Westport parents raise concerns over proposed public use of school's track

Source: WPRI.com
Author: Paige Messier, Catie McNeil

WESTPORT, Mass. (WPRI) -- Some Westport Middle-High School parents are not happy after a flyer was released stating the building may be open to the public during school hours.

The flyer stated that adult walkers would be able to come into the school on pre-planned dates to walk around the track between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., which overlaps with the school day.

Many parents took their concerns to social media, saying they're "not pleased" with the decision and they believe it is a "major safety concern."

Westport Superintendent Thomas Aubin responded by saying that the plans have not yet been solidified, and the flyer was only supposed to serve as a means to gauge public interest.

"It is a paramount concern to everyone in this district as well, so we're on the same page," Aubin told 12 News. "It's just a matter of finding a way that the community can enjoy a resource that they've paid for while we keep our students and staff safe."

"We were hoping to do what we would refer to as a soft opening on the weekend first to see how it worked out, the security issues that may have arisen, and fix them before we have a full opening for the public to use," he added.

According to Aubin, when this program does begin, supervisors will be hired to enforce safety measures. Residents will also be encouraged to preregister and will be asked to bring a valid ID to use the track.

"We'll continue to inform the public about how this is progressing moving forward," Aubin said. "And, again, we encourage our community to utilize the school, but we need to make sure that we do that in a way that is safe for everybody."

Aubin said the track is expected to be in use within the next month, depending on community interest and any obstacles that may be presented.