Editor,
We moved to Westfield eight years ago. The schools have kept us here. This was the first year I had a child out of elementary school and over at the intermediate school. The kids over there are packed like sardines. Making the school bigger, simply so the children can spread out, is not the solution. There are simply too many kids in upper grade schools. Due to the number of students, the ability to provide accurate supervision is impossible. Morning drop off is horrendous. To know that those lines will just keep getting bigger and bigger is discouraging. Nine times out of 10, that I drop my child off, no adult is present. I have tried to call administration and it is impossible to reach anyone. I just think there are simply too many kids in one building.
I think the better solution is to snatch up some land and build multiple schools. I know the cost is higher for this option and here is how I propose we offset it. We need to charge a premium to builders who desire to build in Westfield. That premium can go towards the infrastructure increase that we so desperately need. There is no need to tax us more for a short-term solution. Adding to the buildings will not solve the problems of bullying, sexual assault, supervision and packed classrooms.
After one year at the intermediate school, I have lost faith in the educators in the upper grades. We are pulling our children from Westfield schools once they reach the fifth grade. The quality of education in my opinion plummeted. We are herding children like cows instead of investing in their education.
Abbi Penn