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The What

The What: Save the Sound Report Card, School Construction Updates, and more

The What is your look around the region for the week of October 21.

The What: Save the Sound Report Card, School Construction Updates, and more
Let's explore the waters of southwest Connecticut and check out some school construction updates. (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

Monday, Oct. 21

Happy Monday! This week we have two main pieces for you—a look at the latest Save the Sound Report Card and what that means to southwest Connecticut as well as an update on school construction across the region.

Highlights 

This section will give a brief overview of the key items in the newsletter.

  • The Long Island Sound is an essential part of southwest Connecticut, which is why nonprofits like Save the Sound, a regional environmental organization, are focused on keeping its waters as clean as possible. Check out the group’s latest report card and what it means for our region.
  • We recently did a series on school construction across the area, and this week we’re back with some updates out of Stamford and Norwalk. 
  • The charter revision process, which includes updates to the governing document for local communities, is moving ahead in Fairfield and Bridgeport this week. 

Spotlight

This section will feature our main reporting each week.

Save the Sound Report Card

The Long Island Sound is an essential part of southwest Connecticut. That’s why nonprofits like Save the Sound, a regional environmental organization, are focused on keeping its waters as clean as possible, for both humans and the plant and fish ecosystems within it. 

In its 2024 report card, which graded the open waters and bays for water quality for local ecosystems (as opposed to its beach grades, which focus on water quality for swimmers), the nonprofit found that more than 98% of open waters of Long Island Sound earned a grade of B or higher, even in more populated areas, like around Stamford and Greenwich. 

However, looking at the bays, which include places like Norwalk Harbor, 42% of the 57 bays and bay segments along the Sound earned a C or below, even in areas where the open water down stream was rated highly. 

“It’s clear that past investment in nitrogen pollution reduction from wastewater infrastructure is linked to improving the open waters of Long Island Sound,” David Ansel, vice president of water protection for Save the Sound, said in a statement. “Now, our challenge is to find the political will to extend and expand this investment.”

The report cautioned that while overall water quality has been trending in the right direction, warming waters caused by climate change could undo some of those efforts. 

Check out our piece to learn more or watch our highlight video.

School Construction Updates

A few weeks ago, we published our series on school construction, which dove into the need for new and renovated school facilities around southwest Connecticut, as well as how much that will cost and what impact that will have on local communities. This week, we’re back with an update from Stamford and Norwalk.

In Stamford, residents are voicing their support for the Roxbury School project, while members of the city’s Board of Finance are planning to ask the city for updates to the Westhill High School project first. Meanwhile in Norwalk, the South Norwalk School hit a milestone with a steel topping ceremony. 

Last month the Board of Finance voted 4-2 against advancing two contracts for preconstruction and schematic design work for the new K-8 Roxbury School. 

However, parents and teachers at the school implored the board to reconsider. Parent Christina Hohl said she was speaking on “behalf of dozens of families at the Roxbury School,” who filled out a petition—which has more than 250 signatures—calling on the board to support the project. 

“The Roxbury school, now over 70 years old, is long overdue for a rebuild,” Hohl read from the petition. “The building no longer meets the safety, health, or educational needs of our children. Its deteriorating condition is not just inconvenient—it’s dangerous and unacceptable.”

Board of Finance members had said they wanted to see the issues with Westhill High School resolved first, before taking the steps on Roxbury, the next school on the list. In an effort to get a better sense of what some of the outstanding issues and questions are around Westhill, the board has scheduled a special meeting for Thursday, October 24 at 7 p.m.

Learn more about what’s happening with Roxbury, Westhill, and South Norwalk schools, or watch our video recap.

This Week at a Glance

This section aims to highlight the most important meetings and news taking place each week.

  • In Bridgeport, the City Council will meet on Monday, October 21 at 7 p.m. and review numerous items, including a property access agreement that will allow Park City Compost Initiative Inc. to conduct its composting program.
  • In Stamford, there will be a Board of Finance Special Meeting on Thursday, October 24 at 7 p.m. where the board will “discuss making a formal recommendation to the city as to the items we want answered on Westhill,”  according to Board Chair Richard Freedman.
  • In Norwalk, the Common Council will receive an economic outlook presentation at its meeting on Tuesday, October 22 at 7:30 p.m.
  • In Fairfield, there will be an organizational meeting of the Charter Revision Commission on Monday, October 21 at 6:30 p.m. 
  • In Darien, the Planning and Zoning Commission will continue its public hearing on a proposal to remove five office buildings and replace them with five multifamily apartment buildings that would have 175 units near the intersection of Thorndal Circle and Boston Post Road on Tuesday, October 22 at 7 p.m. 
  • In Westport, the Downtown Plan Implementation Committee is hosting a “public charette,”—an event similar to an open house—on a proposal for the town’s downtown, where residents can learn about the plans, ask questions, and give hands-on feedback on Wednesday, October 23 starting at 6 p.m.

Plan Your Week

This section will include a list of meetings, events, and programming happening around southwest Connecticut each week.

Bridgeport

Stamford

Norwalk

Fairfield

Greenwich

Darien

Westport

Stay in touch!

As we continue to grow and evolve, please join us! You can do that by:

Please note: All of these agendas and information here are current as of Sunday night. Meeting times and agendas may get adjusted throughout the week.

Have a great week,

Kelly Prinz

Founder, Reporter at Coastal Connecticut Times

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