Weston School Committee eyes PE waiver pilot for senior athletes, votes on warrant

WESTON — February 28, 2022 — Weston School Committee hears social studies review, mulls PE waiver pilot for senior athletes. The committee reviewed a three-year internal self-study of the K-12 social studies program, led by elementary curriculum specialist Susan Erickson and department head Sue Bairstow, which cited insufficient instructional time at the elementary level and called for an external review committee — to be chaired by Rob Martenell of Boston University — to visit schools in May 2022. Wellness Education Director Mitch presented a detailed opposition to a proposed pilot that would let seniors participating in interscholastic sports waive one semester of PE, arguing the program addresses cognitive and social-emotional development that athletics cannot replicate; committee members nonetheless signaled broad support for a trial, with member Atiyah noting the district already practices "an entire semester without kids having a physical activity during the day" under current scheduling. The committee is set to vote on both the PE pilot language and the proposed $44,911,436 FY23 budget — a 2.5 percent increase — at its March 7 meeting. The warrant of $1,595,057.01 was approved unanimously.