Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Budget Vote topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
School board vice chair asks Westford to consider moving budget vote to Town Meeting Day
Summary
EWSD vice chair Marlon Verasamy presented a ballot question asking whether the school budget vote should move from April to March on Town Meeting Day to increase voter engagement; Selectboard members signaled support and discussed having school representatives present at Westford’s meeting.
Marlon Verasamy, vice chair of the Essex-Westford School District (EWSD) board, told the Selectboard the EWSD passed a ballot measure asking whether the district should move its school budget vote from April to March on Town Meeting Day. Verasamy attended to take questions and explained the board’s interest in concentrating local voting activity to boost turnout.
Selectboard member Julia Andrews said she has long supported the change, calling it likely to improve voter engagement. Chair Pat Haller asked whether Westford’s Town Meeting Day schedule could include a school representative to present the budget at the town’s public meeting; Verasamy said the school board had not formalized a plan but did not oppose having school representatives speak locally. The discussion ended with board members expressing support and directing Verasamy to coordinate further outreach between the school board and Westford’s meeting organizers.
