The Coalition for Two Middle Schools in Westport - is wholly non-partisan and supports one central aim: to support to two first class Middle Schools in the Town of Westport.

We want our community to unite behind Coley Middle School reopening as a 1st class educational facility. The plan has been set by those that should be deciding education policy. 

This coalition strongly supports two Middle Schools for Westport and believes this issue was clearly resolved by Board of Education, Board of Finance, RTM and Selectman's Office over the past year. 

We do not welcome P&Z Commissioner Danielle Dobin trying to misuse the P&Z Commission as a body to change this decision. 

While we are pleased with the progress our administrators are making for all our children - they have accommodated one big school only on a temporary bias. The "Mega School" was only ever intended as a short-term transition. We strongly believe that educating over 1300 students in grades 6-8 in one giant school should not be a permanent solution.

Educational data is not on Danielle's side. Her statements represent the opinions of a small number of parents reacting to a school year less than two months old that wholly ignore the needs and experiences of the broad set of students, teachers and administrators inside the building. Success metrics have not been established and we cannot abandon what has been determined for the good of the whole based on the opinions of a few. 

This coalition does not want to confuse the structural policy of supporting two strong middle schools with a need to redistrict. Just because redistricting is hard doesn't mean we shouldn't support a two Middle School structure. Our town bodies - most importantly the one that oversees educational matters for the town - voted unanimously to support an 8-building structure in Westport. As a community, our charge is to deliver that within structures that achieve an equitable outcome for all students. 

Please support the Coalition for Two Middle Schools in Westport - and don't take one of our Middle Schools away.