[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6381195,"mediaKeyId","2128947-b892a283d8bc97582df02b6698798c56","parentId",2128947,"title","Public commenters press Williamsville on textbook use, prayer accommodation for Muslim students","audioSeconds",242,"startMs",4988000,"endMs",5230000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2128947-b892a283d8bc97582df02b6698798c56&start=4988&end=5230","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2128947-b892a283d8bc97582df02b6698798c56/thumbnail_4988000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6381195/New-York/Public-commenters-press-Williamsville-on-textbook-use-prayer-accommodation-for-Muslim-students","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6381195-99a0672df6e9d1be83bfe370f1e45135/orig.mp4?Expires=1777165162&Signature=KfuAshMhLDvNAf05bwW82UlorljZC2ExC9PKyHswq8mqQ4owO1DMwi2FhFuxUs4OmgcVzTj0f7cWuZW-sFKAjyvp9TGiEb6~swVP5LY7lw8x1-qnW5couv9FBKzxtBxxXJFgi0y6OmmsYXWRhij2dcE7VyMqjhcZNuMJX0ZcsIIdl1asHmEpu6mmmVv6BxHy7nkahWJXbe~JpFDbUVPsXFj3s67TqWlozRnpxCGKs09sg8IjM7zKn9lAQd3Xd7ulj4IAsAcFGzRjUF30d9-ci7ct5DmdQrJxKZUI56bAUZlKXFM33-2aCPGFfT4-FlsktaMwSg7yNIx9isH2AnUS~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-15T02:08:54Z","article","During the public-comment period at the Williamsville Central School District board meeting on Jan. 14, two speakers raised separate concerns for the board’s attention.

Damon Piatek, a parent of two district students, said he has found classroom materials in math and science to be primarily packet-based and lacking features he expects from a textbook — a glossary, index and thorough instruction — which makes it difficult for parents to help children who miss class or study for midterms. \"The packets... they're missing thorough instructions. They're also missing a glossary, an index,\" Piatek said. He told the board he had discussed the matter with teachers and the curriculum specialist but wanted the issue on record.

Saqib Ahmed, a physics and engineering professor at Buffalo State and a parent, asked the district to accommodate Muslim students who need a 3–5 minute midday prayer on shortened school days (the November–March daylight-saving period). Ahmed said that since the start of the academic year the district has prohibited this brief practice citing a New York State law that limits non-instructional time. He told the board families have raised confusion and frustration and asked the district to involve Muslim interfaith parents and the DEI committee in finding a solution that respects state law and students’ religious practices.

Ahmed said he and other parents consulted other New York State districts and principals who reported models that permit short prayer breaks while remaining compliant with state rules. \"We... have met slash emailed slash been on calls with multiple... individuals to understand how they are managing this situation,\" Ahmed said, and he urged the district to include interfaith parents in discussions about start-time changes and schedule accommodations.

Board policy information provided during the meeting reminds commenters that the district cannot respond to personnel or student-specific matters in public comment and that the board will respond by email after the meeting. The board did not make any immediate policy changes during the public-comment period. Both issues were entered into the record for follow-up by district staff.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","January 14, 2025 - Board of Education Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Two members of the public urged the board to address district practices: a parent asked for more usable math and science textbooks (not just packets), and a professor and parent requested a plan to let Muslim students perform a brief midday prayer on shortened days, citing a New York State law constraint and asking for DEI committee involvement.","taxTitle","WILLIAMSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",13432,"location","New York","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6381200,"Williamsville staff outline $244 million working budget and $950,000 repair-reserve projects; public hearing set",3001,3244000,6245000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2128947-b892a283d8bc97582df02b6698798c56&start=3244&end=6245","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2128947-b892a283d8bc97582df02b6698798c56/thumbnail_3244000.jpg","/articles/6381200/New-York/Williamsville-staff-outline-244-million-working-budget-and-950000-repair-reserve-projects-public-hearing-set","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6381200-81044dcb2f1cd178ea94e2420b113518/orig.mp4?Expires=1777165162&Signature=SMNdl7twjZ1m1GGHJkeIbCojv44wAoVnLtard6G4p2gPCdodpBaLifMziahyLNDtikuZsVhcCQSnrhQ0DX9827Po4CN1SyZ2XoEjVrRldygZSHAomNkOPtZubtIjZatu3JLE4hbxUnjJwQnbSLUIlHsV7wSKVm7rp8QiYa7IT74WfeYgMkVuKjA7vg3fi1ZmMOl~A5ePi7tnsuhJrNq8IpXxhti8HbeEEV3snhBbflWpM8k08jf8kL9bD9PhtqxnpN~hA44JHvaUlTauzNiKa2JR8-1zHl~19puXyM8~P05iUIaOZdR7sCXk4v8ZKXog-SKDd7UE33M-kgW5EcY7Ww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Williamsville Central School District staff on Jan. 14 presented early budget projections that put the district’s working budget near $244 million and outlined proposed summer repair-reserve projects totaling no more than $950,000.

Assistant Superintendent Kelly told the Board of Education that the district is estimating required expense increases of about $11.3 million to maintain current programming next year, driven by salary increases, Social Security (FICA) costs, a projected 10% rise in health-insurance costs and higher transportation and BOCES expenses. \"The first area, our salary increases total a little over $6,000,000,\" Kelly said. He estimated FICA increases at roughly $384,000 and transportation increases near $1.7 million.

Kelly presented an initial working budget total of approximately $244,000,000 for the 2025–26 fiscal year and noted the number could change as retirements, BOCES finalization and the governor’s forthcoming budget proposal alter revenue and expense assumptions.

Separately, Assistant Superintendent Kelly and other staff described proposed repair-reserve projects for summer 2025 whose total would not exceed $950,000. Projects listed at the meeting included:

- Repairing and re‑striping athletic tracks and crawl-space abatement at South High School;
- Repairing cracks and resurfacing tennis courts at East High School;
- Assessing and repairing or replacing the generator at Transit Middle School;
- Replacing folding doors at Casey Middle School;
- Painting and aesthetic work above windows at Forest Elementary School;
- Parking-lot resurfacing at Lawrence Bell (district facilities and food-service operations center).

District staff said architectural and engineering costs associated with those projects are not expected to exceed $40,000 and that the repair-reserve account currently holds about $4.9 million; the projects would draw from that reserve. The board held a public hearing on the repair-reserve proposals; no speakers addressed the board during the hearing and staff said formal approval of the repair-reserve projects appears later on the agenda (agenda item 13a).

Assistant Superintendent Kelly also told the board that transportation is fully contracted with Student Transportation of America (STA) and that the district projects some transportation-cost increases tied to contract escalation and potential schedule changes. District staff said about 64% of transportation costs are reimbursable through state transportation aid, but final numbers will depend on ridership, routing efficiencies and the state budget.

No final budget adoption occurred at the meeting; staff said the governor’s budget and the state’s foundation-aid formula study could alter revenue projections and the district would return with updated revenue and tax-cap calculations in subsequent budget meetings.

Votes at a glance:
- Motion to approve consent agenda (items 9–13): motion carried unanimously (no individual roll-call recorded in the transcript).
- Second reading and adoption of policy updates (multiple policy numbers listed): motion carried unanimously.
- Motion to table a set of policies for second reading at the February meeting: motion carried unanimously.
- Motion to adjourn into executive session and to return to public session: both motions carried unanimously.

The meeting continued with a lengthy discussion of school start times, public comment and other agenda items; the board scheduled further budget work sessions and outreach as part of the district’s ongoing budget development process.","District staff presented preliminary budget projections — a working total near $244 million driven by salary, transportation and health-cost increases — and described proposed summer repair-reserve projects up to $950,000. Board will consider approval later in the meeting’s agenda; no final budget vote was taken.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6381204,"Williamsville committee proposes later high school start, earlier elementary schedule to boost teen sleep",1586,6564000,8150000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2128947-b892a283d8bc97582df02b6698798c56&start=6564&end=8150","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2128947-b892a283d8bc97582df02b6698798c56/thumbnail_6564000.jpg","/articles/6381204/New-York/Williamsville-committee-proposes-later-high-school-start-earlier-elementary-schedule-to-boost-teen-sleep","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6381204-d9c02f8147a80d2d34b9d5dc7e90c2b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1777165162&Signature=kpWWuMIpdoot10MnDtbiqhla-z98CUN1CWk2vqJk4d6~WgfcDz7apo67GYSf5h~yD8VbaRrKrFUmfFdgbUvpvW163wxMuzv98mUuN8gtykwOlbxqdzAR3y-Y18YC15tREj9R8-13ewcF3w1Kf0sdPPBWXjgkTbiDuE2cE0J8qj~DBgPIWTXkQaEUR0EcHES6e3IYM5cOzSqBJj3DdO6z1IntdHXoPpNPY4qKKdlbptQW8-3HdEKJjzoFTaCJRwTndPjpIR~NwTLn-W-UlCapRrM9BtDpJjYZ0xY1CFSV8YSzBTC0ISYu~Os-~W0P79KenjYnm8OGXJm1XrsXtEkvvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A committee appointed by the Williamsville Central School District recommended on Jan. 14 that the district shift its bell schedules for the 2025–26 school year so high schools start at 8:50 a.m., middle schools at 8:20 a.m. and most elementary schools move earlier in the morning.

The committee presented research showing health and safety benefits of later start times for adolescents and said the recommendation is intended to align school hours more closely with adolescent sleep patterns. Principal Keith Bortman, chair of the committee and principal of South High School, said the group based its work on scientific studies and community focus groups assembled over 18 months.

The proposal matters because a wide range of national medical organizations — including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine — recommend later starts for middle and high school students to reduce chronic sleep loss and related harms, presenters said. The committee urged the district to adopt the schedule only after additional planning to address logistics raised during the meeting.

\"Our job here is to put our personal feelings aside,\" Principal Keith Bortman said, describing the committee’s aim to follow the research and put students first. The committee’s specific schedule would keep some elementary schools on a slightly longer day, set middle schools at 8:20 a.m. to 3 p.m., and high schools at 8:50 a.m. to 3:40 p.m., with modest changes to period lengths to preserve instructional minutes.

District medical director Christine Harding summarized the research the committee reviewed and said major medical groups endorse start times of about 8:30 a.m. or later for secondary students. \"The evidence strongly implies early school start times before 8:30 a.m. as a key modifiable contributor to insufficient sleep in our adolescent population,\" Harding said, quoting positions from the American Academy of Pediatrics and related groups.

Committee members said studies show modest gains in nightly sleep when start times move later and linked increased sleep to better attendance, fewer tardies and improvements in attention and some academic measures. Principal Dan Wall, who presented research on sleep and cognitive benefits, told the board that multiple studies show changes in sleep occur soon after a schedule shift and that economically disadvantaged students often see proportionally larger academic gains from later starts.

Board members and staff pressed presenters on practical consequences. Questions included how the shift would affect families that rely on older siblings to supervise younger children, families who pay for before- or after-school care, students with after-school jobs, and athletic schedules. Director of Athletics and Physical Education Chris Muchica told the board that athletics and extracurriculars would continue but might require “creative” scheduling and that some outdoor evening activities could be constrained by daylight.

Transportation was a recurring concern. Presenters said the district contracts all bus service with Student Transportation of America (STA) and that the proposed schedule could free up some later bus runs while creating others. The committee proposed an efficiency survey of families to identify who actually needs bus service; district staff said no elementary student would be assigned a bus pickup before 7:00 a.m. under the proposal.

Committee members said they have discussed accommodation options with after-school providers and that many agencies indicated they could adapt to a shift toward more afternoon care. The committee also noted possible operational fixes such as middle-school shuttles between buildings if bus runs can be reallocated.

Board members asked for follow-up information. Several asked for details about how many students hold after-school jobs, how the schedule would affect students who use BOCES programs that begin at 8:00 a.m., and whether athletic field availability would become a limiting factor. Presenters said they plan visits to nearby districts that have made similar changes and additional outreach to students, parents and community partners before any formal vote.

No final district action was taken at the meeting; the start-time plan was presented for board consideration and further logistical work. Board members asked staff to continue planning and community engagement before the board schedules a decision.

The committee recommended the district consider the research-backed shift while continuing targeted outreach to families and after-school providers and conducting transportation routing work to limit very early elementary pickups.

Board members both praised the committee’s research and said they still had significant concerns to resolve on childcare, safety at early pickups on dark winter mornings, and athletic scheduling before any formal adoption.

The presentation was followed by extensive board discussion but no vote; the board signaled it would review additional analyses and community feedback in future meetings.","A district committee recommended shifting start times so high schools begin at 8:50 a.m., middle schools at 8:20 a.m. and most elementary schools earlier; presenters cited medical organizations’ guidance but board members raised concerns about childcare, transportation and athletics.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public commenters press Williamsville on textbook use, prayer accommodation for Muslim students

Williamsville staff outline $244 million working budget and $950,000 repair-reserve projects; public hearing set

Williamsville committee proposes later high school start, earlier elementary schedule to boost teen sleep