Westwood Select Board Approves MSBA Bid for Thurston Middle School, Finalizes Town Meeting Warrant

WESTWOOD — March 23, 2026 — Westwood Select Board advances fire station design, MSBA school grant bid, and police chief search in single session. The board on March 23 voted unanimously to finalize an Annual Town Meeting warrant containing 31 articles, including a Select Board article for feasibility and schematic design of Fire Station 1 and three School Committee articles addressing a special education contract-services deficit, a special education reserve fund appropriation, and a free-cash appropriation tied to litigation. The board also voted unanimously to authorize submission of a Statement of Interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority for the overcrowded and deficient Thurston Middle School, a step that could make Westwood eligible for a grant of "up to tens of millions of dollars." Chair Marianne LeBlanc-Cummings said the board was explicit that the fire station "remains the emergent need" even as it recognized Thurston's conditions. Police Chief Jeffrey Silva, a 13-year department veteran, announced his retirement effective early May 2026; the board discussed a recruitment framework that will include resident participation.