The Brocton and Westfield School Districts are conducting a feasibility study for the purpose of examining different possibilities for maintaining quality programs for students while addressing the realities of very difficult economic times.
The study will determine if a new school district should be formed through merger of the schools. A merger might enhance or maintain educational opportunities, in-crease long-term efficiencies, and lower costs for the overall operation of the districts to close the projected financial gap.
The Brocton and Westfield School Boards hired Western New York Educational Services Council (WNYESC) to gather and analyze pertinent information and to report its progress and findings to the State Education Department and the district leadership.
WNYESC consultants will be accessing and analyzing input, information, and data in the areas of finance and economics, community culture, support services (transportation, food services, bus-iness offices, and technology), student educational and extra-curricular programs, and human resources. The board of education members want to make sure that this process is as open and transparent as possible. Both boards encourage people to participate and have their opinions and ideas expressed openly.
One of the types of data used in this study is perception data, which for the purposes of the study is considered qualitative, not quantitative. To gather this data, focus group meetings are being conducted in both districts to invite sectors of the school and wider community to provide responses to the interviewers' questions, following a brief overview of some aspects of the districts and their communities.
In an effort to reach all members of the school communities who wish to respond to a set of eight questions, there will be a community focus group session in the Brocton Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and in West-field's Auditorium on Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.. The meeting should last no longer than one hour. Those who have any questions about the process may contact your school's district office at Brocton - 792-2173 or Westfield - 326-2151 extension 218.
