Harkness Talks on Drugs in Schools, Full-Day Kindergarten, and Much More

For those of you who weren't able to make it to Westford Patch's live chat with Westford School Committee chairman Angela Harkness yesterday, here are just a a few of the questions and answers you missed.

Hank

Where do you think Westford schools are strongest/weakest right now?

Angela Harkness

The past year has seen fiscal challenges in the School Department as everywhere else. Nevertheless, we have done our best to maintain an excellent school system, and have enjoyed the support of the community in doing so.

Our staff and programs are particularly strong. Our curriculum is excellent and exceeds state frameworks. We need to keep improving in order to stay at the top and that means investigating and instituting things like full-day kindergarten, Mandarin, and accelerated learning opportunities for all students.

John

The biggest issue is the teachers' contract. If Westford were to lose the suit brought by the teachers' union, do we have a feel for how many teaching positions may have to be eliminated to cover the shortfall?

Angela Harkness

We don't know the answer to that question at this point. However, we know that would mean a substantial unbudgeted expense that will necessarily impact programs, positions and services.

Lionel

Do you think full day kindergarten is where we are headed? I would love that.

Angela Harkness

I personally feel that full day kindergarten is extremely important and we have been presented with much information over the last year or so verifying that. Many communities like us already have full day and I think we should implement it. We believe that it would be a benefit to our students and our system.

Derek

...What lasting impact do you think the drawn out contract negotiation and ill will developed on both sides will have on Westford's schools in the future?

Angela Harkness

What I can tell you is that the School Committee is dedicated to insuring that we do everything possible to mend fences and return to the excellent working relationship we have enjoyed with our teachers and administrators. We all want the same thing, that is insuring that we continue to provide the best possible education for our students and we will do all we can to make sure that is accomplished.

Rita

What about expanding foreign language offerings? Alot of schools are doing away with programs, but this could set Westford apart. Kids in other countries can speak multiple languages, why not the U.S.?

Angela Harkness

Last year we instituted the at Westford Academy for the reasons you point out. We have also had discussions about instituting American Sign Language as a choice.

we are focusing on expanding Mandarin. We have an oustanding foreign language program which provides wonderful academic and cultural experiences for our students.

Bonnie

Would full-day kindergarten be required for all students or would it be optional? If it's optional, will there be a fee associated with it?

Angela Harkness

We would want a full day for all children and there would not be a fee associated with it. That would just be unfair to those who can't afford it.

Westford Mom

I only allow my kids to buy lunch once a week because the nutritional value of school lunches is dismal. Any plans on making changes to school lunches? Waffle sticks and nachos aren't cutting it for me.

Angela Harkness

Please visit our , there is a wealth of information there. Because we have to rely on government commodities, we can only do so much, but we have tried over the years to do as much as possible to improve nutritional content.

Romeo

Any comments on the sponsored by the Arciero/Antonelli team?

Franklin

How about the topic of drugs at Westford Academy which greatly worries me. We know there are lots more drugs but the concerning thing is how closed the administration is with keeping is informed, I dont expect students names or anything but Principal Antonelli because very defensive when asked at School Committee about the 'dog event' why want to know whats being done to deal with the drugs and to keep the community informed to whats going on over there!

Angela Harkness

I participated in a with many other town officials and about 50 residents a month ago. It was encouraging that the problem is being recognized and attempts made to address it. There will be an ongoing forum at the upcoming Townwide Strategic Planning Forum next week. I encourage you to attend so we can all work together on this problem.

John

As a parent of three students at Westford Academy, I want to see smaller class sizes. Having 25 to 30 students per class will be a disaster.

Angela Harkness

We are in the highest couple of years right now and hopefully as enrollment stabilizes over the next few years, those numbers will decrease. They are not ideal right now.

Westford

Can you comment on how MSEC (the Merrimack Special Education Collaborative) was able to steal funds they received by Westford and other towns? Why didn't we have more oversight of these monies?

Angela Harkness

As you probably know this situation is in litigation and under investigation by the State and the Federal governments. The State has now issued new oversight requirements to prevent this from happening in the future. Previously there just wasn't enough accountability for this and all other collaboratives.