Displeasure About University Station at School Committee Information Session

Full house attends school committee meeting for informational session on University Station. Committee members and meeting attendees seem unhappy with portions of project so far.

In front of a packed auditorium in which some people were forced to sit on the floor or stand, the developers looking to build University Station and the expert planner hired by the town spoke in front of the School Committee for the first time last night to bring them up-to-date in an informational session that left many questioned unanswered. After Planning Board chairperson Jack Wiggin gave a brief summary of what has been going on with the process and what’s expected to take place in the upcoming weeks, a representative from the developer took over and pointed out where things would be on a map. The residential part of the project, which seems to be the most controversial based on residents’ remarks and reactions, compares to a project…

•  10 Comments
• Photos (5)

WW Resident

4:05 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013

also, there is definitely a silent population who are unopposed (or indifferent) to the plan... but I think those opposed are much more passionate and vocal about their opposition and concerns about the plan (especially the residential ccmponent)... read the minutes on the town website of the planning board meetings and you will see many, many references of residents attending the meetings and …   more ›

School Committee Names New Director of Student Services

Abigail Hanscom has been named Westwood School's new Director of Student Services.

The Westwood School Committee voted to approve Superintendent John Antonucci’s recommendation to hire Abigail Hanscom as the new Director of Student Services in a meeting Thursday night. Hanscom will take over for Audrey Seyffert, who is retiring after this school year, effective July 1. As the Director of Student Services, Hanscom will oversee the Special Education, Guidance and School Health Departments. “I am thrilled that Abby has decided to join my administrative team,” said Antonucci. “Her professional and academic credentials are incredible.” Members of the School Committee expressed how pleased they were with Hanscom coming to Westwood Public Schools. Committee member Carol Lewis was involved in the selection process, and noted …

• Photos (1)

Week in Review

Stretch Code Dropped, A High School Fashion Show, and Pinewood Derby Action

A roundup of news from the past week in Westwood.

The week kicked off with a sour note for the Westwood High School boys’ varsity hockey team, who lost in the Division 3 South Finals to Pembroke. David Burnes, Westwood’s new Director of Recreation, shed some light on what he plans to bring to the town, while the department itself gave local kids a preview of a preview of this summer’s upcoming programs. In government news, adoption of a Stretch Energy Code was dropped from the list of warrant articles to be brought before Town Meeting in May, while residents weighed in on a number of 2011Warrant Articles at a public hearing. On the school end of things, the Westwood School Committee approved Superintendent John Antonucci’s recommended FY12 budget, while two members of the Committee gave …

School Committee Approves Recommended FY12 Budget

The Westwood School Committee voted in favor of the superintendent's recommended FY12 budget this week.

After discussion over the last several weeks, the Westwood School Committee voted in favor of Superintendent John Antonucci's recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2012 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 …

• Photos (1)

Westwood 2011 Town Election

2011 Town Election Profile: Westwood School Committee

Incumbents Josepha Jowdy and Ellen Mason are running unopposed in this year's 2011 Town Election.

Editor’s Note: The following article is part of a series profiling several incumbents on various boards running for reelection this year. It’s looking to be a rather quiet Town Election this April, especially on the end of this year’s School Committee race, which involves two incumbents who are running unopposed. Each recently spoke to Westwood Patch about how they think the School Committee is working these days, as well as their thoughts on running without any challengers. Josepha Jowdy One of the incumbents up for reelection is School Committee Chair Josepha Jowdy, who recently said she feels that the current Committee is doing a great job and doesn’t need much change. She also said that her own passion for, and experience with, the …

• Photos (2)

Westwood Teacher Evaluation Development Team to Come in 2011

Westwood High School Principal Emily Parks discusses the Teacher Evaluation Development Team, or TEDT, expected to launch in 2011.

The pilot for a new Teacher Evaluation Development Team is expected to run in Westwood by 2011, High School Principal Emily Parks told the Westwood School Committee last week. Parks presented a report to the Committee regarding the Teacher Evaluation Development Team, or TEDT, a which will be undergoing a trial run this year. Parks said she anticipates the first official year in 2011. "This is the second try-out year," Parks told the School Committee. "The plan is for next year to be a pilot year. It will ultimately have to be negotiated as part of the teacher contract." The TEDT is a partnership between Westwood Administration and the Westwood Teacher's Association, Parks said. The School Committee's goal is to create a process that will …

• Photos (2)

Westwood School Board Votes In Favor of Updated Budget

Thanks to state and federal aid that came in over the course of the summer, the Westwood School Budget rose by $548,000.

In its first meeting of the 2010-2011 school year, the Westwood School Committee voted unanimously to raise the initial school budget of $32,488,686 to $33,036,686. Thanks to state and federal aid that came in over the course of the summer, the Westwood school budget rose by $548,000. According to a presentation made by Superintendent John Antonucci, the town approved the initial budget in May. In July, State Legislature finalized the FY '11 state budget, which resulted in the increased funding. "This is great news, but it was tricky because it was done in July," said Antonucci. "It's a great problem to have - one that could have gone either way." Antonucci said that the initial budget was voted on by the school committee just minutes …

• Photos (3)

Westwood School Committee Addresses Inflation in Class Size

After an unexpected spike in new students at the elementary and middle-school levels, the School Committee is looking at ways to address the issue of space.

The Westwood School Committee voted to hire an additional teacher to the Martha Jones Elementary School for the 2010-2011 year to accommodate for the unexpected increase in students per class. Originally, the school department expected to see about 23 to 24 students per first-grade class at Martha Jones, according to Superintendent John Antonucci, who addressed the issue during a presentation at the School Committee meeting on Thursday, June 17. But nearly ten new students moved into town during the school year, he said – bumping the number closer to 25 or 26 students per class. While the school department has no intention to turn students away, Antonucci said, 26 students could potentially be the breaking point for space within a single …