School Committee Chairman Wants More Public Participation

Part Three of a transcript recapping the Nov. 4 Westford School Committee meeting. For a full video of the meeting, check out the Westford CAT website (approximate times on the video in parentheses)

For the rest of the meeting, please check out our main article.

8:53 p.m. to 8:59 p.m. (1:23:00 to 1:28:09)

School Committee member Angela Harkness didn’t like the term new funding, preferring supplemental, since the funding was mainly related to things already occurring.

She also was impressed with the chart in Olsen’s presentation relating to added special education enrollment and also made a note that Westford’s list of comparable school districts provided by the state was already very low in terms of per-pupil expenditures and Westford was near the bottom of even that list.

Benoit asked a final question regarding school security with Olsen replying regarding cameras as well as the new Day and Robinson School windows.

8:58 p.m. to 9:07 p.m. (1:28:09 to 1:37:04)

Keele asked detailed questions in the future be given in advance since often they require detailed answers, Kohl asked for answers and questions to questions submitted in advance, although agreed that questions submitted in advance were a good idea.

Keele continued citing his frustration that there was very little public participation at School Committee meetings, with his theories on the public not coming due to either people being busy or believing that the schools were doing well.

He asked the public to participate more, Murray said that she thinks the public is watching, but they can seem more passive than other towns.

Murray continued asking Keele on the next steps of the process, with Keele saying that there will be a regular agenda item on the budget process.

Olsen said he would not be in attendance during the Nov. 18 meeting. Other members of the committee and Keele

It is unclear when exactly the School Committee will go to the Finance Committee, but Keele believes it will be the committee’s top priority over the next few weeks.

9:07 p.m. to 9:42p.m.   (1:37:04 to 1:42:15)

The School Committee approved payment warrants, minutes for several meetings after amendments from Murray.

One set of minutes was delayed due to technical problems.

Olsen recognized two retirements.

The board then adjourned to executive session.