Westfield Education Fund (WEF) supports innovative projects that strengthen and enrich students’ academic experience but fall beyond the school district budget. Most of the district’s budget is allocated to critical ‘fixed’ costs such as salaries, transportation, supplies and maintenance. Discretionary spending is limited and little remains to support innovation. WEF fills this critical gap.
We aim to be a driver for innovation in the Westfield Public Schools. In our view, innovation is a mindset that embraces creativity, problem solving, taking risks, learning from your mistakes, and continuous improvement. Being innovative in education isn't just about trying out the latest instructional technology or teaching tool. It’s about finding new ways to engage, inspire, and empower students through meaningful, relevant learning. See a preview of grants made by WEF below, and learn more on the Impact page)
During 2022-2023, WEF funded grief education for Westfield School District Administrators, 6th-12th grade school staff, and district-wide school support staff, led by Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss. WEF also supported the Choral department’s fundraiser to restore the 100 year old Steinway Piano at Westfield High school.
In 2020-2021, WEF funded nearly $40,000 to sponsor the Racial Literacy Initiative, impacting all schools in the district.
In 2019-2020, WEF funded improvements to the design and engineering classrooms at each of the intermediate schools.
Historically, a significant portion of our grant making has focused on funding various technology tools to integrate into instruction. Schools across the district have received Makerspace materials, Chromebooks, iPads, computers, printers, interactive projectors, document cameras, and camcorders to support student learning.