Westwood Schools Finalizes Instructional Assistant Contract, Launches Fall Literacy Pilots

WESTWOOD — June 4, 2026 — Westwood School Committee marks retirements, new hires, and a finalized staff contract at June 4 session. School Committee Chair Joanna French summarized the meeting in a community access TV recap, noting that roughly a dozen educators — including high school teacher Amy Davenport and curriculum leader Donna Tobin — are retiring with 250 years of combined experience. The committee finalized a new contract for instructional assistants and applied behavior analysis staff, delivering improved pay, steadier year-round paychecks, and expanded professional development, though no wage figures were disclosed. Dr. John Murray was introduced as the incoming Westwood High School principal, set to officially start in July. The district's coalition to combat hate speech launched four working groups targeting curriculum, community engagement, incident response, and student voice, with action items due by the September school opening.