting] does.”

The Board of Finance will weigh in on the $112.7 million school budget on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Town Hall. They could mandate cuts to the budget, which represents a 2.31 percent increase from the current fiscal year. Approximately $14 million of that goes to long-term debt and aid to private schools for special education students.

The Board of Education voted 6-1 to note renew the contracts, with board member Mark Mathias opposed.

“I didn’t think it was necessary,” he said, noting that non-tenured employees were safe in past years.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here