While Westford Elementary School students recently began their summer vacation, other members of the Westford School community continue to work towards the future.  A new principal, Marcie Lewis, will begin work on July 1^st, many teachers are engaged in professional development opportunities during the summer, and the Westford School Board continues to work on Supervisory Union initiatives and local school issues.

At the Supervisory Union level the Westford School Board members continue to make contribute to various task teams.  The Policy Task Team has been reviewing current policies with an eye towards relevance and effectiveness, while codifying the existing policies in a more “usable” form.  The Leaders at Work Task Team continues to make progress regarding the tool and process used to evaluate the Superintendent’s work.  The Communications Task Team is close to rolling out a Strategic Communications Plan that will assist all Task Teams and the local school boards with the sharing of important information.  The Climate Committee work has been centered on data gathering and leveraging an action plan that will sustain the very important work of improving and maintaining a healthy school climate for students, staff, and other community members for years to come.  Questions regarding the work of these Supervisory level Task Teams can be directed through Mark Drapa to the appropriate School Board member.

Locally, while continuing to address issues related to curriculum, instruction, and assessment, the Westford School Board is also working with items related to the capital plan.  An informative document exists that identifies the current operational status of the physical structures of the Westford Elementary School that support student learning.  When viewing this document the daunting nature of maintaining a structure that supports high quality learning immediately becomes apparent. During our last Board meeting in June a good amount of discussion focused on the damage, and challenge, created by water coming off the slope behind the school to paving, parking, and other structural elements.  The Board is acutely aware that investments in paving and other access structures will generate a greater return if the water flow can be diverted further away from the school building.  A plan is being explored to achieve this return.

All of the work mentioned above is dependent upon effective and efficient communication.  The Westford School Board is committed to engaging in a transparent process of governance.  As stated in previous newsletters, “all School Board meetings are open to the public, and we welcome visitors.  Outside of meetings, board members can always be reached via phone or email.”

Respectfully submitted by Scott A. Cooledge on behalf of the Westford School Board