Student Representatives Praised By School Committee

For a list of all the portions of the meeting, click here.

A full video of the meeting is available at westfordcat.org

7:30 p.m. – School Committee student representative Katelyn Mitrano was praised for her efforts during her term as a student representative.

7:32 p.m. – Superintendent Bill Olsen began his update, which was focused on a petition from teachers urging a full high school diploma for senior citizen graduate Genevieve Johnson after it was discovered she may not receive a diploma due to not taking the MCAS.

The petition was written on the back of a Chinese restaurant placemat and Olsen said that eventually it was determined that Johnson would be exempt from the requirement since she would have graduated over 70 years ago if she had stayed in school, allowing her to bypass the MCAS requirement since it did not exist during that time period.

Near this point, School Committee chairman David Keele arrived.

School Committee member Erika Kohl and Margaret Murray then praised the Westford Academy internship exhibition.

Kohl also asked for an update on the Day School windows. Olsen said that an upcoming bid will be made near Thanksgiving and the project will commence near April vacation and continue during Summer vacation.

School Committee member Terence Ryan asked a question regarding fans at the Abbot School and then the issue transitioned to bear sightings at local camps.

Kohl urged those listening to remember that the bears common in Westford are very unlikely to attack anyone.

Keele then talked about the recent prom gathering on the Town Common and asked about limousines at the event as well as praising Westford Academy staff members who helped the event run smoothly.

7:45 p.m. – School Committee student representative Abigail Cianciolo gave an update on several events, as well as additional information on the bear as well as Westford Academy’s DECA program.

She was applauded for her efforts as part of Project Purple.

7:49 p.m. – Olsen said he hired Kelly Fitzsimmons this morning to a position as an art teacher, a 2008 Westford Academy graduate, adding that new Miller School prinicipal Donna Pobuk helped inspire Fitzsimmons into a life of art.

Mitrano’s update discussed the final days for Westford Academy students, a mock accident she helped do for seniors at the school.

7:52 p.m. – Keele then opened the floor to public forum, with no one offering any comments.