Westfield school officials draft goals that promote student achievement

The city spent $2 million in recent years to upgrade technology at the middle and high school level.

Joe Deburro, The Republican

WESTFIELD — School officials are mapping long-range strategy to ensure student achievement and to identify funding sources designed to improve the classroom environment.

The vision, according to Superintendent of Schools Suzanne Scallion, is to develop 21st century curriculum that encourages students to become self sufficient.

That will be accomplished through a combined effort involving families, administration, teachers, staff and the School Committee.

Suzanne Scallion

The School Committee and Scallion this week began review of specific goals that involve repeated observation of classroom instruction and implementation of a new evaluation system for the superintendent and teachers that are aimed at development and implementation of new curriculum standards.

Goals call for at least a 20 percent increase in the number of students who score proficient or higher on the annual MCAS test between now and 2017.

“We are looking for continuous improvement. We want steady progress on student improvement,” said Scallion.

The School Committee role will continue to be financing with a goal to upgrade curriculum such as science at Westfield High School and Westfield Vocational High School and technology at the elementary level.

Daniel Knapik

Mayor Daniel M. Knapik, who serves as committee chairman, said “the cost consideration is a necessary factor” but the request for funding must be made “no later than March” to be considered in the department’s fiscal 2014 operating budget.

Knapik has already announced plans to seek state funding for new science laboratories at Westfield High in January. He told Scallion and School Committee members Monday that he will consider bonding the necessary cost of technology improvements in elementary schools.

The School Committee has been struggling with financial constraints in recent years but the city, in recent years, financed a $2 million grant to upgrade technology at the middle and high school level. A similar bond for new technology in elementary schools has been a topic of discussion for the past year.