WESTFIELD — Westfield Academy and Central School board of Education members tabled Policy 8210 for a second time at their meeting last month due to continuing questions and need for clarification.

Policy 8210, Safety Conditions and Prevention Instruction, is a modification of a BOCES policy, which deals with many safety issues. The topics in the policy range from AIDS instruction in health education, CPR and AED instruction, and conservation of natural resources in New York State, to fire and arson prevention, safety and accident prevention in schools, prevention of child abduction and prevention of child sexual exploitation.

District Superintendent Ryan Sikorski noted the policy is, indeed, very large and involves many factors. “This is a policy created by BOCES that we are looking to personalize to Westfield and our community needs,” he said.

Board member Tom Tarpley questioned the language of the paragraph regarding non-participation in AIDS instruction in health class, which states “with an assurance that the student will receive this instruction at home.”

While the district would be more than happy to provide parents with AIDS instructional materials, Tarpley said, he does not agree with the wording. “Can we strike this last sentence?” he asked. “Can we tell parents what they should do at home regarding sexual education of their children? Can we say ‘with a request’ instead of ‘with an assurance’ in the policy?”

Board President Wendy Dyment referred to the section on Fire and Arson Prevention, Injury Prevention and Life Safety Education, which states “This instruction will be given to all students for a period of at least 45 minutes during each month that school is in session.”

Dyment asked how this would work at WACS. “This doesn’t sit well with me,” she said. “We already have Fire Prevention Week and several other programs. How will this look in the middle school and high school?”

Board members voted to table the resolution, pending further discussion and revision of the policy.

In other business of the board, members accepted the resignation of Thomas Stokes as Physics and Chemistry Teacher for the purpose of retirement, effective July 1. Board members thanked Stokes for his 30 years of service. “It might be a real challenge to replace him for quite a few reasons,” Dyment said.

In other business, Interim Secondary Principal Darrin Paschke gave his final report to the board. “I want to thank the board for this opportunity,” he said. “I really loved it here and I think this is a very good school.”

Several board members thanked Paschke and commended his work at WACS. Tarpley commented on how well he feels both interim principals fit into the rhythm of WACS. “While we have been trying to replace the middle school/high school principal, I have to say I can’t be more pleased with how the year has turned out,” he said. “I appreciate Mr. Paschke coming to help us. It has been a great team effort this year.”

In his report, Paschke said the WACS PRIDE Cards which are being distributed to team leaders and staff are well received and he feels that WACS students truly have pride in their school. He noted that students are demonstrating Preparedness, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and/or Excellence by their actions in places such as the cafeteria, restrooms and classrooms.

Paschke also lauded the elective program that WACS offers to its students. “Westfield offers a ton of elective opportunities,” he said. “The opportunities that are available here are astounding for a school this size.”

As part of budget study session two, Elementary Principal Molly Anderson gave board members an update on instructional practices in the elementary school.

She reported on personnel, equipment, student events and professional development. Anderson noted that there has been a focus on reducing absenteeism. “We’ve targeted absenteeism this year,” she said. “This is not a problem just for us, but for most districts.”