Westport Education Board Withdraws $100,000 School Security Audit Proposal

A school security audit that was planned in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook school shootings has temporarily been put on hold.

The Board of Education pulled its request to fund the $100,000 school security audit after it drew criticism from Westport’s Representative Town Meeting (RTM) during a meeting at Westport Town Hall earlier this week.

The RTM was scheduled to vote on an appropriation of $100,000 for a school security audit that would have been done by Kroll Advisory Solutions, but the item was revoked by Board of Education Chair Elaine Whitney prior the RTM’s meeting Tuesday night.

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RTM members were concerned that only one security consulting firm was recommended and that the job was not put out for bid. The audit initially drew criticism from RTM members because the Westport Police Department and Westport Fire Department were not included.

In January, the Board of Finance approved a $50,000 funding request for a professional audit that would provide recommendations to enhance security in all Westport public schools. The cost of the study was later increased by an additional $50,000 following a decision to have it directed by local police and educators.