[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6086351,"mediaKeyId","2896360-c22f1dc79a2338d92df239add31ade20","parentId",2896360,"title","Votes at a glance: minutes, donation, trips and executive session approved","audioSeconds",143,"startMs",5972000,"endMs",6115000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2896360-c22f1dc79a2338d92df239add31ade20&start=5972&end=6115","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2896360-c22f1dc79a2338d92df239add31ade20/thumbnail_5972000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6086351/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-minutes-donation-trips-and-executive-session-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6086351-b68d5fc1ccc3fa9459c2f4c5700d021d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771029677&Signature=YFzUd9F2wPmUi73bnZFK45mfVVNqTi-NEOQxh-cUIEm~9ErHqPxv2b3-NRvg2lQe1GfXKK7dSfv~Xv5Psxy2OptMOj8-Bcly~h6bELb6AOKcLAEgxRpeh9FaDJHu4TfZTsuokYbNsmA5LBfFkl4Qn9KVClc0OrJdhyFMdGd726V7jRGyCPIzFhs~x0HZxDQroLyKDMpFA3h12Wfv8JI9kQeMvSR72f-qm93Ba9AcWK3o9g1jArygUZ9OlZYgklViZZt5-cA2F6qP4MshQFOdX7Q1majRTUWLQRkIgwXinRJezka6B7mm6TX6q1mEqPsZX2wlVEFhyX1BYkGGJmFoew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Westwood Public Schools, MA","date","2025-04-08T15:19:11.107Z","article","The Westwood School Committee recorded several procedural and administrative votes during the April 7 meeting.

Minutes: The committee moved to approve the March 20 meeting minutes; the motion passed with School Committee member Colin Baber recorded as saying, \"Aye.\" The transcript records the motion as passed.

Donation: The committee accepted a $6,000 contribution from Amarenesco (Amaresco) to support up to 10 tree plantings, with part of the total funded by the conservation commission. The motion to accept the donation was moved and seconded and the committee voted in favor (voice vote recorded as \"Aye\"). The district said plantings are expected in the fall to avoid interference with an upcoming solar canopy installation.

School trips: The committee approved two Westwood High School trips: a January term (J-term) 2026 service-learning trip to Costa Rica for grades 9–11, and a late-June/early-July 2026 travel-learning trip to Greece for grades 9–11. The motions passed by voice vote.

Executive session: The committee made and seconded a motion to move into executive session \"to consider the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property, if the chair declares that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the public body,\" and the motion carried by roll call. The transcript records affirmative roll-call responses including Tony (yes), Joanna (yes), Dory (yes), Maya (yes) and another member recorded as \"yes.\" The motion said the committee would not return to public session.

Ending: These actions were recorded without substantive debate; the meeting proceeded to other business after the votes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","School Committee - 04/07/25","oneSentenceSummary","The committee approved March 20 minutes, accepted a $6,000 tree-planting donation, authorized two high-school trips, and voted to enter executive session to discuss real-estate negotiations.","taxTitle","Westwood Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",71411,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6086353,"School committee accepts $21,950 cybersecurity grant; district outlines training and incident-response plan",5867,209000,6076000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2896360-c22f1dc79a2338d92df239add31ade20&start=209&end=6076","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2896360-c22f1dc79a2338d92df239add31ade20/thumbnail_209000.jpg","/articles/6086353/Massachusetts/School-committee-accepts-21950-cybersecurity-grant-district-outlines-training-and-incident-response-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6086353-cb83464772f3231006c6d75142d314af/orig.mp4?Expires=1771029677&Signature=OoxFPAPqw~7pBQxGiAYzsi7E5WzQHvjOFy2Q8mDVoB-cyWnRoQlJ3OSmipcimV4K5eugHTNCNaAZHHZIhA6FpmhIxAQEMg3BmKhT1kKng4NaFoDH47Sbi01QyZd5phc5emhuhI64IH9x8ddK5PSIbnGi8VbK5m0sFXCzIvTNOA3ANV2vmhnx87HR~~bs9MoSANTlF79Rkd94owwaEDTiVCF3oSixYC-b4HI-XuDLgplxemqByaMXc9BMl8cRj9jTHpOVLpBRQXDaoWB6F4E4-zhg~Y7QEiI6kKFL9DN1TZRCt3jcJ-rSeKxFj89yA1crC4XoJN~NFOKuETSYralsnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Westwood School Committee voted to accept a $21,950 grant from the Mass Cyber Center (a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative) during its April 7 meeting.

Steve Ouellette, director of technology, learning and innovation, told the committee the funds would purchase a hardware appliance designed to isolate and preserve sensitive internal data in the event of a malware incident and reduce the risk of data compromise. \"This is a hardware appliance that basically will secure all our sensitive internal data ... it drops off the network and goes dormant,\" Ouellette said.

Ouellette also described a renewed state-sponsored training program for staff (optional through the end of the calendar year), a condensed home version of the cybersecurity course the district will offer to families, and proposed incentives (raffle prizes donated by the community) to boost staff completion rates. He said the district has a newly created cybersecurity incident response plan — \"a playbook if we were to have a breach\" — that was reviewed favorably by a third-party reviewer and by the National Guard, which asked whether Westwood’s plan could be a template for other districts.

Action and vote: the committee voted to accept the grant. The meeting record shows a roll-call-style confirmation with members recorded as voting yes: Maya (yes), Dory (yes), Joanna (yes), Tony (yes) and Emma (yes). The motion carried (mover and second not specified in the transcript). The committee noted that the board would vote later in the meeting to authorize expenditure of the funds.

Context and next steps: Ouellette said the grant addresses both a technical control (the hardware appliance) and human factors (training, social-engineering risk), noting the district has not experienced a recent serious breach. He said the staff training launched about two weeks ago and that a family-focused, one-hour condensed course would be shared with families. The committee discussed incentives and outreach and thanked Ouellette for the proactive approach.","The committee accepted a state-sponsored cybersecurity grant to buy a hardware appliance and support staff training; district staff described optional employee training, family-focused materials, incentives and a new incident-response playbook reviewed by the National Guard.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6086355,"Resident urges stronger oversight after repeated high-school bus delays, says contractor billed for absent drivers",195,504000,699000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2896360-c22f1dc79a2338d92df239add31ade20&start=504&end=699","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2896360-c22f1dc79a2338d92df239add31ade20/thumbnail_504000.jpg","/articles/6086355/Massachusetts/Resident-urges-stronger-oversight-after-repeated-high-school-bus-delays-says-contractor-billed-for-absent-drivers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6086355-36fb3bb547ab7c42e5d69646f543c34d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771029677&Signature=FgMl8Ag2u3STxIyzrPrfmbeHYeFQlfKiCI4QAk37rFUAtEmvjylMOYci~CshLrA-IagqLjyi8o9bhYSOr8DEMMCLBgzkAHrMJTTgb4npwyy8mWafkT-ExIe-nppbt7NFTD8chYl7PRlNEuaIH0n3ckJ2HfaGmbHmHZxHL3HDctqC-fqnlZ-nlTOga1AjeJGhEvKoWSGdGEv8OfM8WISgR-TkiLi9SCtFJpuCNhSC3g~rmZq2LZbGFxTNIDnB1Fq9f4KT4L0S4W9TJMyGIXole47kM7GYzQt7wryDvLxec8yDMuwSQ5ZPpZMNozdeT9E-YcKqmUwmStqU9knJuxZuMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During public participation, Stacy Theophilu, a Westwood resident, told the school committee she has raised ongoing high-school bus delays with the superintendent and seeks committee oversight. \"How many students are late every day? We don't really know,\" Theophilu said, adding she had been told “at one point over 100 per day.”

Theophilu said bus-stop consolidations have created long or unsafe walks for some families and that Connelly Bus Company did not supply the contracted number of drivers. She told the committee the district has been billed for absent drivers and has requested and received refunds, and raised concerns about tracking: the contract requires buses to arrive by 8:10 a.m. for an 8:15 start, she said, but the district reportedly tracks only buses arriving at 8:14 or later and has not sought contract penalties for late service.

\"One bus costs $470 per day,\" Theophilu told the committee, and she asked the district to consider returning refunded funds to restore part of the Mandarin program cut in February. She said she plans to escalate the matter to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, town auditors, selectmen and the Massachusetts attorney general.

Theophilu framed her comments as both operational and safety concerns for families. She urged the school committee to exercise oversight and to improve tracking so claims for contractual penalties can be pursued if warranted. The committee did not take immediate formal action during public comment; the superintendent later confirmed bus timing was discussed in office hours and that the administration would continue to investigate and follow up.","A parent told the school committee that contracted bus company Connelly failed to provide contracted drivers, left many students late daily, and that the district is seeking refunds rather than tracking contract penalties.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6086356,"Westwood committee reviews facilities master plan; options range from modular fixes to new schools",5111,822000,5933000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2896360-c22f1dc79a2338d92df239add31ade20&start=822&end=5933","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2896360-c22f1dc79a2338d92df239add31ade20/thumbnail_822000.jpg","/articles/6086356/Massachusetts/Westwood-committee-reviews-facilities-master-plan-options-range-from-modular-fixes-to-new-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6086356-f4a0b4989193d997b43184425624d574/orig.mp4?Expires=1771029677&Signature=ZONVr4kiSKXeaiq-GyvWBodNnaf1iAOm05DmdxiFlDNWZbNUPlqquL3g6sClht4g14s-qGK3NEgWAFUB~orrbQhRhLSuoSbRmzfUelCWuXxDTFcJy~fKfiJcGMKZ9WndLGzyxQRi3qBtPFDlCOY3-E~6NW139IZ8Q99Hej8-yI4M5Bu8jYaLHNGeXSzMVlqquQzdJsuj2k2NPpve9-ixYB7akc22V3KDmjIqGN2oInhjuGdCtSBZ13rGJnPY1wIS2x3DsodcshTKlQno6sYmW3izU~1-g5bjELWK~KiiyoiZK~CSRIcivqIwI7bmp5zlCaRTW7yBpmCG2rpqPzB2gw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Tim opened a presentation of the Westwood Public Schools facilities master plan and introduced Doran Whittier consultants Michelle Rogers and Don Walter, who walked the committee through a district building assessment, enrollment forecasts, possible solutions and cost ranges.

The consultants said the district’s buildings are generally well maintained but identified program-space and capacity shortfalls, especially at Thurston Middle School and Sheehan School. “Thurston has 68% of its spaces undersized by more than 10%,” Michelle Rogers said. She added that Sheehan also shows substantial undersized classrooms and mechanical, electrical, and accessibility issues. The consultants used Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) guidelines to benchmark room sizes and to estimate capacity.

The nut graf: the study lays out six illustrative options — (1) status quo/capital repairs only; (2) add modular classrooms; (3) new Thurston plus modulars elsewhere; (4) build a new K–5 to combine Sheehan and Martha Jones or build a larger combined elementary; (5) new middle-school configuration with district redistricting; and (6) alternative grade-configuration (move Grade 5 into the middle school). The options vary in how many immediate capacity problems they solve, how they affect program spaces (cafeteria, gyms, media, etc.), and in rough order-of-magnitude costs.

Key findings and context: the demographer’s 10-year forecast shows districtwide elementary capacity roughly matching projected K–5 enrollment in 2033, but with mismatches by neighborhood that create local overcrowding (Thurston and Sheehan) and underuse (Pine Hill). The consultants emphasized that MSBA counts permanent classroom capacity only — modular classrooms generally are not counted by MSBA because of limited lifespan — and that affects any MSBA Statement of Interest (SOI). Rogers said modulars can be “a very good solution to an immediate problem” but are not a permanent fix and reduce shared play space and connectivity for students.

Costs and timeline: the consultants presented rough order-of-magnitude cost ranges across options and said the district-level comparative range is “about $200 million to $300 million” depending on scope and whether a new school is pursued. They noted those figures are escalated estimates and include full line-item project costs, and that the district should not treat the top-line CIP number as an immediate annual obligation. Rogers and the superintendent said feasibility funding to develop a preferred option would likely require a town vote for 2–3 million dollars in future warrant articles if the committee pursues an MSBA application.

MSBA path and timing: the presenters outlined a timeline keyed to the MSBA process if the district submits an SOI in April 2026: MSBA eligibility by late 2026, feasibility and design work in 2028–2030, construction starting around 2030 and occupancy around 2032, assuming the district is invited into the pipeline on the first submission. Superintendent Tim said the committee will need to select a priority school (likely Thurston or Sheehan) by the end of the calendar year to meet the SOI schedule, but detailed grade-configuration decisions (for example, 5–8 vs. 6–8) would be refined during MSBA feasibility.

Safety, code and triggers: the consultants flagged specific “trigger” thresholds in the CIP that would require certain accessibility or fire-protection upgrades if capital spending exceeds set amounts (for example, a $2.9 million accessibility trigger cited for Thurston). They also noted Sheehan lacks a sprinkler system, which limits options for physically attaching new modular space to that building without major fire-protection work.

Committee members asked for deeper review of the demographer’s assumptions and for more transparent breakdowns of the CIP list into “must do” versus “nice to have.” The superintendent said the district will host community forums and PTO meetings, and that slides and recordings would be posted to gather public feedback before the committee sets an SOI direction.

Ending: the committee did not take any formal vote on a project tonight. The district will hold additional community meetings this spring and aims to return with refined enrollment, cost breakdowns and recommended next steps before an SOI decision later this year.","Consultants presented a district-wide facilities assessment and six options — from maintenance-only to new construction — estimating rough costs, enrollment pressures at Thurston and Sheehan, and a timeline tied to a possible MSBA application with a statement-of-interest due April 2026.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: minutes, donation, trips and executive session approved

School committee accepts $21,950 cybersecurity grant; district outlines training and incident-response plan

Resident urges stronger oversight after repeated high-school bus delays, says contractor billed for absent drivers

Westwood committee reviews facilities master plan; options range from modular fixes to new schools