WESTFORD — Patrick Gendron and Melanie Jozokos, members of the Westford Academy Health, Physical Education and Wellness Department, addressed the School Committee Monday evening to express concerns about proposed changes to graduation requirements.
Specifically, Gendron and Jozokos spoke against a proposal to eliminate 2.5 wellness credits from the graduation criteria.
The School Committee is considering several adjustments, including combining Grade 9 physical education and health classes, increasing visual and performing arts requirements, and potentially reducing the total number of credits required for Grade 12 students.
The School Committee Policy Subcommittee has been working to incorporate new competency determination standards into the graduation requirements. These efforts follow the committee’s recent approval of new competency determinations in the wake of MCAS exam requirement elimination.
At the April 14 meeting, Gendron praised the committee’s February decision to change the school’s start times, calling it a science-based choice that prioritizes student well-being. Gendron said that he believed keeping wellness classes in the curriculum is also in students’ best interest.
“We ask you, please vote down the graduation requirement proposal which reduces PE and health education for students of Westford Academy,” Gendron said, “There’s too much data involving physical and mental health with depression, anxiety, obesity and disease continuing to rise, the solution is not to reduce the amount of education around these topics.”
Jozokos also expressed concern, noting that the proposed changes were influenced by a student survey — and that students may not always know what’s in their best interest.
“Students don’t always know what’s best for them, just like when it comes time to eat their vegetables students would obviously rather eat snacks or go to Chick-fil-A and order their nuggets and their fries,” Jozokos said, “We are the adults, we know what’s better for them.”
During the meeting, the committee conducted a first reading of the new policy. The policy will be open for public comment and appear on three upcoming agendas: the initial reading, a discussion meeting and a final reading and vote.
Several committee members, including Sean Kelly, asked if there was a better way to change the policy without cutting back health classes.
“Eliminating health was never a part of this or a discussion or any proposal that was put in front of this committee but there’s got to be a better way that we can do this,” Kelly said.
School Committee Member Marisol Garcia also emphasized the importance of giving students a mental break during the school day — something PE classes provide.
“I think that gym is not for everybody but what it is, is a break from other parts of your school day,” Garcia said, “Even if you’re not going to be the person who is excelling in PE that day, it is a transition, and the data that exists around focus and stress relief is real.”
School Committee Chair Valery Young weighed in on the discussion, saying students may view transition periods differently.
“I think that break in the day looks different for every student, and for some students it’s orchestra, for some students it’s PE,” Young said.
The committee is also considering concerns from students and parents about the lack of flexibility in class choices once students enter high school.
“My thought right now is just creating some flexibility in the scheduling, at least to give a bit more opportunity for the students who may be limited,” School Committee Vice Chair Kathryn Clear said.
Public comment on the proposed changes is open through April 30, with a vote expected May 12.
