WESTFIELD — Westfield Academy and Central School Board of Education members received a presentation from Kimberly Alonge, Westfield Academy and Central School business teacher, on creating the school yearbook at the board’s recent regular meeting.

Alonge shared her personal enthusiasm for producing the yearbook.

“I was a WACS yearbook staff member myself,” she said. “It’s my passion, I talk about it 24/7 — 365 days a year.”

Alonge told the board that she sees what she refers to as “the blossom effect” every year with students who join the yearbook staff.

“These kids find talent within themselves,” she said. “They grow in confidence and develop relationships that last a lifetime.”

Being a member of the yearbook staff has many benefits, Alonge said, which include participating in a creative experience, becoming part of the “yearbook family” and adding a very important skill to one’s portfolio.

Students on the yearbook staff get involved with kids through the entire school by taking pictures and doing interviews, Alonge said. They learn crucial skills, like meeting deadlines, time management, and following through, she said.

“I tell the kids, it’s never easy, but it’s worth it,” she said.

Alonge told the board that the kids come to understand that their high school yearbooks are tangible, permanent records, while social media and pictures on their phones may not be available to them later on.

“The yearbook creates a lasting record of the school year and the creative outlets that the kids are able to explore while working on it benefit them for a long, long time,” she said.

One of Alonge’s students, Brooke Carlson, spoke to the board about her experience as a member of the yearbook staff during her sophomore and junior years.

“When I started yearbook in 10th grade, I wasn’t confident in myself,” she said. “I blossomed as a person while working on the yearbook and making memories.”

Carlson said creating the yearbook is not as easy as people think it is, but she is thankful to have had the opportunity to be on the yearbook staff.

In other business, District Superintendent Michael Cipolla gave the board an overview of changes in New York state guidelines regarding social distancing, health screenings and other matters.

“Many regulations have been updated,” he said. “Health screenings, however, have remained consistent.”

The state Department of Health has updated its guidelines to align with the recent recommendations from the CDC, he said. The health department says that each school/district must meet the standards set forth in the guidelines and must reflect engagement with stakeholders and community members, including administrators, faculty, staff, students and parents, he added.

“We are continuing with our reopening plan,” Cipolla said.

Board member Steve Cockram noted that Chautauqua County is considered a high risk transmission area. The risk of exposure to COVID-19 is based on cases per capita and test positivity, and right now, based on the average daily cases per 100,000, the county is listed as very high risk, he said.

In a related matter, Director of Curriculum Molly Anderson spoke to board members about state recommendations regarding student assessments. She said assessments in ELA will begin next week for students in third through eighth grades and they will be fully online.

Anderson also told board members that “No Harm to Students” tenet addresses the fact that students who have worked hard over the past year and a half should not be penalized because of COVID-19. Therefore, students who might be missing one component, will still be able to receive honors, she said.

Anderson said the district is working on funding that would provide just more than $13,000 that could be used for teachers to do some work over the summer. She said there is also an effort to obtain funds for the district to provide the opportunity for students to earn the Seal of Civic Readiness.

According to the state Education Department, the Seal of Civic Readiness is modeled on the State’s existing Seal of Biliteracy, and is a formal recognition that a student has attained a high level of proficiency in terms of civic knowledge, civic skills, civic mindsets, and civic experiences.

Anderson also told the board that school districts are struggling with how to remain compliant with the minimum 180 days of instruction when there will not be a typical Regents Week this year. She further noted that because of the pandemic, many colleges and universities will not expect to see SAT scores.

In other business, board members approved the 2021-22 proposed budget as presented with a recommended $50,000 reduction in the tax levy and the 2021-22 district calendar.

The board also voted to create a 12-month full-time position of personal computer specialist, effective April 13, 2021.

Board members approved the resignation, for the purpose of retirement, of Karen Croscut as school secretary and records retention clerk. Croscut has served the district for eight and a half years.