Westfield School Committee Oct. 1, 2018
WESTFIELD – On behalf of the School Committee, Ramon Diaz, Jr. took a moment at the start of Monday’s meeting to remember “our colleague, friend and brother Kevin Sullivan,” followed by a moment of silence.
Sending condolences to his wife, children, parents and extended family, Diaz expressed the loss to the district.
“The City of Westfield and the students of the Westfield Public School system have experienced a great loss… His compassion for student achievement, his collaborative nature, his knowledge, his leadership and his character will be sorely missed,” Diaz read. He pledged that the School Committee would do its best to honor Kevin Sullivan’s memory by continuing with “the work he loved.”
“If he were here he would tell us to be strong, continue to press on and try not to make any foolish decisions. We can only promise that we will be strong and continue to press on,” Diaz said with a smile. He said the School Committee would be formally recognizing Sullivan’s contributions to the schools at a later date.
Diaz said at the next meeting, the committee would make a recommendation to fill Kevin Sullivan’s role as Vice Chair. He also said that out of respect, they would take some time to work with the City Council to eventually fill the vacant seat, following the guidelines in the City Charter.
Mayor Brian P. Sullivan, who chairs the School Committee, thanked them all for their thoughts. “On behalf of the family, thank all of you for your support and wishes,” Mayor Sullivan said in response.
During public participation, former Councilor Brian Hoose also expressed his condolences, and said Kevin Sullivan was “always courteous, considerate and polite,” a trait he said was shared by his family.
Hoose spoke about the Aviation Maintenance program at Westfield Technical Academy, suggesting that they also provide the students a way forward to become pilots. He talked about the pilot shortage in the country, calling it a “21st century job opportunity.”
WHS student representatives Aiden Chisholm and Heather Gamache. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Westfield High School student representatives Aiden Chisholm and Heather Gamache talked about the start of school, with students settling in, clubs getting up and running, and sports teams doing well. Chisholm said they have a new guidance counselor, several new teachers and a new athletic director.
Gamache said they had a great open house, thanks to the presence of food trucks. “We’re looking forward to a great year, and for us seniors, a great final year,” Chisholm said.
Among other business, Transportation Director Pamela Kotarski gave an update on the status of bus transportation following the changes from redistricting. “It has been challenging. We survived,” Kotarski said.
Going over some of the complaints she had received, she said there were issues with the increased number of stops for students in the Westfield Intermediate School and the Westfield Middle School. “We have to serve both sides of the city,” she said.
Kotarski said she has been able to alleviate some issues with the use of mini-vans, which she said helped greatly. She said she has also tweaked two or three routes.
Another complaint she has heard is overcrowding. Kotarski said the buses seat 71, and there are no more than 60 students on any of the buses. She said at first there were issues of students putting backpacks and instruments on seats, which was stopped. New riders were also missing stops, and getting on the wrong bus. “All in all, things are starting to calm down and smooth out,” Kotarski said.
Cindy Sullivan said that she goes in weekly to the transportation office to see what’s going on, and called it “a well-oiled machine.”
“I can’t commend you enough. There are no kids sitting on the floors or in the aisle. We’re not breaking any laws,” Cindy Sullivan said, adding that they need people to help answer the phones in that office. “We know people are trying to be patient,” she said.
Mayor Sullivan asked whether students were waiting in their houses until the buses come, slowing down the route. Kotarski said, “Absolutely,” adding that she sends a letter every day asking them to go to the bus stop ten minutes early. She also said buses have been instructed to stop, but then will keep moving if students aren’t there, to cut down on delays in the schedules.
During his report, Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski alerted everyone on the School Committee to the fact that there will be a National Wireless Emergency Alert test this Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 2:18 p.m., when schools and sports are still in session. He said it would only be a test, and no action is required. “I don’t want people to think it’s a real emergency,” he said.
He also announced that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley will be visiting the Aviation Maintenance Program this Thursday, and touring the newly completed Hangar 2 at Westfield Barnes Airport.
Czaporowski said DESE has also released accountability and MCAS results for the state’s school districts. He reported that the district no longer is in need of assistance, and that several schools have made great gains. “I couldn’t stop smiling when I first saw it,” the Superintendent said.
For the Mayor’s report, Brian Sullivan thanked all of the athletic teams at Westfield Technical Academy, Westfield High School and St. Mary’s that remembered his brother at the games. He said one team even put the initials K.S. on their socks.
