School Committee Addresses Various Westford Academy Policies

The School Committee unanimously approved a set of recommended changes to the Westford Academy student handbook during their meeting last week.

Presented by Westford Academy principal James Antonelli and Dean Robert Ware, the change that drew the most discussion was that of not allowing students who are failing two or more classes or who were absent to attend extra-curricular events such as proms or sporting events without administrative approval.

Ware and Antonelli told the board they wanted to modify the existing wording in the handbook to provide flexibility for the administration in cases where it may help the student to attend events as well as instances where it wouldn't, also citing that discussions already take place with the guidance department on the issue of students ineligible to attend extracurricular events.

"It's not the iron hammer we want to bring down, but we do want to hold students accountable," said Antonelli.

An amendment to that specific guideline was made to make sure it administration would not be mandated to prohibit a student from an extracurricular activity after concerns from School Committee members Erika Kohl and Arthur Benoit.

"I believe you're going to get about half the kids who are going to disengage no matter what you tell them because they'll see this policy and think 'if they don't want me there, I'm not going to go,' said Benoit.

School Committee member David Keele on the other hand believed the Committee was overanalyzing the issue, stating he trusted the adminstration to make the right decision on this issue.

“This is a handful of kids and they know who they are. The administrators have the pulse on these kids who are flat out not showing up and doing their jobs. They have to have that heavy stick to hold over them," said Keele. "I don’t believe for ten seconds that a struggling student who’s not going to be administratively allowed to attend an event, and I believe the administration will be proactive, they’re not going to wait for the student to come to them.”

The amendment passed 4-2-0, with Keele and substitute chairman Terrance Ryan opposing and chairwoman Angela Harkness not present. 

Other new additions to the handbook included allowing students to listen to music and use their phones during lunch periods and in between classes as long as they only use one earbud, not mandating five day out-of-school suspensions on drug and alcohol offenses made by students with no prior record, and working with Westford Police Department on issues of students fighting and engaging in other criminal behavior on school grounds.