Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski and Westfield High School Principal Charles Jendrysik. (AMY PORTER/THE WESTFIELD NEWS))
WESTFIELD – As of Tuesday, Westfield Public Schools Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski said he had received only two negative responses and about 100 positive responses to the district’s decision to keep April vacation intact during the coronavirus pandemic, giving teachers and students a break from remote learning.
Czaporowski said the latest the school year can go is June 23. Districts that continue teaching through the April vacation can shorten that by four days, but he said if they get back to school, he would rather have more time with the students in school.
“I’m hopeful that we will be coming back to school. If we’re able to get back to school, I’d rather have the kids in front of us rather than remote learning,” Czaporowski said.
He said there needs to be some closure to the school year. “The students miss the teachers, and the teachers miss the students. A return to normal would benefit everyone and give a smooth start to the next school year,” he said.
Czaporowski said the governor has not canceled school for the rest of the year yet. While he doesn’t think the return on May 4 will happen, he is hopeful for a return by June 1, which would allow the district to have some sort of graduation ceremony, along with other celebrations. “Any chance to reconnect before the end of the year is beneficial,” he said.
Czaporowski also said that teachers haven’t stopped working since school closed, connecting with students, and coming up with plans for more formal remote learning.
“Most educators, myself included, will tell you they’re working harder now than when school is in session,” he said.
