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Westfield Academy and Central School District Board of Education members received three presentations at their regular meeting last month.
The first presentation, given by Heath Forester and some of his students, was on the bowling team.
The second presentation, given by District Superintendent Michael Cipolla and Business Manager Josh Melquist was an update on funding. These funds will conclude at the end of this school year. Melquist and Cipolla reviewed the spending from these funds to support the overall educational environment and support for students.
The third presentation, also given by Cipolla and Melquist, offered board members a view of several portions of the proposed 2024-25 budget. Titled “Budget Study Session 1,” the presentation covered the areas of General Support, Building and Grounds, Cafeteria, and Transportation.
Melquist went over each aspect of these areas, including salaries, insurance, equipment and supplies, and utilities. He told board members that the projected overall increase for General Fund budget codes is $191,849. This breaks down to $67,927 for Buildings and Grounds, $31,839 for transportation and $92,083 for support areas. Furthermore, he said, the projected overall increase for Cafeteria budget codes is $56,313.
Budget study sessions will continue to be at board meetings until all areas are covered and all questions are addressed. The Public Hearing on the 2024-25 Budget will be held May 13 at 6 p.m., prior to the regular Board of Education meeting. The budget vote will be on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 from noon to 8 pm in the gym atrium.
Cipolla also updated the board on the proposed Capital Project, titled “Building Our Future.” A public meeting was held Feb. 8 to review the scope of the project. “The District plans to use an estimated $3 million from its capital reserves to offset the cost of the project,” Cipolla said.
The project encompasses safety upgrades, enhancement to the educational space and construction at the athletic complex, Cipolla said. There will be a second public hearing in August. The vote is scheduled for Sept.5.
In other business, Board President Wendy Dyment introduced for discussion the annual Senior Citizens’ Breakfast and the Friend to Education Award. Board members were given a list of award recipients from 1986 through 2023, and were asked to consider a possible candidate for this year’s award. “Please be thinking about individuals/groups or others that you feel are deserving of this award,” she said.
In his report to the board, secondary principal Corey Markham gave an update on January Regents Exams, as well as the dates for SAT and ACT exams, as well as the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. He also noted that sophomores and juniors are completing their course selections for next year.
Elementary principal Molly Anderson reported that Third Grade hosted the January STAR Program. “This included an opportunity for students to showcase their recorder skills,” she said.
Anderson also complimented students on their performance of Disney’s 101 Dalmatian Kids. She thanked Hannah Bena and Michael Putney for directing the show; Olivia Clamp and Amanda Feraldi for practice, set, staging, and supervision help; and Owen Hotchkiss and Derek Schuster for their assistance as interns. “What an incredible performance!” she added.
Anderson reminded board members that March 7 is Read Across America Day this year. “Please let me know if you would like to visit one of our classrooms to read this year,” she said.