Westfield Academy and Central School Board of Education members expressed their appreciation to Interim Superintendent Shelly O’Boyle when she attended her last board meeting on July 28.

Board President Wendy Dyment noted that O’Boyle was an excellent fit for WACS. “We all appreciate that she came out of retirement and came to Westfield,” she said. “I truly believe she was the right person at the right time.”

O’Boyle came to WACS to fill the vacancy left by Superintendent Michael Cipolla who assumed the position of superintendent for the Randolph Academy on Feb. 1.

O’Boyle previously served seven years as superintendent of the Frewsburg Central School District. She officially retired from that position on March 9, 2024, but stayed on as interim superintendent from March 9 until June 30, while that district conducted a superintendent search.

In other business, Board President Wendy Dyment announced that there is a vacant seat on the Chautauqua County School Boards Association Executive Committee because one member recently resigned his board seat. She noted that, according to the CCSBA by-laws, “only one individual from each member school may serve on the Executive Committee at a time,” and Dyment is currently serving. “So, we are not eligible to nominate a candidate,” she said.

Dyment asked the board to complete the first reading of Policy 5679: Use of Force. The policy spells out the requirements regarding the manner in which school security personnel may use force while performing their duties on district property.

Board member Tom Tarpley commended all those who helped create the policy, especially O’Boyle. “This was a lot of work,” he said. “Thank you to Mrs. O’Boyle for driving this forward. I think it is a really well crafted policy and we hope to God we never have to use it.”

Board members approved several resolutions, including the Non-Resident Tuition Applications for the 2025-26 school year, the revised 2025-26 School Calendar, effective July 28, and the agreement between Westfield Academy and Central School and Aveanna Healthcare for nursing services from July 1 through June 30, 2026.