School Committee Approves Recommended FY12 Budget

After discussion over the last several weeks, the Westwood School Committee voted in favor of Superintendent John Antonucci's Thursday night.

Antonucci said Friday that he was pleased with the outcome and the process leading up to the decision. The budget, he said, allows for the district to accomplish several things, one of them being the hiring of a Dean of Students at Westwood High School.

“At the end of the day, the School Committee adopted a very responsible budget,” said Antonucci.

Four Committee members voted in favor of the budget, with one opposed.

"There were thoughtful comments from each Committee member expressing their reasons for their vote, and also many remarks from the public who were present," said Committee member John J. O'Brien, who was opposed to the budget.

The Dean of Students issue garnered the most attention from the community and Committee members. When hiring for the position, Antonucci said it will be someone who has been involved in teaching, a factor that will make it easier for the candidate to step into a classroom environment.

Having the Dean step in as a teacher is not something that would definitely happen, Antonucci said, but there may be budgetary or occupational reasons for the Dean to do so. In past discussions, it was noted that the position will also take a bit of strain off of the current Assistant Principal, and will allow for administrators to become familiar with students on different levels.

“The bottom line is that we all need to be flexible in what is a difficult fiscal environment,” said Antonucci.

School Committee Chair Josepha Jowdy said that she was pleased with the budget because of its transparency.

“People understood what was being voted in,” said Jowdy. “We were able to address a number off issues.”

Those issues included class size as well as the Dean of Students position, Jowdy said. While some were opposed to the move, the Committee ultimately decided that a hybrid position may be the best route to take.

“After a lot of discussion we decided to vote it in and John has promised that when he looks for someone to fill the position, he will look for someone who will be able to teach as well,” said Jowdy.

The School Committee will meet again on April 14 at 7:30 p.m. in Westwood High School's Little Theater.