Thursday, March 27, 2025
Dear members of the EWSD Board and Admin,
We are writing to invite you to a public forum regarding the future of Westford Elementary School on Sunday, April 6 from 11-1pm at the Westford Common Hall (babysitting will be available at the Westford Library). There will be members of the community, legislators, and the media present. We urge ALL members of the Board and Admin to attend.
We are proposing that plans to consolidate WES middle school are postponed for one year (EWSD Financial Procedures Manual: Section IV: Budget: Budget Transfer) so that the district leadership can:
Plan any irreversible structural decisions after the future of school funding and district consolidation in Vermont is clear (EWSD Policies and Procedures: 2.1 Treatment of Students and Parents/Guardians “the Superintendent shall not cause or allow conditions, procedures, or decisions that are untimely, unclear, undignified, or unnecessarily intrusive”).
Implement an anticipated impact study on student outcomes (mental health and academic), including the well-documented effects of longer bus commutes, reduced participation in extracurricular activities, absences and tardiness, larger class sizes, and removal of students from a community school (EWSD Board Policy 2.4 on Financial Planning and Budgeting: “omit disclosure of anticipated impact(s) of proposed budget”).
Engage parents and community members in thorough, transparent discussions about alternatives or discuss actual transition plans (EWSD Financial Procedures Manual: Section IV: Budget: budget process: Community engagement on the budgeting process).
Plan for equitable transportation services for Westford students; two-hour bus rides are not equitable (EWSD Student Policies: C3: Transportation).
Include a multi-year plan in the budget proposal that includes the Westford School and make the plan publicly available (EWSD Board Policy 2.4 on Financial Planning and Budgeting: “fail to be derived from a multi-year plan”).
Revise the Articles of Agreement or include new policy documents that include language requiring a majority vote by Westford residents before any proposal to close WES can be brought to a School Board vote.
This move is untimely; the transition plan is unclear; the transportation plan is unclear; the future plan for WES is unclear; and the effects on the kids, parents, voters, and community are unnecessarily intrusive. This move will allow barriers to exist that prevent Westford kids from achieving their unique and full potential in the EWSD community. This board needs to represent the needs and interests of ALL the students in our district. We may be one district, but Westford is a different type of community. We are rural – Essex and EJ are not rural. We rely on our community school as the hub of our town. Without a multi-year plan, we risk losing our entire school.
TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT A NO-VOTE CAMPAIGN. It is a call to ensure that any decision, especially one as significant as school consolidation, is made thoughtfully, transparently, and with full community engagement. If this consolidation is truly the right path forward, then it must be done the right way.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you on April 6. Parking for able-bodied folks in spots at the Common or at WES to walk or carpool. Reserve parking at Westford Common Hall for those who need close access to the building. No parking on White Church Lane.
Kirsten Tyler and the Westford Community