Westfield School Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski announces the graduating seniors at 2024 commencement.
Reminder Publishing photo by Marc St. Onge
WESTFIELD — At its March 17 meeting, the School Committee unanimously endorsed a new three-year with Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski, effective July 1.
The contract offers a 2% increase each year over the three years, which Czaporowski said is in line with the teachers and other administrators’ contracts. He will receive $186,310 effective July 1, 2025; $190,342 in fiscal year 2026, and $194,149 in FY27, with benefits consistent with other full-time administrators and 25 vacation days each year.
Committee member Bo Sullivan, who served on the negotiating team with fellow member Michael Tirrell, gave a brief overview of the contract, which is posted under documents on schoolsofwestfield.org, to the committee.
“Things went extremely smoothly. I think as a body, as a whole, we appreciate the work, time and effort and caring that Superintendent Czaporowski puts into the job. There was very little talk back and forth about the term, compensation or everything else that goes into a contract. So I just hope that the superintendent sees how easy this was on his behalf and that we appreciate all you do,” Sullivan said.
Speaking for himself, Sullivan said he was glad that it’s a three-year contract. “Just real quick, there will be a renegotiation 18 months before that, on June 30, to add another year. So it’s really a three plus one to get him through June of 2029, if so desired by the committee and the superintendent,” he said, adding, “I just think this shows the appreciation that the committee has for the job that you do and the job that you especially do for the kids of the city of Westfield and surrounding areas that attend our public schools. So I want to thank you for your time and to congratulate you on a new three-year deal.”
“I just concur. I think that’s great and I’m glad,” said committee member Heather Sullivan.
Mayor Michael McCabe said “a ditto for me as well,” before the unanimous endorsement from the School Committee.
After the meeting, Czaporowski spoke about the contract and the tough job of being a superintendent, commenting that there are a lot of openings for superintendents right now.
Czaporowski said he began as superintendent in July 2016 and that it is unusual for a superintendent to be in place this long. He is currently the longest serving superintendent in Westfield since Brian Halloran served from 1975 to 1984; and, if he finishes the contract in three or four years, since Dr. Abernathy served from 1947 to 1962.
“I’m very happy to be able to stay in Westfield. We still have more work that needs to be done. I am happy that this contract allows me to retire from Westfield,” Czaporowski said. In four years, he will have served in education for 34 years and be eligible for full retirement.
Asked what is the work that needs to be done to which he referred, he said, “We’re still looking at a new high school and expanding the aviation program. We’re seeing improvements now in student achievement and attendance rates and we want to keep that forward momentum; and potentially expanding preschool.
“It feels like finally the pandemic is really behind us,” Czaporowski said, adding, ”That was a stressful time to be a superintendent for all of us. I think the stress level on superintendents during that period was excessive. There was also such division in terms of people’s reactions to the pandemic. What we were trying to do was what’s best for kids while keeping everybody safe.”
Citing the greatest achievements during his tenure, Czaporowski listed expanding opportunities for kids and trying to increase student engagement in the schools. “Obviously, the new elementary school — bringing a state-of-the-art school to the downtown area.”
He also talked about the work being done with career pathways at the high school, such as the criminal justice program, and “interventions across the district to try to help our kids catch up from the pandemic.”
Asked about the biggest challenges he faces as superintendent going forward, Czaporowski didn’t hesitate. “The budget is the number one challenge. The state hasn’t kept up with funding their mandates. They’re not keeping up with the cost of what it takes to run a district,” he said.
