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Westfield Academy and Central School Board of Education members learned that the district’s Capital Improvement Project is about 57% complete at their meeting this month.
WACS Superintendent Ryan Sikorski spoke about the tour of the construction area that he and the board took that very day, led by the architects and project managers. “The progress so far is very impressive,” he said. “The locker rooms will be unveiled in November and the staff and students are excited for that.”
Business Manager Josh Melquist reported that the change orders for the Capital Improvement Project total around $144,000. “This is still well under what was planned for,” he said.
The board approved a Capital Improvement contract with Landscape Structures, Inc. for a new playground. Board member Tom Tarpley said he was disappointed to see that the district would be charged more than a half million dollars. “I feel that the district is being overcharged and taken advantage of,” he said. “I will vote to approve the contract since the project has been voter approved, but the district needs to find a better way in the future to prevent us being unfairly charged.”
Sikorski also told board members that current ex-officio student board members, Liberty Maring and Grace Wolfe accompanied him to the student ex-officio conference at BOCES. “They were able to network with other ex-officio student board members from Southwestern, Maple Grove and Cassadaga Valley about their positions to learn more about what they are doing while serving as ex-officio members,” he said.
Also in his report, Sikorski told the board that the state Education Department is planning to de-couple the Regents exams from the graduation requirements. Beginning in January 2028, there will only be one diploma issued. The freshman class of 2028 will be the first to experience this, he said.
In her report, Elementary Principal Molly Anderson said that volunteer firefighters came to the school as a part of Fire Prevention Week. “I especially want to give a shout out to the third-graders who had no questions that the firemen asked that they could not answer,” she said. “This shows that they really take the information they are given seriously.”
Secondary Principal Andrea Marsh reported September attendance for Middle School was 94% and 96% for High School. She also noted homecoming was a great success with a lot of student and community involvement.
Director of Instruction and Special Education Lauren Harper told board members that the second part of the UB Trauma Informed Practice training has begun.
Also, Harper reported that the Community Based Life Skill Class, which was offered for the first time this year, has been well received by both students and community members. Tarpley suggested the district could reach out to larger organizations, such as banks, law offices and the sheriff’s department to participate in the class.
In other business, board members approved the Use of Facilities Procedures, Checklist and Cost Schedule for the 2026-27 school year, noting that the district has put together these procedures to assist community members in requesting use of the facilities and filling out the required form. “The use of facilities form is due at least 10 working days or earlier prior to the event,” they added.
Hourly costs are listed for custodian, groundskeeper, food service workers and bus drivers, with the notation that “final costs are determined by the total amount of time staff members are required to work for an event.”
Board members subsequently approved a resolution giving the Village of Westfield's Recreation Department permission to use the facilities as requested at no cost for the sports games and practices handled by the recreation department for the 2026-27 school year. Estimated district cost is $4,070.35.
The board also accepted the Independent Financial Audit report as presented by the firm of Drescher & Malecki LLP for the 2025-2026 school year and approved the establishment of the Community Life Skills Extra Classroom Program.
Board members were presented with gifts in recognition of their service as part of New York State Board of Education Recognition Week. Sikorski thanked the board for their dedication and time to support the district, children and families.
Board member Deanne Manzella said it has been a pleasure to serve as a board member. “The students are wonderful, as is the staff and the community,” she said.
Also, in board member commentary, Tarpley drew attention to an editorial opinion from the NYSSBA about artificial intelligence recommending that any changes to curriculum involving AI should be left up to local school districts, rather than the state. “I have concerns about changes the state is making to graduation requirements, and I don’t want to see the state also in control of artificial intelligence as it relates to classroom instruction for WACS students,” he said.