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Like many towns in Massachusetts, Westford town and school budgets face inflationary pressures. Fiscal Year 2025 is a pivotal year... where the impact of inflation plus increased needs surpasses Proposition 2 1/2 spending limits.
The situation is fluid but currently trending in a direction which raises concern. Two budgets have been presented, and both budgets include staff and programming cuts to visual and performing arts education in Westford.
Some high school full-time positions may become part-time. When this was done at the Grades 3-5 level, staff turnover became significant.
This page provides resources to help Westford community members who value visual and performing arts - parents, students, teachers and others - to understand what's at issue and to prepare themselves to advocate effectively as the process unfolds over the coming months.
Has your family experienced visual and performing arts in the Westford Public Schools?
YOUTHArts Westford wants to hear your thoughts!
Your voice is needed to make sure that the community, the school administration, and the town understand that Westford values visual and performing arts for our young people's academic success, social-emotional growth and mental health.
YOUTHArts Westford is collecting stories, ideas and concerns to share with school and town administrators. Tell us your story - share your own experience with this brief 6-question survey:
Other ways you can support YOUTHArts Westford: join our mailing list here, volunteer, donate here
Background Information
The Westford Public Schools organizes budget information here:
Why visual and performing arts education matters
Westford must make some tough choices in the coming months. Now is a good time to reflect on what we really value. STEM is important. Special education services are important. But visual and performing arts are also important.
Why?
Learning and performing music is a left brain / right brain activity which has demonstrable cognitive benefits, including higher test scores in math and reading at the high school level
In this STEM-focused world, visual and performing arts provide social and emotional benefits for our children which helps them achieve balance, relieve stress and develop vocations and avocations which they will take with them through their entire lives
Ensemble classes (band, chorus, orchestra) thrive on high participation... meaning these larger class sizes save money on staff vs. replacing ensembles with multiple traditional class blocks limited to standard class sizes
And more...
12/18/23: School Committee Meeting - Budget Deliberations
About 15 student leaders representing Band, Chorus, Orchestra and Theater Arts were present to show their support for the Visual and Performing Arts. Several students contributed during the Public Comment portion of the meeting:
Watch Students Share Their Perspectives Here
YOUTHArts Westford presented a financial case for preserving Visual and Performing Arts full-time teaching positions vs. cutting 0.6 FTE at Westford Academy:
Watch YOUTHArts Westford's Statement Here
The School Board accompanied by WA Principal Twomey took a closer look at how both budgets affect Westford Academy:
Additional Resources:
UPDATED Presentation slides - this version contains additional information and corrections
Budget Memo - this document summarizes both proposed budgets and shows how each compares to the current FY24 budget
12/4/23: Superintendent's FY25 Budget Presentation
On December 4, the Superintendent presented the FY25 budget to the School Committee. The presentation included:
A "best case" Recommended Budget of $70,505,124 (requiring a Proposition 2 1/2 override), which includes cutting 0.6 FTE from visual and performing arts at Westford Academy and
A "worst case" Proposition 2 1/2 Budget of $67,207,356 (avoiding a Proposition 2 1/2 override), which increases those cuts by 0.8 FTE for a total of 1.4 FTE cut from visual and performing arts at Westford Academy.
In other words, both proposed budget scenarios reduce visual and performing arts education resources in Westford.
Additional Resources:
Superintendent's Presentation slides
School Committee Meeting video - the budget agenda item begins at 1:09:22
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