Westfield School Committee Oct. 1, 2018
WESTFIELD – During public participation, Ralph Figy, City Council liaison to the School Committee, said the Annual Food Drive will be on Nov. 19 in Tiger’s Pride. Last year, they helped over 200 families in need for Thanksgiving.
Figy said they are in need of turkeys, canned goods, and dry goods, as well as personal hygiene items, which will supply the five school food banks. Later in the meeting, Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski said last year they received 150 turkeys from the food pantry; this year they will only be getting 75, so turkeys are a big need.
Figy also spoke in favor of the MIAA Co-op agreement for Alpine Skiing at Westfield Technical Academy, which was on the agenda for a vote.
WHS Athletic Director Dan Trudeau also came forward to speak about the Co-op agreement, which he clarified is to set up a co-ed Alpine Skiing opportunity at WTA with Gateway Regional and Smith Vocational.
Trudeau said the school hopes to enter the Co-op for two years, and subsequently build a team at WTA. He said they were asked by Gateway, whose numbers are dwindling, to join them for the competitive team. The Co-op team still has to be approved by the Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Athletic Conference (PVIAC).
Trudeau said it’s a great opportunity to expand the sports program at WTA.
Also speaking on behalf of the Co-op was WTA freshman Connor Carrier, who said he began skiing at age 3, and has been racing at Blandford Ski Area for seven years. He said although skiing is an individual sport, team mates cheer each other on, and there is “great energy on the mountain.”
He said the Co-op with Gateway will give WTA the first ski team in two years.
School Committee vice chair Cindy Sullivan asked how many students at WTA will participate. Carrier said there are two other definite skiers, and four or five others who have expressed an interest.
Trudeau said they will be encouraging girls to get involved, as there are more boys participating in sports than girls at WTA. Trudeau said he is confident they will have three boys and one girl. He said the fee to participate will be equal to Westfield High School at $125. The School Committee then unanimously approved the Co-op agreement, with School Committee member Tim O’Connor calling it “another great opportunity for expansion at Westfield Technical Academy.”
Chief Financial Officer Ron Rix spoke about a $273,000 budget deficit in special education, due to a change in program for one student, who entered a residential program this year that cost $125,000 more than projected. He said there will be another $75,000 in additional expenses for pre-school students with needs not addressed in-district.
Rix said the district will be expending all FY18 circuit breaker funds to pay for the increases, and by the end of the year, the circuit breaker funds from FY19. Rix said that will deplete the fund for the next academic year to pay for the gap.
Rix said the budget was totally revised this year due to redistricting and technology, which was broken out by school and classroom. He said reporting to the state has to clearly state expenses as district-wide or school specific. He said overall the district is in pretty good shape financially. “I’m very pleased with where we are,” Rix said.
Mayor Brian P. Sullivan said that the district talked about the special education expenses at budget time, which he said are difficult to manage. “Kudos for keeping some students in district with programs,” he said.
Rix also talked about the COPS Stop Violence prevention program grant, which the Mayor announced last week. He said it’s an exciting initiative that reduces the district’s match for keyless entry. He said the bids are in for that program, which had already been planned, and they will use the money to cover the difference in the grant, which brings in an additional $258,000 to the district.
“We can expend the money from School Choice, and get paid back,” Rix said.
“Congratulations to you and the Police Department for the collaboration,” said Cindy Sullivan. Rix said it was all Chris Rogers, director of student interventions, working with the Westfield PD.
Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski presented his strategic objectives to the School Committee for a vote. He said he realized they will take more than one year to fulfill.
He said the first objective is for students and staff to have a safe and nurturing learning environment, which includes social-emotional, and physical spaces. Under student learning that is meaningful in today’s world and prepares students for the future; and students and staff to have quality, rigorous learning experiences, Czaporowski said one focus will be to expand opportunities for college.
Czaporowski said the work began at an administrative retreat in August, and the objectives will be posted on the district website at www.schoolsofwestfield.org.
Denise Ruszala, director of assessment and Accountability, came forward to talk about the formation of the English Learner Parent Advisory Committee (ELPAC). She said ELPAC committees, similar to SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Committee) are a new requirement by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for communities with 100 or more English language learners.
Ruszala said Westfield has 254 identified EL students, 133 who have transferred out of the program but are still being monitored, and 58 students who have opted out of EL classes, for a total of 445 that would qualify to be invited to join ELPAC meetings.
Ruszala said flyers will be sent home to families in the four prominent language groups; and translators will also be making phone calls. “We’re hoping that families will come,” Ruszala said.
Tim O’Connor reported that gifts of $5,407 have been received in memory of Kevin Sullivan for the athletic departments at the high schools. O’Connor then read the names of the donors.
“On behalf of the family, I just want to thank everyone,” Mayor Sullivan said, adding that his brother Bo was in the audience, and commented on the impressive list of names that were read.
O’Connor said that in talking to the Boys & Girls Club director Bill Parks, they received over $18,000 of donations in Kevin Sullivan’s name.
