Westfield School Committee member Cindy Sullivan. (WNG file photo)
WESTFIELD – Instead of voting on the budget, the School Committee spent the majority of its June 1 meeting reviewing the 113 letters that vice Chair Cindy Sullilvan had received and printed out during the day, and another 25 that had been received before the meeting.
The vote on the budget was postponed due to a fInance subcommittee meeting at 5 p.m., that resulted in Mayor Donald F. Humason, Jr. agreeing to take another look at potential revenues for fiscal year 2021 to reduce his forecast of an $8.1 million shortfall.
“We received 113 emails in the last three days. I printed all of them out as of 3:15 pm, and I received another 25 since then. If I was to read every single one of these emails, we would be here for the next two and a half hours,” Sullivan said, asking for input from the School Committee on how to present the letters.
Sullivan said the letters were divided by issues, including the Team 87 cuts at Westfield Middle School, special education and music departments, as well as general emails from residents/parents, students, teachers and one city councilor.
“When we have public participation in Chambers, public participation is limited to 30 minutes,” said Ramon Diaz, Jr., The School Committee then agreed that Sulivan read a random selection of the letters from each category within that time frame, although the actual time took one hour.
Bo Sullivan said all of the letters that were received will be included in the public record and attached to the minutes.
Prior to reading the letters, CIndy Sullivan read the names and addresses of everyone who had sent in a letter. “I am going to go through each email and read everyone’s names. Then I’m going to go back. People have put a lot into these emails, and I appreciate their time and effort,” she said.
“I’m going to read the student letters first, because that’s what we’re here for,” Sullilvan added.
A letter from Westfield High School student Trent Stucenski mentioned the cuts to the elementary music program. “I’m a junior at Westfield High School and a member of the jazz ensembles and concert bands. It’s a drastically horrible idea to cut elementary bands,” Stucenski said, adding, “I was once a 10-year-old sitting in a band room in Paper Mill learning the trumpet. I can’t imagine not having a program like this for kids to experiment creatively.”
A letter from Westfield Technical Academy junior Samuel Macmunn began by stating, “As a student I am deeply upset by what I have seen in this proposed plan, this is not what we need at the end of a pandemic, this is not what I need for my upcoming senior year.
“The Technical Academy where I go to school already struggles enough with money as is, shops barely make it by every year to do the trips and other stuff that is planned because budget cuts like these take place. I value my education and trips, and money fund(s) my education, without this money I cannot learn like the classes before me have. Many of our programs desperately need supplies that year after year grants have bought us, or businesses have donated to us, this is not the way things should go, the school should have money set aside for issues such as these and taking away $50,000 does not seem to be solving this issue.
After speaking about losses of teachers, paraprofessionals, music and arts programs, MacMunn continued: “I won’t carry this out any longer as I’m sure that this will be enough to somewhat voice student opinion, but I will say this, many students are angry and are too afraid to speak up so I will be their voice, we are not just another member of society, we are the future generation, and we deserve better than this, thank you for your time “
Sullivan then read a letter from City Councilor Dave Flaherty, after which Diaz said the letter would have used up more than the three minutes allotted to each person during public participation in the chambers.
Flaherty began by saying he had several comments about the budget deliberations written about in The Westfield News article on May 29 about the school budget cuts. He then went on to list 15 points, the first being a comment that it was unfair to ask for comments when the budget document is not posted on the city website.
“Second, I’m surprised that you are surprised, and the public was not aware, of the requirement to reduce the school budget that was proposed in April. This has been talked about for many weeks. The guidance related to cuts in Chapter 70 and Unrestricted State Aid was received weeks ago. Everyone who’s read the news knows that state and local revenues have declined due to COVID-19’s affects on the economy. The Mayor and the finance team have relayed this information several times to the School Department finance team.
“Third, I know we all want to be optimistic and think things will be back to normal soon. However, we can’t bet the farm on that. We have to deal with the situation as it stands, and be prepared to work with the unknowns and the restricted budgets (throughout the city). Beyond the finances, I know you have your hands full trying to deal with the COVID impacts on schools and education, and I wish you the best,” Flaherty wrote.
Flaherty went on to address other comments made at the May 29 meeting, and to make suggestions to the School Committee on how to reduce their budget.
Sullivan said parents were very upset that the school budget was being cut, and expressed concerns about COVID-19, and sending their students back to school. She said they were also very concerned about their kids’ education and needing the teachers, because they haven’t been in school since March.
Lindsay Hall, a parent of two students, noted that in Westfield Middle School and Westfield Intermediate School the classes are already very large. “This city is known for having good schools. People will be less likely to move to Westfield,” she said, adding that she currently works in Holyoke, where there are many issues in the school, “however, we are not laying off any staff this year. Please reconsider and rehire the staff.”
“I understand the need for budget cuts, please remember these kids have been out of school for three months,” wrote Chrissy Bosworth. She said as a former teacher in Westfield, she was especially concerned for kindergarten teachers without going back to school without paraprofessionals.
“As a Westfield citizen and parent of a child in Westfield Public Schools, I’m deeply concerned. Children have suffered a considerable loss this year. Now is not the time to be cutting budgets, now is the time to think about the significant enhancements to every school building,” stated Abby Genovese.
“That’s just a cross section of the more than 125 emails we received,” Sullivan said.
Following the meeting, Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski made a comment on the budget discussions, and on the letters that had been sent.
“I am appreciative that members of the city council finance subcommittee, school department and Mayor Humason were able to collaborate Monday to take a closer look at revenue sources that could allow us to reduce the projected budget deficit for next fiscal year. As a result, the School Department is working on a revised budget proposal that will maximize teaching and learning opportunities next school year. I also would like to thank all of the students, staff, and community members that submitted letters for public participation supporting our students and schools,” said Czaporowski following the meeting.
