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Westwood School Committee votes unanimously to decline state school choice participation
Summary
After a required public hearing under state law, the committee unanimously voted to decline participation in the Massachusetts school choice program, citing reimbursement shortfalls and fiscal concerns; the vote preserves the committee's right to revisit participation if neighboring districts act before June 1.
After a brief public hearing with no speakers on the item, the Westwood School Committee on April 14 voted unanimously to decline participation in the Massachusetts school choice program for the coming year.
The resolution cited the Educational Reform Act and Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 76 §12B, noting that the maximum school choice reimbursement has not increased substantially in decades and can be as low as $5,000 per student. The committee said Westwood’s full per‑pupil expenditure exceeds the maximum reimbursement, which would require the district to subsidize choice students.
The motion included standard recitals about fiscal impact and the requirement that once accepted, a choice student must remain in the district through graduation. The resolution also reserved the committee’s right to accept school choice later if surrounding districts decide to participate before the statutory June 1 deadline.
The committee recorded a roll‑call vote: Amanda — yes; Tony — yes; Joanna — yes; Chair — yes. The measure carried unanimously.
The vote follows the committee’s public hearing required by statute; no public testimony specifically addressing school choice was presented during the hearing.
