The League of Women voters of Westford will support:

GENERAL

A policy by which parents should be allowed the option of changing their child from open to structured classroom and vice versa.

ADMINISTRATION

An administration responsive and flexible to student needs.

Choosing candidates from a wide variety of backgrounds in hiring teachers and administrators.

The use of a search committee comprising citizen volunteers, representatives from staff and administration, and school committee members to select a Superintendent.

A self-evaluation program for teachers and administrators.

A strong reviewing procedure before granting tenure.

Teacher-pupil ratio based upon subject matter, classroom size, grade level, and teacher experience for maximum teaching effectiveness.

REPORTING TO PARENTS

Distribution of report cards for elementary level at conference with the parents at least twice a year.

Scheduling of parent-teacher conferences at least twice a year at appropriate times so they come neither too early nor too late in the school year to benefit the student.

Providing all parents with testing results and comparison of their child’s test scores with local, state, and national averages.

Keeping parents well informed on discipline problems.

CURRICULUM

Expansion of courses to meet the needs of the students.

A general set of sequential objectives which specify what each child should be exposed to at each grade level.

Continuity of program through each grade level.

Flexibility of curriculum for high school students.

Emphasis on orientation for those students who will not have any formal education beyond high school.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

The responsibility of the School committee should be general administrative policy with emphasis on educational program.  The School Committee  should firmly define responsibilities within the school system and inform the public of these responsibilities.

Utilization of subcommittees to assist the School Committee in decision making.

SPECIAL SERVICES

The availability of specialized services  as part of a comprehensive pupil personnel service program; for example, school Psychologist, Speech Therapist, provisions for mentally retarded, learning disabled and emotionally disturbed children; diagnostic and remedial reading services.

Compilation and maintenance of a comprehensive census of special needs students to be distributed to appropriate members of the school staff and administration.  Such a census should include physical, speech, emotional, mental, perceptual, and reading handicaps.

Screening of the student body as required by law to identify special needs students.

GUIDANCE

Individualized counseling for all students.

Equal attention to non-college-bound and college-bound students, serving the students’ vocational and emotional needs.

Communication among parent, counselor, and student.

Continuity of high school guidance counselor through graduation

Articulating the guidance programs for students and their parents.

Individual programming of each incoming grade 9 student and all current high school students by a member of the high school guidance staff.

A comprehensive testing program academic ability and interest measure.

Availability of school profile for post-secondary institutions and other interested sources.

Equal accessibility to student records, educational and vocational reference material, and secretarial services for all counselors.

Compilation of prognostic studies and experience tables to provide the staff with such information and also assist students in electing courses.

HEALTH EDUCATION

A comprehensive health education program in Westford.  The program should be substantial and factual.  It should begin at the lowest possible grade level and be continued through the upper grades.

BUDGET

In light of fiscal restraints, the League will support:

• Use of a nominal fee for school-funded athletic programs.  Provisions should be made for students unable to pay.
• Self-supporting lunch program.
• If the school budget has to be cut, cuts should be made selectively, with the quality of basic curriculum given priority.
• Maintaining low pupil-teacher ratio.

TRANSPORTATION

Because of the winding roads, blind curves, and the lack of sidewalks, we feel it is not safe for the majority of elementary and middle school students to walk.  High school students can be expected to walk farther than elementary and middle school students.

We support cost-cutting measures such as the consolidation of bus stops.