WESTFIELD – Westfield Academy and Central School district has received a $50,000 STEM grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation, board of education members learned in September.

District Superintendent David Davison announced that the grant has been received and noted that it will be interesting to see how these funds help to expand STEM programs in the district.

The Ralph C. Wilson foundation awards $55 million for STEM programs. Ten nonprofit and school-based programs in Western New York will each receive money to strengthen programs in science, technology and math.

Davison also told board members that the facilities committee will be interviewing representatives from two firms involved in construction management on October 16. Recommendations will be brought to the board in late October, he said.

Davison further reported that the district will be working with its architect on the ongoing capital outlay project. The project encompasses installation of surveillance cameras and the hardening of the front entrance to provide better security.

Board member Deanne Manzilla asked if there is a plan to insure security while construction is taking place at the front entrance. Davison replied that most of the work on the entrance will take place during the April break when school is not in session.

In other business, several board members offered positive comments on the recent board retreat. Marie Edwards noted that the information offered by Michael Vespi was very interesting.

According to Buffalo Business First, Michael Vespi works for Forecast5 Analytics as a Senior Analytics Advisor for the northeast region. He has expertise in budgeting, K-12 education, and operations management.

Vespi shared information on the factors that go into putting budgets together, the tax cap, budget building, and helping community members gain a better understanding of the budget and the tax cap, Davison said.

In a related matter, Edwards told fellow board members that she recently had the opportunity to listen to David Little, who is Executive Director of the Rural Schools Association. “He’s become an advocate for rural schools, which are not being financially supported like urban schools,” Edwards said.

Board member Wendy Dyment shared information that she acquired at a legislative update in Cassadaga on September 10. There was a lot of information, she said, and the state will be advising the district more specifically on how to spend state aid money. Also, there will be new reporting requirements for all New York State districts, she added.