We found out as a city that to run our schools as they currently run this year the school committee will need to cut 2.9 million dollars from next year’s school budget.
To do this it may involve closing Russell Rd Elementary and displacing kids again who were previously moved due to the closing of Juniper Park.
Furthermore the possibility of redistricting the whole city so that 5th graders will have to go to middle school one year earlier. And across the board cuts of staff and programs.
So this is why I fear for our all children, especially our special needs kids:
Firstly, those who are on IEPs, and emotionally/cognitively behind will now be forced to go to middle school one year earlier or stay back and leave friends behind that have taken 5 years to make. You may think “they will make new friends” but many have struggled just to make the few they have.
And at this age it is much harder to make new friends.
Then there is bullying…ten year old’s with maturities of 6,7,8 year old’s in schools with 13 year old’s…it is almost a certainly they will be bullied especially if they don’t have their friends to back them up.
In addition to going to fifth grade sooner, they may also have to transition to two middle schools, one for 5th and 6th grade and one for 7th and 8th grade. This would help the bullying issue but now the kids would be changing schools after two years. Many special needs kids need at least a year until they feel comfortable and not continuously anxious.
And there are discussions about redistricting the kids who go to North vs South…I’m not sure how this will done without splitting friends up.
And finally school programs and staff cut in the past have almost always involved SPED programs and SPED administration and staff. The staff who do remain often have ridiculous work loads and are spread too thin.
We have wonderful teachers and specialists in this district but they are limited with what they can do due to class sizes, work loads and available funds.
In closing let me say that I respect the school committee and know that they are caring individuals who are doing their best. The new school situation has been a disaster for our city with no fault to them. This is not a letter to place blame, but to shed light.
From a parents point of view, especially of a special needs mom who deals with incredible stresses everyday beyond this, I’m exhausted. All parents that I know whose children are on IEPs have educational advocates that they pay out of pocket. It is a fight to be sure our children get the services they need to thrive. We worry that they will not pass MCAS, not graduate and not have the ability to live independently. So to have less money than we do already, how will our kids get what they need?
I’m not sure that this will make a difference, but I felt that the city needs to know about how this will effect the most vulnerable kids in our district. All the children of Westfield deserve better.
I encourage my fellow special needs parents and all parents to come to the next finance sub committee meeting, future school committee meetings and future city council meetings.
If you absolutely can’t get out, email your school committee members, city counselors and the mayor. All addresses can be found on the city’s website www.cityofwestfield.org.
Or contact your SEPAC at [email protected] <[email protected]> with any questions.
Thank you.
Respectfully
Michele Douglas
Special needs mom to the sweetest kid around.
