Superintendent Welcomes Westfield Community to New School Year

The following is a press release from the Westfield School district:

Westfield Public School Superintendent, Margaret Dolan, welcomes the Westfield community to a new school year via her video message appearing on the district’s website:  www.westfieldnjk12.org. 

Schools open Tuesday, September 3, and Dr. Dolan announces that the district has planned a stimulating, safe and supportive school year for students in all 10 of Westfield’s public schools.  More than 35 different curricula have been revised and hundreds of new computers are ready for students and teachers.   New teachers – mostly filling retirement positions -- have attended multiple training sessions and many students benefited from supportive summer programs to maintain and strengthen academic skills.  The school district’s brand new summer program – STEM camp – was a huge success, with a second week added to accommodate the interest of students to participate in hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math activities.

Measures have been implemented in the district to provide for the safety of students and staff, and security training took place this summer for principals, assistant principals and front office staff.

Many maintenance projects have been accomplished over the summer and the district’s roof replacements at Westfield High School, Roosevelt Intermediate School, and Washington Elementary School are being completed.  Any additional work on the schools’ roofs will take place when school is not in session.

During the summer of 2014 the remaining school buildings will undergo roof replacement.  Dr. Dolan announced a new opportunity that was just made available to the school district.  The State confirmed that the summer 2014 roof projects are eligible for $2.7 million in state grants.  By law, the original bond referendum approved by voters in December 2012 needs to be replaced by a new one to confirm the Westfield community’s acceptance of the State aid.   If approved by Westfield voters, the amount of local monies needed for next summer’s roof work will be reduced by 40%. The Board unanimously adopted a resolution to move ahead with the replacement bond referendum, which will be included on the November 5, 2013 ballot – during the general election. Dr. Dolan explains that if the replacement bond referendum this November is not approved, the community would forego the $2.7 million in state funding, and the previously passed referendum (Dec. 2012) would remain in effect.

In concluding her back-to-school message, Dr. Dolan recalls that graduates often return and comment on how they have benefitted from their education in Westfield.  She states that she looks forward to working together with the community to continue that tradition of excellence.