WESTFIELD – Westfield Public Schools Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski said the transition team has been working on the plan for redistricting, which includes making one of the middle schools a 5th/6th grade intermediate school and the other a 7th/8th grade middle school. On Monday, the team will present their recommendation to the School Committee on which location (North or South) to use for the 5/6 intermediate school, and which for the 7/8 middle school. The School Committee is then expected to vote Monday on the recommendation.
Westfield Public Schools Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski (WNG file photo)
Prior to the vote, there will be an opportunity for public participation and input, and Czaporowski said the community is encouraged to attend. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. with a presentation by Franklin Avenue elementary school students. He said the plan will be presented immediately following.
The plan is the result of the redistricting decision made last year which is to bring Russell Elementary students back to Westfield, move the fifth grades out of the elementary schools, and to create one 5/6 intermediate school and one 7/8 middle school. Those decisions were made after multiple public hearings.
The leadership team for the transition includes Czaporowski, Ronald R. Rix, chief financial officer, Susan Dargie, director of curriculum, South Middle School principal Paul Newton, Paula Ceglowski, director of human resources, School Committee member Diane Mayhew and parent representative Rachel Bullock.
School Committee and transition team member Diane Mayhew. (WNG File Photo)
On Friday, Mayhew said the transition team has a lot of work ahead of them. She said in addition to the leadership team, there are five transition work groups, each in charge of different areas. The list includes redistricting K-4, led by Rix and Pamela Kortarski, director of transportation; create a 5-6 Intermediate School, led by Dargie and North Middle School principal Katherine Bourque; create a 7-8 Middle School, led by Newton and administrator of student interventions Chris Rogers; staffing for reconfigured schools, led by Ceglowski and Denise Ruszala, director of assessment and accountability, and the communication plan led by Czaporowski and grants director Shannon Barry.
Mayhew said one of the biggest jobs, and one of the earliest due on a timeline established by the committee will be figuring out the curriculum both for the elementary schools and the intermediate and middle schools. She said a deadline has been set to make those decisions by January. Only after the decisions are made on curriculum, will they really be able to determine staffing needs, according to Mayhew. “I’m confident we’ll get it done for the fall, but it’s a lot of work,” she said.
Also on the agenda on the School Committee Monday will be a presentation by Czaporowski on Alternative Structured Learning Days, or “Blizzard Bags,” as they are more commonly known. Blizzard Bags are comprised of work sent home for students to complete when schools are closed due to snow, in lieu of snow days. Last year, Gateway Regional implemented Blizzard Bags for all students, and had a release date of June 14, as opposed to Westfield Public Schools release date of June 28. Westfield is considering implementing the program this year.
