WACS Board Hears About Fall Sports | News, Sports, Jobs

WESTFIELD — Westfield Academy and Central School Board of Education members received an update on fall athletics from Secondary Principal Corey Markham at their regular board meeting on September 13.

“At this point, it is status quo regarding sports,” Markham said. However, he noted that there haven’t been many games so far and, a game will sometimes have to be cancelled due to a COVID outbreak.

Markham shared Fall 2021 spectator guidelines with board members, for both outdoor and indoor sports. Three-foot social distancing is encouraged for all spectators, he said. Masks are optional for outdoor sports but “we encourage those that are unvaccinated to wear a face covering,” he said. “Regardless of vaccination status, spectators must wear a face covering inside the school, including at home games and other extracurricular activities.”

Markham also told the board that there are no limits on the number of spectators for home games at this time, and he provided a link for viewing volleyball games, which will be livestreamed.

Markham also informed board members that a foreign exchange student is coming from Thailand at the end of the month. “We’re really looking forward to having her in the building,” he said.

In other business, WACS superintenent Michael Cipolla updated board members on the capital improvement project, which is nearing completion. Upgrades to the district include new windows, roof, PA system and work on the heating system.

“Bids from the 2019 capital project were very competitive,” Cipolla said. “This allows us continue with the replacement of addional windows.”

Cipolla said bids will be opened on October 12th. If all goes as planned,the district could be installing new windows as early as spring 2022, he said.

Elementary Principal Mary Rockey provided the board with an enrollment update for the fall of 2021. “UPK numbrs are low,” she said. “So we only have two classes this year.” As of September 7, there are a total of 26 children in UPK.

Regarding the number of students in Kindergarten through Grade 5, “we are about where we are most of the time,” Rockey said. There are between 39 and 55 children in each grade, she said.

Rockey also noted that diagnostic assessments began on September 13 and said the results should be available by the end of October.

New windows are currently being installed in the elementary school and “our staff absolutely love them,” Rockey said. “We cannot thank you enough.”

In other business, Director of Curriculum Molly Anderson reported on Back to School Professional Development. She related that Suzanne Holstein provided staff with two presentations on realtionships, especailly in light of the COVID pandemic. “Everyone was able to walk away with something,” she said.

Anderson also reported on the results of the Regents Exams. “Our kids did a great job,” she said. “There were so many variables going in.”

Board members also thanked Josh Melquist for acting as district clerk and accepted his resignation as Interim District Clerk, effective Sept. 13. They subsequently approved the reappointment of Tina Winslow as district clerk, also effective Sept. 13.