TL;DR...a WPS Update! 5/1/26
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May 1, 2026
Word Count: 617
Approx Reading Time: 2 minutes and 22 seconds
Admittedly, I have not always kept up with hip slang and text acronyms. So, when TL;DR was used during our latest School Committee meeting, I had to ask what it meant. No one seemed surprised :-)
At least folks have found the inclusion of the approximate reading time to be helpful with these updates!
To that end, I will do my best to keep it brief so as to avoid the previously mentioned classification.
Tri-Board Mtgs
We held a recent Tri-Board Mtg this week which consists of the Town of Westford SelectBoard, School Committee, and Finance Committee. These meetings take place periodically throughout the year for members of all three boards to come together to discuss a wide range of issues that impact the financial status of our community. Engaging the community earlier in the budget process was a major part of the discussion. An additional meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 11 at 6:00 in the Millenium Building prior to our regular School Committee meeting to hear from a consultant about future options regarding the Health Insurance Plans for our employees.
RSBC Community Forums
The Robinson School Building Committee (RSBC) is hosting two more Community Forums this month. The project charter has begun to take shape with input from the building committee members and residents at our April 9th forum. These goals prioritize an inclusive, adaptable learning environment with practical, sustainable systems that deliver long-term value. All discussions have shared a focus on building community consensus with a comprehensive, long-term, town-wide facilities plan that reflects fiscal responsibility and considers options such as consolidation and minimizing student transitions.
Join us at upcoming forums—May 4 and May 18 at Robinson School (7 PM) and a hybrid forum on June 11 at Millennium (7 PM). Register for the June 11 Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/RobinsonJune11. | Find more info at RobinsonSchoolProject.com
WPS Art Show May 7
Our Visual and Performing Arts department is hosting the 2026 Districtwide Art Show this year at Westford Academy in the bell lobby on Thursday, May 7 from 5-7 pm. They are exploring a new concept of display this year, keeping a smaller show yet still celebrating the collaboration of schoolwide pieces at the elementary level and individual works from students. We hope to see you there!
Superintendent Community Coffee
For an informal opportunity to connect and engage with me and a few members of the School Committee, we will be holding this month’s Community Coffee on Friday, May 8th at 12:00pm in the Millenium Building. We are adjusting the time a bit to see if it is easier for folks closer to lunchtime. The feedback continues to be positive about these opportunities and we certainly look forward to the conversations in this more relaxed environment as we gather for an hour to visit with no specific agenda. ROUTES Roasters will be open across the hall if you would like to purchase a coffee, tea or hot chocolate, but it is not required to attend.
New WPS SDIP
Finally, I am very happy to share with everyone the newly approved WPS FY27-FY30 Strategic District Improvement Plan (SDIP) . We have spent a great deal of time this year developing our next plan as we assess our progress on the current plan. The initial draft was presented to the School Committee last month which helped to provide additional feedback and the final version was approved during their last meeting. This document will help guide all of our work for the next few school years.
Cheers!
Chris
Christopher Chew, Ed. D
Superintendent
Westford Public Schools
