School budget battle heats up
Midday session canceled after outcry
A monthslong dispute over the School Committee’s proposed budget for the 2021 fiscal year was coming to a head this week, with the committee originally planning to meet three times over the next six days to discuss it.
One of the meetings — scheduled for Friday at noon to discuss personnel cuts — was raising eyebrows and concerns from members of the public. Then, Tuesday night, it was abruptly canceled.
Westford School Committee Chairwoman Avery Adam told The Sun Tuesday night that Friday’s meeting is canceled and is expected to be rescheduled next week in order for the committee to hear more public input.
She did not specify over the phone why Friday’s meeting was canceled. Superintendent of Schools Everett “Bill” Olsen was expected to release a statement regarding the school committee meetings by this morning, Adam said.
Westford Education Association President Mike Colson
called the original plan to have a midday meeting while much of the public was working unprecedented.
“When it came to my attention this weekend, that in addition to a School Committee Meeting this Wednesday evening, the (committee) also scheduled a public meeting for Friday at noon, I was immediately concerned how few of those voices would be able to be part of Friday’s meeting,” Colson wrote in a statement to The Sun.
“Although the subject of cuts to school positions, staff, and programs that hurt students continues to be heartbreaking, I have been proud of the incredible involvement at latenight School Committee and Select Board meetings this past month from our community’s parents, teachers, and students,” Colson added. “Hearing testimony to the positive impact that educator’s have had on Westford students has been a heartwarming affirmation of why we as educators became teachers to begin with.”
Colson added that he was “disappointed” with Friday’s original meeting time, adding that it’s unusual for committees to meet during the day for a highly debated topic.
Most School Committee meetings in the area, including Chelmsford and Lowell, happen twice a month and during the evening.
“I am extremely mindful that the School Committee is trying to do their best with the position they have been put in,” Colson wrote. “I applaud each and every one of them for their increased effort to start the process early and engage the community in focused conversations at each meeting with specific reductions and eliminations.
“And still, I am extremely disappointed and frustrated with this meetings scheduling,” Colson added. “I ask publicly on behalf of parents, teachers, and students that this meeting be rescheduled ... so the Westford community can be properly included in the discussion of Friday’s agenda items,” Colson said before the meeting was canceled.
School Committee member Megan Eckroth wrote in a public Facebook post Sunday that “the next two weeks represent an incredibly busy time in (the) budget process.”
Eckroth added that the committee has until the Jan. 30 Finance Committee budget hearing to come together and discuss the budget — which has previously come under scrutiny from some members of the public and brought large crowds to school committee meetings.
“There are many topics to cover that impact the FY21 budget, and they all deserve the thorough and thoughtful discussion that we, as School Committee members, are dedicated to,” Eckroth wrote in the post. “That thoroughness includes hearing from our students, our staff and our community.
In an effort to devote ample time to each topic and give ample opportunity for all to feel heard, our chair has worked with administration to schedule meetings accordingly, and engage as many as possible.
“If you cannot attend, please send concerns and questions to the School Committee and the administration to ensure that we are having the most informed discussions. Please know that our students are at the heart of every discussion, and every decision,” the post concludes.
Discussion surrounding cuts to the school system’s personnel was expected at the Friday meeting, according to meeting agendas.
According to the agenda online, the committee is expected to discuss moving remaining preschool classes to K-2 schools as well as reducing one preschool nurse.
Other cuts include eliminating a middle school facilities assistant as well as three full-time digital learning specialists (two at the middle school level; one at the high school level). Six elementary school teachers positions could be cut, according to School Committee meeting agenda.
The committee is expected to meet Wednesday night at Stony Brook to discuss later school start times and fee increases as well as transportation and activity fees.
Monday’s meeting in the Stony Brook Middle School Auditorium was to see a vote on the fiscal 2021 budget, but with Friday’s meeting canceled, that timetable may change.
During the past two months, School Committee meetings have brought large crowds — mostly in protest of potential budget cuts coming to the school system.