During his vacation in August, Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski visited the Rogers Centre in Toronto and saw a Blue Jays game. That makes 22 out of the 31 major league stadiums for him, including Montreal “back in the day” before the Expos moved to Washington in 2004.
“I like sampling the food,” said Czaporowski, an avid Yankees fan. He said so far, the best has been bratwurst sausage, peppers and onions in Milwaukee.
So, the superintendent was ready and refreshed when Westfield welcomed back students on Aug. 30. One of his priorities this year is to strengthen the school environment and culture.
“This fall, we’re putting out a survey to staff and students,” he said. “Every school is doing it; then, we’re going to take that information, and every school will come up with a plan to improve it that will involve all stakeholders.’
Czaporowski said it’s something they always want to be working on and haven’t done district-wide since COVID-19.
“It’s due,” he said.
The district will also collaborate with the community to develop its portrait of a graduate. “Education has changed a lot with technology,” Czaporowski said. “We want to hear from the community as well as staff and students what are the traits and skills a graduate needs to be successful in college and career.”
Czaporowski said Westfield is fortunate to have a strong partnership with businesses through the Westfield Education to Business Alliance and a strong relationship with Westfield State University. Now he wants to work backwards to chart what a graduate needs and how schools can provide it, with additional input from the community.
“It’s changed a lot over my career. I’m in my 28th year. It’s changed a lot over the last 10 years,” he said. He said the work will begin with all of the principals working with their staff and expand from there.
As has happened often in his career, Czaporowski is also finding himself at the front of a movement.
“We’ve been talking about it. We recognize that education has changed, and outcomes have changed,” he said. Now the New England Association of Schools and Colleges is also asking high schools for a vision of a graduate.
“We really want student input, too,” he said, adding that the topic was introduced last year to students at Westfield Technical Academy. Their feedback fell under the broad topics of financial, technical, communication and other skills.
Under financial skills, students said they want to learn how to budget, about taxes, and how to make smart decisions about credit cards and big purchases like a house and car.
He said many students mentioned skills they want to gain in their technical areas, and in addition, resume writing and how to apply for jobs.
Under communication, he said students want insight on interpersonal relationships, how to get along with other people and to choose friends wisely. They want to learn how to behave and communicate professionally, and gain confidence and public speaking skills in relation to interviewing for jobs. Some students also expressed an interest in how to be a leader.
Among other skills, in no particular order, students want to learn how to cook, how to drive, how to be motivated to succeed, and common sense, Czaporowski said.
Another priority for the district is academic improvement. Staff will be looking at student academic performance on state tests, to develop specific action plans at every site to improve performance; and working on improving attendance and disciplinary referrals.
“The attendance task force is ongoing. We saw a reduction last year, a nine percent decrease in chronic absenteeism.” Czaporowski said the schools are still not back to pre-COVID rates of 95% attendance.
The schools will also be implementing a new social-emotional learning curriculum for pre-kindergarten to 12th grade. He said there is one curriculum for pre-kindergarten to grade 6, and one for grades 7-12.
Czaporowski said the district will continue to enhance and revise school safety protocols as needed. “We never stopped working on that,” he said.
Other priorities for the new school year are ongoing maintenance projects, including completing air conditioning and HVAC upgrades at Westfield Intermediate School, which were delayed but Czaporowski hoped to have completed by the start of school. The upgrading of the tennis courts at Westfield High School is out to bid, and the goal is to have them completed by the start of the spring season.
Czaporowski said maintenance work that has been completed includes HVAC at Westfield Middle School; a new roof on the maintenance barn behind WMS; new paving at Paper Mill Elementary School, and a makeover of the front office at Westfield High School.
“I’m optimistic about this school year,” said Czaporowski.
The first day of school was slated as Aug. 30 for grades 1-12, and Sept. 6 for pre-K and kindergarten. If no snow days are used, the last day will be June 13.