WESTFORD — The superintendent and School Committee held a midyear review at their Feb. 9 meeting to discuss progress on district and committee goals.
Superintendent Christopher Chew presented a midyear review of district goals to the School Committee following a late January meeting with the Superintendent Evaluation Subcommittee.
The district’s goals focus on collaborative leadership, student engagement and belonging, and development of a new strategic improvement plan.
The first goal, which centers around collaborative leadership, asks the Westford Public Schools Curriculum Council to review vertical and horizontal curriculum alignment as well as equitable access by June.
Progress toward the goal includes centralizing resources to improve access and holding monthly meetings with curriculum coordinators and administrators. Coordinators are also reviewing alignment during department meetings.
“One of the things that we anticipate bringing to you by the end of this year is a full review cycle of where we think the curriculum should line up so we have a plan,” Chew said. He added that the district will need to be more deliberate with how they planned out curriculum needs.
The second goal focuses on student learning, with an emphasis on belonging and engagement. By June, the district aims for all students to demonstrate age-appropriate strategies that support engagement and well-being.
Progress includes Wayfinder Professional Development for elementary and secondary staff, expanded elementary physical education and wellness classes, and student surveys conducted in the fall, with additional surveys underway.
The third goal calls for the Report Card Committee to present findings by June on how student progress is communicated to families. School-level working groups are being organized, and elementary professional learning communities are reviewing grading scales, reporting frequency and alignment with standards.
The fourth goal is development of the district’s Fiscal Year 2027–2030 Strategic District Improvement Plan. While initially expected in March, Chew said the plan may be presented in April. Community feedback has been gathered through school advisory council meetings and the ThoughtExchange platform, including sessions held Jan. 12 and Feb. 9.
School Committee Chair Kathryn Clear said the evaluation process has improved over time.
“I feel it’s getting easier and easier every year compared to the very first year,” Clear said.
Chew said the process, while extensive, has become more aligned with district priorities.
“It’s meaningful,” Chew said. “We have goals that are not just arbitrary. We have goals that are connected to the work we are trying to do, and this is how we are measuring that.”
The School Committee also conducted its own midyear review. Goals include increasing community engagement through coffee gatherings, event participation and office hours, monitoring, and gathering feedback on school start times. Other goals were improving administrative organization through clearer protocols and communication systems, and reviewing fees with the finance subcommittee.
Clear led the discussion, beginning with the committee’s community engagement efforts. Since the fall, members have hosted six informal “Community Coffee” gatherings to encourage open dialogue with families, staff and residents. Additional efforts include maintaining a presence at community events, offering office hours and planning a survey to gather feedback on the committee’s communication and impact.
The School Committee also reviewed its goal related to school start times. Members have completed regular check-ins during meetings and are collecting family feedback through surveys. The data will be used to guide any potential adjustments and will be shared with the community.
Under administration and organization, action steps include developing a summary of operating protocols to include with meeting agendas, implementing an automated email response to acknowledge public messages and creating guides outlining each subcommittee’s purpose and responsibilities.
The committee worked with the finance subcommittee to review district fees.
“There’s been lots of work done,” Clear said. “Lots more to do. I think it’s going to be a busy spring, but thank you for the time and effort that you put in.”
