Council heeds words of constituents, restores school funds

Date: 8/4/2010

Aug. 4, 2010

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor

WESTFIELD -- City councilors heeded the words of their constituents and voted unanimously to reinstate $774,345 to the school department's fiscal year 2001 (FY11) budget, saving jobs, programs and facilities.

The council voted 12 to zero with one absent, Councilor David Flaherty, during a special meeting on July 29. The vote was received with jubilation from a packed crowd, who would've otherwise seen cuts to art, athletic, guidance, foreign language, library, music and technology staff as well as the closure of Juniper Park Elementary School, Fort Meadow Early Childhood Center and the administrative offices on Ashley Street.

"The collective bargaining group held the city hostage for a lot of things," City Councilor and Finance Committee Chair Richard Onofrey Jr. said of the strenuous contract negotiations with the teachers' union that prompted the council's cut. "I hope that next year we can have a more open process.

The teachers' union agreed to $537,400 in concessions last week, encouraging the council to reinstate monies to the school department.

"I'm here to support this because of the children of Westfield, not because I've gotten threatening calls and e-mails," City Councilor James Brown told those attending the special meeting.

Brown called for the establishment of an ad hoc committee to analyze the efficiency of the school department and to prevent future problems with its budget.

City Councilor Peter Miller cautioned that balancing the FY12 budget wouldn't be any easier and more difficult choices would be necessary next year.

School Superintendent Shirley Alvira said she was "elated" by the council's vote even if the department experiences a similar budget crisis next year.

"I don't think any of the city councilors want to have such a negative affect on the school system. If you look at their history, they've always been really supportive," she added.

Alvira said the department could finally get back to business as usual and prepare for the students arrival for the 2010-11 school year.