WESTFORD CENTER — The Town held a tri-board meeting last week to discuss several key issues, including plans to advance expanded community engagement efforts.
The plan was discussed by the Select Board, the School Committee and the Finance Committee on April 28, after concerns were raised in a recent school district survey about communication.
Officials signaled support for forming a new engagement initiative aimed at reaching residents who are not typically involved in local decision-making. The proposal would create a committee of representatives from the Select Board, School Committee and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
The goal is to conduct targeted outreach over the next year, including listening sessions with underrepresented or less-engaged groups.
The effort is intended not only to gather feedback, but also to establish ongoing communication with residents and increase participation in town meetings, school events and the budget process.
The discussion was informed in part by results from a recent School Committee survey of families, which drew 361 responses. The survey highlighted significant challenges on how residents access and understand school budget information.
Only 19% of respondents said budget information was easy to find or interpret, while about 80% reported confusion while reviewing the material. Respondents cited difficulty locating information, the complexity of budget details and a lack of clarity about how or when they could provide input.
Survey data also showed that engagement varied by how long residents had lived in town. About half of newer residents reported not following the budget at all, compared to roughly 18% of those who had lived in Westford for more than 20 years. However, understanding of the budget remained relatively low across all groups.
Several improvements were suggested, including providing clearer summaries, sharing information earlier and delivering updates through more direct and accessible channels. Officials noted that many respondents rely on multiple sources, such as the district website, public meetings and social media, but expressed concerns about consistency and reliability.
Officials said the survey results underscore the need for earlier and more effective public engagement, particularly as the town prepares for upcoming budget decisions. Officials are considering a series of public forums, informational sessions or other outreach methods to help residents better understand the budget process and provide input before decisions are finalized.
The proposed engagement initiative and committee structure are expected to return for formal consideration and potential approval at a future meeting.
