I have significant concerns about a policy that has passed the School Committee Policy Subcommittee and will be presented to the full committee on Monday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. A time for public comment will be given. If you share my concerns, please attend the meeting and consider speaking. Here are a few of the problems:
This policy proposes changing the goal/purpose of the School Committee from “establish[ing] an environment conducive to learning” to “striv[ing] to address the needs of every student in each of our schools. …”
The members of the School Committee do not have authority to be expanding the responsibility/jurisdiction of their committee (from “education and the school system” to “[all] the needs of the students”)? The School Committee’s responsibility is written in Westfield’s charter (sections 39-43) and in Massachustts General Law, Chapter 71, Section 37. They should not be legally allowed to change their goal to something outside the scope of their authority. The authority of the School Committee is focused on education policies, finances and physical school buildings, not non-educational needs of children. Changing the goal like this can allow things like clinics added to schools (to provide medical and dental care), therapists and whatever else they decide, to “take care of” the children.
