Dear Westfield Public Schools Families,
I am writing to follow up on my previous message regarding the school budget for the 2025–2026 school year. The proposed budget for next year will be presented on Monday, April 7 at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall in the Council Chambers. Please note that this meeting will be a presentation only and will not include time for questions or discussion. However, we encourage your participation at a budget review meeting scheduled for Monday, April 14, at 6:00 p.m. in the auditorium at Westfield Intermediate School. On April 14, the school committee will review the budget, and there will be an opportunity for public participation at the beginning of the meeting.
Each year, when we develop the budget, we identify key priorities to guide our planning. In recent years, these priorities have included:
· Maintaining low class sizes across the district
· Expanding behavioral and mental health supports
· Strengthening academic intervention services
· Increasing access to preschool
· Preserving robust art and music programs
· Expanding Career-Technical Education, Early College, and Innovation Pathway opportunities
While federal pandemic relief funds expired this past September, the need for behavioral and mental health support for our students has not diminished. We have also invested in reading and math interventionist staff to support students performing below grade level based on local and statewide assessments. The good news is that students receiving these interventions are showing significant growth. However, due to limited capacity, some students are currently on a waiting list to receive these services.
We continue to make careful efforts to manage costs across the district. For example:
· Our administrative costs are about half those of similarly sized districts
· We've added in-district special education programs to reduce out-of-district placements
· Where feasible, we have consolidated schools and programs to reduce overhead
· To prioritize direct instruction, we have minimized maintenance spending, though this carries long-term risks for building upkeep
In my previous communication, I noted that certain cost increases, especially in special education services and transportation—are far outpacing inflation. We are actively working with Senator Velis and Representative Pease to advocate for increased state funding to support general education, special education, and transportation. We are also collaborating with both state and local officials to address critical capital needs to maintain our school facilities.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support of our schools.
Sincerely,
Stefan Czaporowski
Superintendent of Schools