WESTFIELD – The Westfield School Committee voted Monday to accept the Westfield Public School’s strategy for continuous improvement for 2016-2017, following a brief presentation by Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski.
2016-17 Westfield School Committee (WNG file photo)
The superintendent said the district has retained the vision and strategy of last year, and during an August retreat all district administrator agreed on five areas of focus. He said administrators at each school will use the focus areas to set their goals.
The five areas include developing a systematic process using data to ensure effective use of resources. Czaporowski said they will be looking at results in areas such as staff development, student growth and achievement, and where resources may be applied more effectively.
“What about students that aren’t doing well,” asked School Committee member William Duval.
Czaporowski said that data on students is distributed to principals and staff in the first three training days.
The second strategic objective is to create a district vision and plan for integration of technology into the educational environment.
School Committee member Ramon Diaz, Jr. asked about training on becoming a responsible digital citizen.
WPS Director of Technology and Business Ronald Rix said the district is moving from acceptable use to responsible use in its teaching, and including information and skills on how to analyze web pages to allow students to self police. Rix also said the schools still have internet protections from the state.
Other strategies for continuous improvement include designing high-quality learning experiences that engage students and enable access for all learners, providing a continuum of academic and social/emotional supports, and building a positive climate and culture to promote high expectations and to develop successful learning environments.
“We fully realize these are going to take more than one year to accomplish,” Czaporowski said.
In other business, the committee voted to ratify a one-year contract with the Westfield Education Association Unit B (assistant principals and supervisors).
Human resources director Paula Ceglowski said the team had successfully negotiated a one-year only contract with no cost implications for this fiscal year.
“We will be revisiting Unit B in the summer or before,” said School Committee and negotiating team member Diane Mayhew.
“I am very much in favor of the one year contract. It gives the new administration some room,” added team member Kevin Sullivan.
