Top Anya Nair of Staples High School and young Calum Madigan participate in Thursday’s first meeting of the Board of Education as non-voting members. / Linda Conner Lambeck’s photo
Conner Lambeck, Linda
WESTPORT – Two Staples High School students who had just joined the Board of Education added their voices on Thursday to support native initiatives to meet a state-mandated requirement for financial literacy graduation.
The club’s resource demand for 2024–2025 received input from the student representatives, who do not have a vote.
Nair has taken one of the Staples courses discussed, in addition to saying that he and Calum Madigan, both seniors, see a benefit to the new economic education requirement.
“I have a bit more obligations now that I’m 18 years old, including credit cards and college debts,” Nair told the table. “I think it’s important.”
In an effort to strengthen scholar voices in the area, the school board decided last spring to increase pupil board representatives.
“This is a pretty common aspect of it,” according to Supt. Thomas Scarice described the energy as “Colleges.”
Nair and Madigan were among the individuals who made videos outlining their motivations for becoming the first-ever student representatives for the school board. Stafford Thomas, the director of Staples, reviewed the videos and forwarded their names to the table. They were questioned earlier this month by committee people.
Nair claimed that because of her involvement in student government, the chance to constantly communicate with the school board seemed appealing. Nair even runs three leagues at school, started Vintage Breakout, a pop-up store, and works part-time after school.
Nair said of the places where she believes the board does concentrate its attention, “I think the conversation on education, right now, is very interesting.”
Madigan, 17, claimed that he first watched a school board meeting online to help him get ready for the meeting on Thursday.
“This is a fantastic opportunity,” declared Madigan. The Staples Student Council, which is also innovative this year at the higher class, is where he first learned about the school board option. He stated that his objective is to assist in establishing connections between individuals and the Board of Education.
“Great marks for financial education”
According to Assistant Supt., Staples has a number of course services that satisfy the country’s requirement for financial education, which goes into effect for the Class of 2027, the current freshmen. Mr. AnthonyBuono
According to state laws, high school students must earn at least 25 credits, half of which must be in financial education and personal financial management.
The table was informed that there is legal flexibility that will enable several of the courses now offered at Staples to abide by the requirement, which aims to teach students about a variety of topics, including banking, investing, saving, and the use of credit cards.
The condition also fits the social studies framework as seen through the prism of financial decision-making. Additionally, Staples provides a number of finance classes.
According to Stefan Porco, head of the Staples Math Department, the school offers a half-year Personal Financial Management course as well as an entire season Financial Algebra course. Students in junior or senior years usually take both courses.
A course on economical decision-making covers a variety of subjects, including shares, bonds, and investing.
The way the subject was taught, according to Nair, was enjoyable. She added, “I understood it,” adding that one of the best lessons she’s taken at Staples was an AP economics course she took last year.
According to workers, about 80% of the Class of 2022 and 2023 enrolled in at least one course that would satisfy the requirement. As a result, 90 students received their diplomas without enrolling in any economic education courses.
By the 2025–2026 academic year, it is anticipated that the necessity will eventually necessitate more staffing.
“Evaluating your investing strategies”
Both learners commented during the union’s continued discussion of the proposed 2024–25 resources in addition to their comments on the new training need.
On Scarice’s $148.3 million expenditure advice, which is almost 9% higher than this year, a vote is anticipated next month. According to authorities, all but 2.9 percent of the proposed increase is a result of skyrocketing health care expenses.
The majority of earlier budget discussions centered on ways to increase the number of assistant principal roles at elementary schools that weren’t recommended by the superintendent, possibly by making changes abroad.
One suggestion involved the gifted program offered by intermediate schools, arguing that it might be more cost-effective to present it in one or two locations rather than all five.
“I wasn’t a part of Workshop [the gifted program] in elementary school, but I was friends with many who were,” according to Madigan. He continued, “Having gifted students all over the city exposes more students to new ideas and ways of thinking.”
Dorie Hordon, the vice-chair of the table, informed Madigan that she concurred.
Madigan informed the board that even when teachers are up ill, the majority still post the work when discussing the cost of hiring additional building substitute teachers, a proposal that was not included in Scarice’s budget.
“Work assigned by teachers must be finished, replace or no,” Madigan continued.
Nair gave the example of how colleagues worked together in the classroom while a teacher was away to check on them.
“But we were very well focused,” she said. “I think having a teacher that is crucial.”
“Democrats’ candidate for the available seat was examined”
The panel was put yet another member as soon as the school board meeting on Thursday.
Democrats have nominated Abby Gordon-Tolan for the position left open by Christina Torres’ new departure, and it is anticipated that he will be the subject of a closed-door board meeting on January 31.
Gordon-Tolan’s election, according to Board Chair Lee Goldstein, may be approved by the board the following evening, on February 1. Nominated candidates to fill empty seats are ultimately decided by the school board.
The Education Writers Association is made up of independent author Linda Conner Lambeck, who has worked as a writer for the Connecticut Post and other Hearst magazines for more than 40 years.